A little thing called STEELHEAD FISHING

You are called out of bed. It's 4 am, your eyes are groggy, and you have been awake for the past hour and a half because you woke up and had to pee. Whilst peeing you remembered you are going "STEELHEAD FISHING" in the morning. This doesn't mean much at the time. All you really know is you sit in a boat, throw fish eggs at the water when some people pay thousands of dollars to have them on crackers. So you try to go back to bed after you flush, but you end up tossing and turning thinking of all the fun you could soon be having.

After getting dressed and pounding down a bowl of Wheaties Fuel, you jump in the Suburban and ride an hour to the river. You decide on the way which spot to fish. Do you want to sit and watch the circus of mad people around trying to catch fish, or go down river and hopefully be alone. As you pull up, two people already have boats in the water. It's 5:22 am, why are there already two people on the river. After loading everything into the boat, you guide the boat into the water while standing on the launch holding the rope connected to the bow. You pull it up to the shore and wait while the Suburban is parked. You look up at a clear sky. It's pitch black, but the stars and the moon light up the sky. You say a prayer.

"Lord, thank you for giving me the opportunity to enjoy your creation. Thank you for a father who is willing to spend time with me, take me fishing. I deserve none of this, so praise You! Keep us safe, Lord. Amen."

About the time you say, "Amen" your fishing buddy walks up. Getting up early is already worth it. "Who cares if we catch fish anyway," you think, "I'd pay money just to sit there." Dad gets in the boat and tells you to push off and jump in. As you quietly go to your spot you hear fish splashing around you. Your blood starts pumping faster. You pull up to your spot and let down the anchor. Even though it is dark, you start fishing. It is ten to six. You start throwing throwing spawn, praying that you don't get a birdsnest in your reel and have to try to figure that out in the dark. You hear an owl hoot. Life is perfect.

As light begins to fill the sky, a few boats have come by, no hits yet. Fish are still splashing in the river. Time is flying by. Soon it is 9:15 or so. You have gotten into a pattern, and it is casting, talking, reeling. Out of NOWHERE you hear, "WE'VE GOT A FISH ON!" and then all you see is the far left rod wielding a Hot n' Tot bent in half. The line is ripping of the spool and you hear, "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!" By this time Dad is already grabbing the rod and going, "HERE!"

You are standing with a rod in your hand that has a silver missile on the end of the line. The fight goes between slow motion and fast forward. You hear excited advice from Dad, you are looking for the fish through the water, and just trying not to let go of the rod. After a solid fight against the fish, the next thing you know there is a net with a fish that looks to be the size of your leg heading your way! It plopps to the bottom of the boat and you have a ~6lb Steelhead at your feet. You take the lure out of it's mouth, and get rid of the net. Dad grabs the camera and takes a picture of you and your first Steelhead. It's no 20 pounder, but it's a trophy to you. You put it on the stringer to bring home.

Dad checks the other rods and finds out that one of the other rods is snagged. Dad has you get out the "SnagMaster." 25 years and never lost a lure, it deserves the name "SnagMaster." Dad is about to work to get the lure back from the snag when you hear, "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!" All of a sudden it clicks!

"HOLY CRAP, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER FISH ON!" you head Dad say. The rod is bent in half again. This time it is the far right rod. Once again, "HERE!"

...... TO BE CONTINUED