Fish Hard

                          Ya know it's hard to get out and Steelhead when:
  *The last few time the river is chest hi deep when in the norm standing in the same place its only just above the knees.
 *The moon is almost full.
 *You cast thru a run three or four time without a tug, using either nymphs or swinging.
 *You get to one of your favorite spot only to see gear Slingers working the water from the middle of the run and not moving.
 *You get to the water and can't find your Ice Off Paste
 *The water finally drops to safely wade out but its only 20 degrees and the wind is blowing up river at 20 plus mile per hour.

                                      Well yesterday was just a little different:
*The river drop to a safe manageable wading level below 1890cfs.
*The temperature in the water has really dropped into the mid 40s.
*The air temperature also dropped into the mid teens.
*Nobody is in your spot.
*I have my ICE OFF PASTE,
*While striping in line to go home in the dark you get a tug and pull. even tho I didn't land it it was hopeful.

 Today the weather is much different it's rite now 13 degrees but suppose to warn up to mid 20s. slightly overcast, and the forecast call for snow this afternoon.
  The river has dropped even more now 1400cfs.
 Water temp. is a chilly 39 degrees.
 Just a slight wind from the north 3mph.

I meet up with my good Buddy Gary the only one I know crazy enough to go out in the arctic vortex and fish with me. 8:30AM somewhere close to Tonasket, Air temp.  13. and the sun is breaking thru.
 With the wind on our backs to start out soon changed directions. Mild to begin with but by 9:30 blowin at a pretty good clip and littering the water with Golden leaves.
I gota pretty good tug mid way thru the top of the run. and only being after out for a short while. I pulled in my fly and took a look at it and all the feathers were striped off. (DAMN STORE BOUGHT FLIES) Changed it out and continued with one of my own close to the same pattern, down river thru the run.

Gary had been hung up on some rocks a few times with nothing and by 10:30 he started heading back up to where I was still swings the same fly. I hooked a few leaves that were now all over the river. The wind was blowin harder and the snot from my nose was freezing, guides needed more ICE OFF PASTE, fingers numb, a good cup of hot coffee sounded good.
We bagged it in. Stripped off the waders and headed out of the wind and cold for some  HOT COFFEE and Breakfast. By the time we finished eatin the wind was blowin even harder. Our fishin day was over.      
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