by The Troutist, September 30, 2012

With my book promotion days coming to an end I am trying to get my life back to normal. What is normal you ask? Spending time on the water doing what I enjoy the most, fishing. I have spent most of the last five years chasing trout, that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy salmon and steelhead I just haven’t had the time to pursue them. I grew up on the Columbia, angling for salmon and steelhead was a way of life in my family. Just recently I had the opportunity to hit the Cowlitz with my friend, Guide Bruce Warren of Fishing For Fun Guide Service (253-208-7433). I got to tell you I was all over that invitation like a flea on a dog.

Bruce has over 20 years of experience and is a Pro-Staff Angler for Auburn Sports and Marine & Beau-Mac, with those recommendations I figured I couldn’t go wrong. I was up at 0-dark early (3am) and on the road at 4am to meet up with him and his clients Reg Bruce, Brianna Bruce, & Cody Servo at exit 49 in Castle Rock. We met up exchanged pleasantry’s, told fishing lies and picked on Cody, great way to start the day. We then proceeded to the new/old ramp in the four corners area, the parking fee is $5.00 a day. We loaded the boat with our personal gear and waited for first light. I was amazed out how many boats were launching during this short amount of time. Reg was keeping count and he figured around 40.

In the mean time Bruce explained we would be working the lower portion of the river side drifting eggs in search of Salmon & Steelhead. The set-ups we would be using were the 9 1/2’ Lamiglas XMG-50 rods, with the Shimano 3000 series spinning reels, spooled with 10lb test Hi-Vis Maxima line. Our leaders would be 6’ of 8lb test ultra-green Maxima, with two #4 hooks, a Beau-Mac cheater in the center of them (a cheater is similar to a corkie), weight is dependent upon the flow of the river, add your eggs and your ready for action. Bruce also added that fresh eggs are the secret. He likes to cure his in Pro-Glo egg cure.
Having never worked the Cowlitz I asked about using prop outboard motors. After seeing spots that were maybe two feet deep I can now understand the answer of “no way”. We headed to a stretch that Bruce seemed to think would be holding some fish and I wasn’t surprised when we had our first hook-up shortly after that. In four passes we had six different hook-ups with one nice Steelhead to Reg’s credit and some jack Salmon that we released unharmed. Shortly after that Cody had a nice hook-up with the largest salmon of the day and what a great battle. It was give and take for a while as it went around the boat, under the boat, and made some very nice runs he was then scooped up in the net and brought on board. Cody was quite pleased with himself and to be quite honest I couldn’t blame him.

Brianna was next with another keeper King that was full of energy and gave her the battle she was expecting as she masterfully played him out until it finally surrendered to the net. I was not to be disappointed I got to do battle with a native iron-head that gave me the fight I was expecting and hoping for. After a quick photo of it in the water he was quickly released. I also hooked and released another little jack iron-head. Finally my opportunity arrived I hooked-up with a King and had him on for about 15-seconds then my leader snapped. I couldn’t believe it, what went wrong, was I not holding my head right? After thinking about it for a while it dawned on me that I had gotten hung up just before that and when I got it free I should have checked my leader. Yes it was angler’s error and I knew better, my bad.

Shortly after that Bruce handed me what he called a proto-type that he thought would do well for winter Steelhead. It consists of Beau-Mac rubber egg clusters, large or small and yarn. First cast I had a strike that should have been a hook-up but to my dismay and my slow reaction time I missed him. I truly am getting old and sleep is one thing I should have gotten the night before. I guess I’m not 50 anymore. By the end of the day we had 1-jack Salmon, 2-kings, and one Steelhead in the fish box. We had released 4-native jack salmon and 1-jack iron-head, and one native. After talking to quite a few different anglers it seemed their luck was no were near the success that we had on this day. Thanks to Bruce, Reg, Brianna, and Cody for having me along. I enjoyed myself immensely. It was great to be back on a river and with a guide that truly knew the water. So until next time may your next trout be your trophy mount.

Join me on my facebook page Uncle Wes. So until next time may your next trout be your trophy mount. The Troutist-“Uncle Wes” Malmberg.