Easy. Last February, Niagara River, NY. Six degrees. Wind-chill made it feel like 8 below. Had to chop ice to get the boat launched. Yes, we caught lots of steelhead, but each one fought like a wet dish rag and literally froze the second we took them out of the water.

What made this trip memorable, was that I got a legitimate first-degree frostbite. I took my glove off to film for five minutes, then couldn't get my thumb warm for the rest of the day. When I got in the car and turned on the heat, the feeling came back, but it felt like the thumb was smashed with a hammer. A few days later all the skin peeled off of it. A friend in med school confirmed this was first degree frostbite. Wicked cool, right?

Monday Jan, 26th I caught my first steelhead on the SouthFork of the Coquille River in Oregon. It measured 37 inches from snout to tail (measured several times to be sure) and its weight was approximately 17-20lbs. We didnt have scales to way it properly. the steelhead was a male and had been in the river aroud 2 to 3 weeks we believe when the rivers flooded. I am proud to have caught such a fish. It is my first! fresh water big fish and I am going to keep on truckin though I don't expect another so big any time soon. All of my close friends that fish alot say they haven't caught on that big before.

Tony Southwest Oregon

One of my favorites is a 5 hr (round-trip) drive for 60 min. of fishing.

I know of one spot, a very small river, with only a couple of holes that hold fish. I mean the majority of the water isn't even knee deep. It was a Sunday afternoon and I was bored and wanted to go fishing. I remember looking at the clock and seeing it was already after 2pm. By the time I talked myself into making the long drive and grabbed my gear, I knew I was going to be cutting it close.

The caveat with this river is, 9 times out of 10 you can check this spot and there will be nothing there. I knew it was a gamble, but the itch to catch a steelhead was to strong. I couldn't help but have thoughts of a 5 hr. round-trip and not even see a fish, especially when I had homework to do.

I arrived at the river and still had about a 20 min. hike back to the spot. That last few yards was killing me, I prayed there were would be fish in the hole. I carefully approached the hole as a smile came across my face. I counted over 15 steelhead swimming in the hole. I couldn't wipe the grin off my face, nor could I get my line in the water fast enough. I tried a couple of casts and nothing. I watched one of the fish turn to it's side and the light went off. I tied a wooly bugger on and hooked up on the first cast. I quickly took him out of the hole and landed him. Moving back into the hole I made another cast and hooked my second fish in as many casts. At this point there is no way this grin is coming off my face. Just as I landed this fish my line broke and I had to retie. The sun is getting low and I knew I was running out of time, but I managed to
get back in the hole for round 3. It took about a 1/2 dozen casts to hook up with the 3rd Steelhead of the evening, what a moment.

As I walked out of the woods that evening I couldn't help but think of the guy that took me fishing there for the first time. When I got back to the truck and started down the road I had to call him and tell him the story. Was it worth the 5 hrs. on the road.....you bet it was.