OP Steelhead Excursion - A Side Trip

I all our visits to Seattle, we have never made it down to Pikes Market to visit all the 

vendors and see them throw some fish. As usual, it is a sight to be seen at 7:00 am

before the general public is up and going as the rest of the day, it is a goat show, with far too 

many people.

One surprise of our visit to Pike Market were all the flower vendors, and all the 

beautiful tulips and dried flower arrangements. If it were local, Mary would always have 

fresh flowers, as you cannot beat he prices.

Georgetown Brewing is one maker of Manny's Pale Ale, my favorite. We always visit the Cyclops 

Tavern to throw back a drafts. New this time from Georgetown was 1EyePA. Wow, what a terrific specialty IPA , just brewed for Cyclops.

Just a few great shots from the halls of Pike Market, Always like the 

glowing neon in the various locals we visit.

Wow, I wish we had some of these great deals offered too us on a daily basis.

It is amazing to see the hard to find fresh fish just sitting on ice. So fresh,....

So Delicious......

The great wall of gum, so disgusting, but something you must see if down at the market.

an entire wall where folks come from all over the world to depot there ABC gum.

On the rainy day we were their, folks were lined up to take pictures 3 deep, absolutely crazy, for chewed gum....

" Brownfish

 " Brownfish "

by kuchynkaPHOTO

Chuck's Midge by Flyfish Food

Olive Chuck's Midge

Hook: Daiichi 1120, Sz: 16

Thread: Uni 8/0 Olive

Bead: 2mm Silver Tungsten

Body: Veevus Pearl Tinsel

Rib 1: UTC Wire - Chartreuse Small

Rib 2: Coats and Clark Sewing Thread - Brown

Thorax: Olive Brown UV Ice Dubbiing

OP Steelhead Adventure

Again, we would brave the nasty weather the OP can deal out in February. Usually just rain, but, debilitating rain that can knock the rivers out of in one event.  Well, we decided to tangle with

good old mother nature, as she would deal the first blow of rain on Sunday night into Monday with an 

incredible 3.3" of rain. As you can guess this would blow out every river to epic proportions, moving many into flood stages and over the 15,000 to 20,000 CFS water marks. 

Remarkably, we would have three days away from the river, sightseeing, bowling and watching movies, watching the half-day river updates for sights of fishing. Finally on Thursday, flows and clarity would be decent enough to launch and fling a couple at steelhead that would be definitely on the move. 

Wow, would we be treated to some absolutely beautiful rivers and sights in pursuit of these silver bullets. The rainforest was in all her beauty, waterfalls would be pouring off all cliffs, all streams running full throttle, 

 Drifts were fast but if you got it in the right lanes, you were often rewarded. Hooking and 

landing these gems are entirely a different game. 

 The view from the dense canopy was stunning, imaging the cougars, elk and other critters that are out there roaming. No shortages of Bald Eagles, sat above to watch us fish our way down the river.

 Why we will sit out three rain days , the prize, oh so beautiful and powerful. 

WOW....