Pacemaker Fishing Forum

Not sure if I already told this fish story...so please pardon me if I have.

So, I get a call from my fish'n pal Pete last month:

Pete:  "is it confirmed that you're on this side of the dirt?" 
Me:  Yes, Pete....contrary to reports, I am alive and on this side of the dirt...tks for you concern.
Pete:  "Good, I was wunder'n if they buried yur' last three bottles of Pappy Van Winkle with you...?"
Me:  Pete...I am alive...not dead yet.
Pete: Oh, well, then....how would you like to do the Cowlick? 
Me:  Pete...If I do a Cowlick...I will be dead...thank you.
Pete:  No, no, son...how would you like to fish the "Cowlitz?"  Spring Steelhead in the river....

(The Cowlitz is a tributary of the Columbia River and known for large Steelhead...but its heavily fished and you need a guide to get you to the "prime" spots.)

Me:  SURE...normal payment...bottle of Pappy's for every fish?
Pete:  Yuppers...!

I'll cut the story to the pic...7lb Steelhead on a 6wt rod...#18 wet fly



Me:  Well, Pete...thanks for the awesome experience and of course you got your bottle.  This fish is amazing!!!
Pete:  Hmmm, dude...you know that steelhead are sorta like puny...boy toys....
Me:  Ah, once again, we're having commo problems..... I haven't heard anyone call Steelhead puny or boy toys...
Pete:  A real fish is a tigger....
Me:  Huh...?
Pete:  A "Tiger Muskie!!!  What...didn't you say you speak American?
Me:  um, yes...there are Tiger Muskie around here?  Aren't they a fish of a thousand casts?
Pete:  You give me those last three bottles and you'll catch three tiggers...on Mayfield Lake
Me:  Game on!

(Mayfield Lake is a reservoir created to control the Cowlitz and has been stocked with Tiger Muskie's.  Tiger Muskie's are a hybrid of a Muskie and a Northern Pike.  Slightly smaller than a Muskie, Tiger Muskie's are typically in the 30" range, with large "Tiggers" in the 40"-50"+ range)

Again, cutting to the pic's....yeah, so Pete handed me off to his cousin "Mike" for this trip.  All of these fish were caught on a 10wt single hand, #2 black Buckyrabbit streamer.

Fish #1 35"s



Business end of the 35"er



Fish #2 44"s....yes, same trip....!!!!!



Business end of the 44"er



and yes...FISH #3 44 3/4"s...yes, three Tiger Muskie's on one trip...actually within one hour!!!!



Business end of the 44 3/4"...please note my silly happy smile!!!




Yes, Tiger Muskie's are supposed to be hard to catch...they say if you see one you're having a good day (we saw 20), if you get one to move toward or follow your fly, its an amazing day (we moved six)...and if you catch one its fantastic (I caught three, missed a fourth!!) it was a friggen EPIC day!!!

Yes, Pete got his whiskey...and then he asked..."So....do you like adventures?"  And that will be the next topic of the next fishing story from the Great North West!!!

Fishfry