In Pursuit of the Amazing Steelhead

Here are all the Cooper Boys on our trip to northern Idaho to fish for steelhead. From left to right - Sam (my dad), Jason (son #1), me (#4), Kelly (#3), Ryan (#2), and Jake (#5).

We decided to all get together and head up to northern Idaho to fish the elusive steelhead. Our wives, and just about everyone else, thought we were crazy to drive 500 miles one way to brave the cold and snow in order to fish for a slimy creature called a steelhead. Little did they know, and we were about to find out, that these fish are found in some of the most beautiful country God has painted on this earth. And although the Cooper boys razzed and got under each others' skins a time or two, the bond that connected us was enhanced by the shear magnificence of the animal we pursued and the environs where steelhead are found. There is something about this passion we call fly fishing. Perhaps it's the pursuit of something beyond our reach. Maybe it's the sense of solitude, without loneliness. Or it could be that the connection between two beings is something special that we all yearn for one way or another. Whatever it is, the fly fisherman finds himself constantly nourishing that desire to connect with whatever he is searching for.

My little bro. Jake started the trip off right with his first steelhead.

This beast was the fish of the trip. It measured out at 37.5 inches and had to be pushing 20 pounds. We spotted this male battling his territory and Ryan did a great job of putting his fly on him (you can almost see me back on the rock cursing as I cast). These are the critters that make us lose sleep, turn our brains to mush, and have us driving 1,000 miles in a weekend to catch them. What a beautiful creation of the Man Upstairs!

This pic and the following pics are close-ups of the different fungi that grew all over the trees where we fished. From a distance they don't look like much. However, these up close shots really show that they are individual ecosystems unto themselves.

Ryan with a colorful male

This was the first steelie of the trip (and my first ever steelhead). Boy was she perdy...

We had to stop because this big tom turkey was rounding up his hens. He was dancing and gobbling like no other. If you click on the pick you will see a white tail deer running down the road in the other lane (just past the turkeys).

The hook-up...

And the result...

Again, this is my artsy side. Here's my 8 wt. GL3 rod with my Orvis Battenkill, mid-arbor reel (and Cortland WF 555 line). If that sounds Greek to you, then just know it's my rod and reel on a cool looking log. I thought it looked cool on the log so I thought I'd take a pic.

This fish was a real beauty. We watched as he fought off other fish that would enter his red. I cast first, and nothing. The very next cast, Ryan hooked up. This male was 34 inches and was one of only 3 fish landed on the second day.

My brother Ryan and Big Sam, my dad

Just gettin' us some lunch - me and my brothers Jason and Jake.

This is my brother Jason with a nice "little" male (we considered anything "little" if it was under 30 inches!). You can see the others weren't afraid to nip his tail a little bit.

This bruiser was my best fish of the trip (34.5 inches). Even though he looks a little beat up, he still took me a good 10-15 minutes to get in. He handled my 8 weight like it wasn't even there. What a gorgeous specimen.

This lady came in at exactly 32 inches

This stuff is all over everything up there. I saw the exact same stuff in Southern Chile (it was called "old man's beard"). You can see it hanging from the branches on all the trees. I guess I'm kind of a nature nerd for liking to take pictures of it.

On our way home we decided to take some pics of this big valley where the Nez Perce indians and the US Army had a big battle. It seems like everything about this country is big.