and the running line bounces back, frozen to the reel. He grabs the running line, pulls and it breaks. She rushes to help and as she fiddles with the running line the head slips out the guides.
“Damn!” she says coarsely.
With good spirits we return to the boat and pick up his brother. Just as this is a steelheaders rite of passage, it is also a rite of passage as a guide; you have to work harder, make the
decisions to avoid accidents and
bear the elements too. It takes determination to beat the odds.
We get back to the boat and as he climbs in his wading staff tip breaks. “This has been a good trip let’s leave on a good note.” Some things just aren’t meant to withstand this brutal cold.
Just above the take-out, his brother hops out to fish the last run;; where the day before he had hooked a magnificent 38 inch brute.