I managed to accomplish my goal of catching a steelhead on a dry fly. Not a half dozen casts into my first run on the first day of the trip a spunky 24" native ate the "clark's stonefly" I was skating across the head of the pool. Crazy. And even crazier, was that I did it again twice more in the coming days.
Days went by at warp speed. Wake, eat, fish, fish, fish, eat.........Come back to camp and tie flies as quickly as possible to replace what was lost, swap tales with my buddies, and then back to the river to fish until dark. This went on for 7 days. I met some really great people, and saw some beautiful water. Wildlife was everywhere, and the scenery was tops.
Sleep came easy after the long days. But on the 7th day, I was ready for some rest (maybe there's something to that!). Homesick and missing my wife and daughter, I packed up my flattened tent (another cue to leave) and bid the river farewell. A week much needed, and memories to last a lifetime.
Monday morning found me thrown back into reality. Just because I took a week off from my "real" job, didn't mean that work stopped. The pile on my desk from a weeks worth of absence is often enough to make me not want to take that much time off of work. Nahhh....It's worth every minute of it. I dug through the pile, returning calls and emails, filling out paperwork, and tieing up loose ends. That evening it was back to the dye pot. Feathers and fur are now drying. Japan bottles have been labeled, and I'm already dreaming up my next fishing destination. Its good to be back home.