I moved from Bozeman, MT to Portland, OR this September. Gone are my backdoor views of the Bridger Mountains and the access to incredible trout waters that I have fished for the better part of 20 years. What have I gained? A new job, a new environment in a fun city, and access to several dozen rivers which, on the right day, are home to steelhead so big and beautiful that they will make you cry.

I’ve fished for summer run steelhead in Oregon for several years now, making trips from Montana with some of my best friends. Every trip has been an incredible experience. Sometimes we catch fish. Some of these fish are incredible. A 16 pound wild buck, taken this fall on a waking dry fly by my friend Niall comes to mind. Regardless of the results, we always learn something.

Until this year, I have not targeted winter run steelhead in their native environment. With winter runs come scores of new challenges. There are new techniques to experiment with and master. There are new rivers to explore. It is all very new and terrifically exciting for me. Since Sexyloops is all about learning and fishing in the present tense, Paul and I decided that it would be fun to base a series of articles on my learning experiences in my quest for winter run steelhead. My goal is to fish hard, but be realistic. I’ll fish mostly on weekends, which is when I have days off from my “real job” as a river restoration consultant. As a result, I’ll be at the mercy of the weather and water. There will be plenty of days where I see no fish. At this writing I’ve been skunked at least 5 times so far this winter. But I plan to remain positive and learn from all my experiences. I begin my quest with skills honed over a 20 year fly fishing life. I’ve fished mostly for trout, but have caught over 50 different species of fish on fly to date. I’m armed with enough tackle to fill a small flyshop. Some days I carry most of it, which is why there was no word from me regarding “What’s in my pocket.” I’ve made some friends here who have been very generous with information on the whens, wheres, and hows of winter steelheading. To them, I am very grateful. But until I get out there and do it myself, it’s all just shop talk.

You’ll hear more from me soon. It is, indeed, all happening.