Wow, I guess I know what I'll be doing these next few months.
Last night was my first time out fishing here in Ketchikan. I made my way to the fly fishing shop inside Sockeye Sam's to ask they guys about local fishing and they directed me to a local stream that comes and goes from a small lake, Ward Lake. It is a local favorite among fly fishermen, so I decided to give it a go.
Saturday night only produced two small rainbows, but I saw many larger ones rolling. There could be Rainbows, Steelhead, Salmon or Dolly Vardens in this system. The guys teased me for saying I was going out there with my 5 weight rod and 5lb. test leader. I heard about a 30 inch Dolly being caught at the same place that I was going to fish. Hmm?
Sunday am was an early start to the lake's inlet, but after an hour of not even one hit, I moved up into the creek. This is small water, 10 ft or so wide, but it can get some big fish. I was primarily fishing for trout, but was secretly hoping for one of those nice Dolly Vardens.
On my second hole I hooked a nice rainbow of 12 inches. I released him and caught another smaller one. Nice. Then I saw a little deeper hole and hit a bigger one. When I got him to my side, I realised that I had just hooked a jack (juvenile) steelhead. He was about 17 or 18 inches. I quickly released him and moved upstream. And on the next hole I hit my first Dolly.
WOW!
Did he run and jump. I landed him and at 15 1/4 inches, would make a good dinner,
and boy was he sure good!
The little Steelhead 
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