Bob and Adrian...so close yet so far:-)

9/22.... As we set off for our half day trip the air was crisp and filled with optimism and enthusiasm!

We didn't get our first real hook up until we got to the riffle just above the Sundial Bridge. naturally we garnered a small crowd as we played the fish into the slack water and the spectators sighed in unison as we lost the fish. We hooked up a couple more times and finally did land one.

Bob seemed to have the hot hand and after releasing the 18 incher we headed down river. Unfortunately our luck did not change much. I won't guess as to how many solid hookups we had or how many fish we played; they all eluded our net and our camera.

About half way through the drift the luck seemed to change and Adrian seemed to be getting bit a lot. At one spot just below the Cypress St bridge Adrian stuck a really nice fish and played it through some heavy water until we reached with the net and 'POOF' the fish disappeared...:-(! We made another pass and slam Adrians indicator went down and he struck. Another solid hook up! The fish jetted straight up and out of the water for us all to see. It was a real pig but it had it's own ideas. It peeled off some line and made a hard run only to shake the hook loose! In another instance Adrian got bit again and the fish darted directly under the boat only to get free!

And that's why they call it fishing and not 'catching'. It wasn't that we didn't have any luck but we couldn't 'seal the deal'.

Bob and Adrian are good sports and true sportsmen too. Thanks fella's, see ya soon!