Skip to main content

What's that Reel?

What's that Reel?
Ross Purnell with his first Dean River steelhead

We've had some emails and phone calls in the past two weeks about the current cover image of Fly Fisherman, so I thought I'd use this space to answer all those questions at the same time.

The photo was taken in July 2011, on the lower Dean River below the falls. It had been a dream of mine for 20 years to fish the Dean and on day #1 I was fishing alone at Slide Pool . When I hooked the fish I was obviously excited, and also disappointed that I wouldn't get a photo of my first Dean River steelhead. Then, a boat appeared coming around an upriver bend and the solitary occupant yelled "hey, do you want a photo!?"

As it turns out the boatman was professional photographer Adam Tavender (adamtavender.com), someone I had had worked with in the past but never met in person.

Questions I Have Been Asked

Q: If that's the Dean River, why is the water so clear?

A: Honestly I don't know. I've also heard many times about how the Dean can go cloudy with glacial melt on hot summer days, but it's certainly not always like that. This was the middle of July, it had rained quite a bit before our arrival but the river was clear all week.

Q: What the heck kind of reel is that?


A: Cheeky Ambush 375. It was a tight squeeze for a 550-grain Skagit line but it performed flawlessly, and as you can tell I like bright colors. I just got back from another BC steelhead trip (Oct, 2012) where I used a blue-and-green Cheeky Thrash 475 (that's 4.75 inches) and it was much more appropriately sized for West Coast steelheading (or tarpon). You can see all five sizes of Cheeky reels at cheekyflyfishing.com

Q: What fly did you catch it on?




A: A black and chartreuse Metal Detector, which is an Intruder-style fly sold by Umpqa. But that doesn't really matter. The fish were aggressive and hit many patterns. It was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time, and being persistent. Hot pink was probably the best color for me over the course of the week.

Q: That doesn't look like a steelhead.

A: And that doesn't sound like a question. But somebody actually said that to me, so I'm treating it like a question. Most people are accustomed to upriver steelhead that look much like a giant rainbow trout, with broad red stripes, heavy spotting, and a green or olive back. In the ocean, steelhead don't look like that. Their backs are ghostly gray, white bellies, and their tails and fins are white or transparent. This fish was caught maybe one mile from the ocean, and very likely just came into the river that day, so it looks like a ocean steelhead. 

Recommended


Ross Purnell with his first Dean River steelhead

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Harrop Ant

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
Destinations/Species

Rio Dorado

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
How-To/Techniques

Building the Perfect Fly Rod with Mud Hole Components From Blank to Casting

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
Destinations/Species

South Platte River Flooding, July 31, 2023

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
Gear

Simms Wader Makers

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
News

FF Mag Promo Aug-Sep 2023

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Ol' Mr. Wiggly

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
News

Mending the Line Panel Discussion

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
How-To/Techniques

George Daniel's Hauling Tuck Cast

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Useful Speed Blood Knot

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
News

A Celebration of Life for the Incomparable Dave Whitlock

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
News

Mending the Line Trailer

Fly Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Fly Fisherman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now