You know you are in trouble when the rod doubles over, the reel screams, line burns off, and what Dan calls a 'Freight Train' heads upstream at a blistering pace. It's pretty much 'kiss it goodbye' in that situation. Your chances of turning a ballistic torpedo are slim at best, but the lure of this kind of hookup brings us clients from all parts of the world and the US. This year we had clients from New Zealand and as far east as Nebraska. Fishing the Smith takes skill and concentration and presents a challenge to even the experienced angler.

Of all the clients we fished this season, two stories stand out. We are continually encouraging couples to take the opportunity to experience an exciting trip down the Smith together, and this year we guided close to a dozen. Not only does this add to the memory scrapbook, it can also lead to a lifetime of sharing a hobby that both partners enjoy. Ron and Kathy Mott came to us from Roseville. Kathy called to purchase a gift certificate for Ron's 40th birthday. She had never hooked or caught a fish and had no intention of fishing, but the lure of the river and a desire to see Ron catch a birthday fish changed her mind. About this time Dan became the proud owner of a new 'first mate'. Her name is Sally and her maiden voyage at 8 weeks old began with Ron and Kathy's trip. Dan found a milk crate for her to sleep in and she let everyone know when the drifter needed to be beached for a pit stop.

The first day Ron and Kathy hooked 11 fish and landed 5 while Sally landed their hearts. Ron would reach his hand down to her and say "Sally, lick my hand for luck, I need another fish", and sure enough there would be one. Kathy hooked 3 of those fish and they gave her jumps, runs, and a lot of action. She finally landed a fresh 'blueback' in the Stump Hole. After bonking this fish, Dan made another pass and Ron hooked up too. He released his fish after a picture was taken and high 5's were exchanged. Sally was happy too. The second day they hooked 11 as well. Must have been their lucky number. While drifting through White Horse Dan tapped Kathy on the shoulder and motioned to her that he was going to tell Ron to set the hook as a joke. When Dan yelled 'Set the hook', Ron hesitated and then set the hook but there was no fish there. When Ron stood up and said "I didn't think there was a fish there," they started laughing, but when he dropped his rod back down he immediately hooked up a blueback about 6 pounds. He had to admit that that was quite a birthday present. Kathy landed three fish that day. Dan instructed her in how to properly release a fish and she was thrilled to feel the strong body swim out of her hands and back to freedom. Ron hooked a 'freight train' later that day, and it was a birthday to remember. He landed some awesome fish and gained a fishing partner in the process. We received a great thank you note from Ron and Kathy and a special package for Sally with a fancy dog treat ball inside.

Another success story from this season was Martin and Joe Genera. They had been fishing the Smith for 12 to 15 years from the bank and had never caught a steelhead. On their trip with Dan they had several hookups and landed 3. In the process, Dan explained the strategy of bank fishing and the mechanics of mastering the drift from shore. We like to educate our clients in techniques they can use when they are fishing from the bank and strategic places to use them. He suggested that after they fished the Smith that they stop and fish Redwood Creek on their drive home. Here is a copy of an email that they sent us when they got home.

Hey Dan, how's it going? It's Martin and Joe Genera
I would just like to take this time to thank you for an awesome day, and more importantly the "steelhead" education. My father and I had to re-think our approach and method and re-tool our tackle box........ We left for the Bay Area at 12:30 planning to stop at Redwood Creek for an hour or so. We found a dozen guys fishing in 2 feet water up and down the creek. We watched locals catch fish, even a little kid with Mickey Mouse gear was hooking these fish. We stood and watched, beaten and frustrated as usual. I finally nailed my first 'solo' shore caught steelie- As fate would have it, foul hooked. Two casts later I nailed my first steelie on shore. I hooked him in the front of the mouth. A beautiful 8-10 pound native. My father, still perplexed, was still searching for the one. I suggested he go into my spot to keep the others from moving in as we were the only successful anglers at this time.

As the story goes my father set his hook and his reel started SCREAMING. He hooked into a hog, after his 30 minute battle. We landed an approximately 40 inch, 20 plus pound Native Steelie. Locals came up to see and we were told by many that "that's the biggest steelhead seen pulled from this stream." To make this long letter short, I hooked into 2 more approx. 8-12 lbs. and my father 2 more as well in the 12-15 lbs. range. All the way home we credited our success to your time, patience, and wisdom. Enclosed is a picture of my father's first "solo shore" caught steelie, a true trophy. We shared our story with Ray and Tom Chew of Little Ray's Bait Shop and they expressed high praise for you as " one hell-of-a-good-guide". We were blessed with a day only others have read about and wish to say thanks for the know-how and "hook-up". We'll be seeing you in July on the Feather and Annually on the Smith. My father said he was waiting for the last fish to show me up. I was proud to say "you're right" and happy to say "Dan Carter's our guide". Thanks a million. Martin Genera

Any season on the Smith River is a great one, but trips like these make it all worthwhile. Now we are looking forward to new adventure stories on the Feather River starting in June.

Columnist Joan Carter co-owns, with her husband, Dan Carter's Guide Service.