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April 30, 2004
When Mr. Sterling contacted me in regards to booking a trip with us he wanted to make it a long week, as his homeland was quite a distance to the Great White North. Like many trips before, once I arrive at the Terrace Airport I play this game of who is my client(s). I often wonder if the client is doing the same. I think not as they are so pumped and relieved to be here the last thing on their mind is who is the taxi to the lodge. As I like to welcome all clients myself the game goes on.
Mr. Sterling was the last person in the airport when it dawned on me, this is the guy. The ever hesitant call, “Emmanuel?” the voice responds, “Tracey!” what a relief the package has been retrieved.
After a quick stop at the local vendors we were off to the lodge for a meal and a chat. Emmanuel is a guy who is foot loose and fancy free, very happy just to take it all in. We talk about his trip from last year as he was in Vancouver fishing the Vedder. He said he liked my operation and chose it over the Dean River, a pat on the back for me.
 As Emmanuel was our only guest for a few days before others joined him he had the lodge to himself. He laughed when I said 630AM breakfast. He commented, “why would I come all this way on a holiday to wake up at 6AM”. He did have a point, so of course the customer is always right.
Come 930AM we are waiting for the door to his suite to open, all I hear is the odd woodpecker banging in the near distance, the Hummingbirds jousting at the feeders. The stove has been turned off and on again and again, awaiting his presence for breakfast. Finally he comes out, breakfast is done around 11AM; he is now ready for the day of guided fishing.
The weeks before I was fine tuned to wake at 6AM, 630AM breakfast, and a schedule was attained. So be it Mr. Sterling paid for his trip I want him to enjoy it, his way.
I decide we do a walk-in to one of my Steelhead Rivers, and fish a popular pool. Five casts later I have a take,” Emmanuel! come upstream and fish here.” He saunters up to me, “got a light?” I have a light for him so he can smoke a cigarette. He tells me to keep the lighter because he loses them when he gets them. Slowly he walks into the stream makes a cast and Wham! He has hooked a small doe and lands it like a pro, the fish is digitized and off she goes.
We fish the run again, I have a huge take and the fish rips line and across the river he goes, the only line I gain on this monster is when the hook comes out of his mouth. Minute’s later, Emmanuel hooks, I think the same fish, and it is a 20lb buck. This is a great battle as I can see the sweat starting to bead on his forehead, he prevails and the large buck is ready for a picture. Emmanuel is pumped, “you sure know your spots to fish”, he comments. Emmanuel’s hands are shaking from the fight, “go ahead I want to rest.” He pulls out his smokes and before he can say a word I have the lighter throwing a nice orange flame, I give him a friendly wink, he smiles that his ivory white teeth show.
 I know that this pool is full of Steelhead come May 1. I make my way down the pool and hook a beautiful silver female, explosive and aggressive as she tries’s to escape the pull of the line. To no avail I have her by the tail, Emmanuel takes a great shot and off she goes. Emmanual does his Steelhead dance and says “I will see you next year Tracey, but for longer.”
Another real life experience that sticks to my mind during Emmanuel’s stay was when we got out for a drift. Once we put the raft in the side channel we spooked up a pair of Steelhead in ankle deep water. The female did a 180 degree turn and male blasted out into the mainstem. This was enough to give us confidence for the day.
The first run we fished was above the split in the river. I don’t know how many times I have written about fishing the split of a river but you can very well imagine it is a spot to fish.
We sat in the boat from shore as I lectured Emmanuel on how the run should play. He gave me the thumbs up and off he went.
I look downstream and he has his rod bent, a snag? I walk to him, is it a snag? Before he can say another word this 16lb doe does a tail walk. Emmanuel looks at me and shows me his thumb; a white line runs down its length, “A snag does not burn my thumb!” I feel somewhat embarrassed, just for a second though. This fish is a sweet one and I have to attach it to this report along with the 20lber.
Emmanuel tells me Steelhead are his religion and he would have come back even if he got skunked this trip.
I have one more Steelhead report for the season and it wasduring peak spawning at the time as we watched in amazement for hours.
Tracey John Hittel
Kitimat BC Canada
250 632-9880
250 639-4277
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