Oregon150

I met my late husband, Bob, while we were both living in Texas. Bob was a native Oregonian and he was always telling me how beautiful Oregon is and how great it was growing up in Albany and fishing for Steelhead on the Alsea River. In 1993 we moved from Texas to Oregon to be closer to his parents who were getting older.

He took me fishing for Steelhead on the Alsea the first Christmas we were here. Bob had told me numerous stories about what fighters these fish are and how tricky it is to catch them. About 10 minutes after we cast our lines in the water, I got a fish. I couldn’t help but think what a thrill this was going to be. It took me about 30 seconds to bring that fish in. It wasn’t thrilling like he said it would be and I told him so. The next day, I got another fish on, only this time it was a 12 lb native hen. She was fighter. She did a tail walk across the river and it took me 30 minutes to bring her in. At that time she was the largest native to be caught on that part of the river in years according to the locals that were fishing beside us. Bob was right – it was the ultimate thrill.

Bob passed away from Lou Gehrig’s disease in December, 2006. I spread his ashes in the Alsea where I caught that great fish. I like to think that he is there to help another person experience the thrill of Steelhead like I did. Thank you, Bob, for bringing me to this beautiful state. I miss you!