First Steelhead On A Spey

[jayclarkflyfishing]

Hi all! I hooked and landed my first steelhead with a spey rod yesterday on the American.The fish was dark and skunky but put up a decent battle and was released to possibly live another day...or not,it was really beat up.I caught it swinging an egg sucking leech across from the hatchery.All in all it was a great day on the water.
Flygolf-it was great chatting with you in the parking lot.Have any luck?
Jay

[Tim W]

persistence pays off. I landed my largest spey caught steelhead this morning on the American. A buck with a hooked jaw. It took a purple/black leach.

[Rick J]

Very cool and congratulations - that first fish is always memorable - some less so that others!!

I had just got my new Scott ARC 1287 and was up on the Klamath with Bruce - Bruce was just starting out in spey casting but I should have known better than to let him try the rod as he can catch a steelhead in a bathtub - so anyway I handed it to him and gave him a couple of pointers and 3 casts later a bright 6 # steelie slammed the fly - this is now called my SLUT ROD!!!!!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I am really proud of all you who are fly fishing for Steelhead the "old way".

Swinging flies is not as productive as indicator nymphing but it is way cooler.

Swinging flies is not easy or really productive on the lower American River in the winter but it obviously works if you stay at it.

[WinterrunRon]

Congrats, LittleTruckee:

Flygolf called me in the afternoon to see if I was fishing. I had been on the water since the morning with nothing hooked after several hours, but he came down and we casted and BS'd together for an hour or so before I had to leave to pick up my truck from the shop. I came back to the river to fish the evening with a more focused demeanor towards hooking a fish. Didn't take long. After 20 minutes back, I hooked up (only one of the day), just didn't get him landed. Persistence does indeed pay off, Tim W. Congrats to you as well. I Didn't hear whether flygolf hooked up or not.

Rick J: Doesn't matter what you call that rod, I'm sure you'll agree it's one sweet fly-delivering babe. You have an instant buyer if you ever decide she isn't right for you.

Ron

[David Lee]

Jay and Tim -

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

David =D>

[flygolf]

Hi Jay, no luck that day. It was nice to meet you, maybe we'll catch up at pyramid some day this year I plan on going a couple of times. Mark

[Jasonh]

Jay,

Good work! There is nothing better than hooking steelhead on a spey rod and on the swing. The tug is the drug! Keep it up.

[jayclarkflyfishing]

Thanks for the words of support!It was a blast catching that fish and I hope there will be many more.I am intrigued by the traditional swung fly technique and it may not be as effective as nymphing it is as much or more fun.
Flygolf-Pyramid will be fun ...let me know when you are coming up.
Good luck out there everyone!
Jay

[Adam Grace]

Congrats Littletruckee! Spey fishing is addictive....watch out now!