Finally

[Morgan]

I finally got my first steelhead on the fly to the net.
It's been about a hundred hours, nine hook ups, two break off one to hand that squirmed off before a photo op.
My pos galvan reel cost me one a couple weeks ago..sticky sob! Faulty ass drag won't release line...then it free spools..then acts normal. So I didn't give it that opportunity this time. I played this buck by hand...feeling out the line by hand. Took a bit getting him outta the deep run. Then he would see that sand and try and ham back to the depths. After a good 3-4 min he was in the net. We had a blast out on the trinity. But we really need some rain. The water is low and the fish are spooky and smart. We fished light line and had some great insight and guiding by Peter Santley of tahoe fly fishing outfitters. He really helped get us into fish.

7917
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[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Congratulations gangster........that is a really nice steelhead and a good photo to blow up for the wall.

Thanks for posting....

[JTrick]

That's awesome!! Congrats on a great fish!

[Mark Kranhold]

Nice job Gangsta! I had the same problem with my Galvan,so I sent it back...got it back and did the same funky free spool crap! So now it has become a anchor for my float tube. Those reels don't like steelhead weather.

[M Duper]

Way to go! I'll always remember my first. Lol!

[JasonB]

Nice fish, and big congrats on getting one to hand! Only a hundred hours and 9 hookups? I think I was probably closer to 200 hours, and similar number of hookups before I got to actually touch one. I don't even want to try and count the number of missed opportunities due to my auto jerk hookset. Just makes that final reward that much sweeter though doesn't it :cool:
JB

[TyV]

Congrats!!! Have caught one in my life, 28", and not on the fly! Don't have the patience and stomach for that much pain! Much respect for those that do!!!

[Morgan]

Nice fish, and big congrats on getting one to hand! Only a hundred hours and 9 hookups? I think I was probably closer to 200 hours, and similar number of hookups before I got to actually touch one. I don't even want to try and count the number of missed opportunities due to my auto jerk hookset. Just makes that final reward that much sweeter though doesn't it :cool:
JB

Thanks Bill, JT, Mark, Mdup, FIsh on and JasonB

It was definitely a long road. But those long days were never boring, dull or un-exciting. It was definitely a learning curve. From that first fish that ran up stream and schooled me w/ a big jump throwing the hook, to the big one I had on really good but lost while trying to unwrap the floating line from my bag. I have learned numerous things while trying to get that one steelhead to hand/net. But, the one thing that will always stick w/ me is, never give up. This fish was landed in the last 30 yards of our float...you could see the takeout right down the river. Keep with it and your hard work and time will pay off eventually. It was all worth it watching that buck swim away.

They say steelhead is the fish of a thousand casts. Well....here is to the next one thousand casts ;)

[jbird]

Great fish gangster and congrats! Great feeling isnt it?

For everyone who is flogging the water and believing steelhead are the fish of 1000 casts, hire a guide. Put that myth outa your mind! All you need to know is WHERE THEY ARE and when and why. Your guide will show you that water and if he's worth his salt, he will answer all your questions on where YOU can find the fish. In most cases, steelhead are uneducated because theyre migratory. Making them MUCH more apt to take an artificial than an educated, resident trout. Theres alot to learn about them based on what they do during what conditions...ie. High water, low water, clear water, cold water, etc. etc. They are driven by motabolism and 90% of what they do hinges on this fact. But once you log that into your knowledge base, whether youre nymphing or swinging, you will be EXPECTING a tug on every drift! Knowledge is power.

[JasonB]

Sounds like the beginnings of a powerful addiction to me :D
Have you already made the leap into the 2handed game? If not, all I can say is it gets worse/better!
JB

[Morgan]

Sounds like the beginnings of a powerful addiction to me :D
Have you already made the leap into the 2handed game? If not, all I can say is it gets worse/better!
JB

Yes I have.
But I havent used that 2 handed for only swinging.
WHen nymphing w/ that 11' it allows for much cleaner, easier and better mends.
You can hit the other side of the river a lot easier.
It also helps keep that line tight on the hook set w/ the extra leverage.


Jbird I hear ya 100% on the guide thing.
We fished w/ Peter on the day we got fish.
The knowledge of how the fish think according to the different conditions makes a huge difference.
With the clear and low conditions the fish were holding in some odd places as well as some usuals.
Fishing 4x to the dropper was aonther tactic we used which I found quite odd.
But....any hook up is better than none.
I broke one off and landed this guy on 4x that day.
After fishing w/ Peter I have a new outlook on how to effectively fish for steel.