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View Full Version : New Steelheader's First Steelhead Experience - EPIC



SanJoseBass
12-21-2016, 10:02 AM
Decided to share this because it's just too cool not to. My little cousin, Cody, has been texting me the whole time I have been living in Lewiston saying he is going to come up. He frequently hits rivers and lakes around his house in Northern Cali, catching a number of planter and wild rainbows and browns. Although he had never caught a Steelhead, let alone seen one. We've been exchanging photos and let's just say he's been anxiously waiting for his first trip to the Trin.

So he arrived yesterday at around 11am. I decided to give him the standard Lewiston tour, showed him some spots around the house, took him for a sandwich at Twisted River cafe, then dropped by the hatchery to show him his first steelie. They weren't in the viewing window, but were stacked up at the foot of the ladder. He was amazed at their size. I kept saying, "Imagine having one of THOSE at the end of your fly rod."

Then I decided to see if the half pounder spot we have been frequenting was going off for the afternoon hatch. Sure enough, we arrive and they are busting everywhere...one thing was different though, some of those rises were bigger than the rest...

Long story short, 10 minutes...SERIOUSLY 10 minutes into wading into the hatch, HE HOOKS UP AN ADULT STEELIE ON A DRY!!! He fought it like a champ, got an aerial show, and landed the fish.

Smart kid and a great fisherman, he decides to try to send a nymph down the run. Awesome...BOOM! Another adult steelie!!! The kid caught two adults within his first hour of fishing the Trin. I kept saying, "DUDE...TREASURE THIS MOMENT FOREVER! THIS IS AMAZING AND YOU'RE VERY LUCKY."

He must have been a good boy this year because Santa came real early.

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Rick J
12-21-2016, 10:12 AM
very cool!! Nice story!!! He is hooked now

Mark Kranhold
12-21-2016, 10:57 AM
Congrats Cody, a surface attack too!! He's addicted now, well done and thanks for sharing!

k9mark
12-21-2016, 11:11 AM
That is so awesome!!

STEELIES/26c3
12-21-2016, 11:16 AM
Sweet!

I love that aerial shot photo~

Bill Kiene semi-retired
12-21-2016, 12:13 PM
Fantastic post......congrats.

That shot of the jumping Steelhead is one for the wall or a magazine.

Cody will be chasing Steelhead for the rest of his life now.

San Jose Bass, you are doing a great job promoting our wonderful sport.

PV_Premier
12-21-2016, 12:34 PM
Outstanding post. I agree, that second picture is a framer!

East Bay Ed
12-21-2016, 01:42 PM
Catching small trout may never be the same after catching two steelhead.

pvsprme
12-21-2016, 06:06 PM
That is awesome! He's now going to expect that every time. What dry fly was the one? I fished that hole in November, went 4 adults in 5 days but despite water temps in the 52 degree range and some October Caddis present, couldn't get a surface take.

hwchubb
12-22-2016, 02:15 PM
You've ruined the poor kid....

Wish someone had done that for me at his age. Well done!

njbeast
12-22-2016, 09:38 PM
all I can say is WOW!!!

SeanO
12-23-2016, 12:20 PM
Good job putting the kid on TWO steelhead!

Tim P
12-25-2016, 02:03 PM
From the looks of the reel seat / rod butt it looks like the kid might have been using a five weight (or less) to get those fish to hand.

Good job kid!

Morgan
12-25-2016, 10:47 PM
Great shots and good job guys!
Chris and I are gonna come visit real soon.
ANd you have ruined your cousin...that is epic and one should never EXPECT a day like that. Frickn epic!
I swear I hooked monsters for my first few battles and got schooled. I didn't land one until my 11th fight with those sea unicorns.
Well done.

EricO
12-25-2016, 11:37 PM
Sweet!

I love that aerial shot photo~


Ya, that's a great shot...hella cool story!

Dragking
12-27-2016, 12:30 PM
He's ruined. Poor kid.

SanJoseBass
12-29-2016, 11:18 PM
That is awesome! He's now going to expect that every time. What dry fly was the one? I fished that hole in November, went 4 adults in 5 days but despite water temps in the 52 degree range and some October Caddis present, couldn't get a surface take.

Sorry for the late reply! It was a comparadun fly. Get em at Trinity Fly Shop, OR KIENE'S!!! Never made it to Kiene's but stoked to come in and spend my paycheck. :)


San Jose Bass, you are doing a great job promoting our wonderful sport.

Very honored! Thanks for the comments but nothing compared to what you provide to us dudes on the water. Much appreciated. Can't wait to come into the shop.