28 replies to this topic

[NiagaraSteel]

This is my second fall searching for a steelhead. This year i have put in 40+ hours from first light to lunch time every weekend. Timing the outings after rains, i kept trying and trying. I was getting extremely discouraged, after at least 10 outings this fall without a nibble. But I was finally rewarded sunday morning. I started downstream on a lake O trib. Was there at first light, fished my the pool that I keep trying everytime, nothing, but i caught a few glimpses of fish. I moved around, but still nothing. At about 9:30 am i decided to move upriver a few km. I had never fished the spot before. I found a nice deep pool, and drifted sacks, beads, and a dropshot worm. I saw a big old brown hanging out behind an eddie, then after saw a somewhat fresh salmon lurking deep. It was time to go pretty soon, so i moved to a new spot. I stopped at a section of deep riffles that was a fairly long stretch. The riffles were about 1.5 ft deep and was the speed of a fast walking person. I didn't have high hopes for the spot, but I tried anyway. First cast, within five seconds i turned around, looking for my float. I started feeling small tugs, so i rammed er home and there quickly was a small ~12 inch steelie in my net. My first steelhead brought onto the shore! A pic and off she went. It had the colours of a resi, so Im assuming that it had been in the river for a while? I was so stoked, i threw my float back out there. Cast, then another. Hero drift alert. It was just at the end of my drift when i felt 3 freight trains hitting my bait. It was a great fight, and finally a thin ~18 inch steelhead was in. What luck, no fish for almost 2 years, and then 2 fish in 2 minutes??? Both fish were not chrome at all. Does this mean that they were in the river for a while? Also, is a spot like that a common spot to catch a steelie? The second fish bit in a hole just before a big rock that causes and eddie behind it. Is that commonly a good spot? And also, how long should i give a single pool before i move on? Thanks to everyone on here for helping me get my first steelie, ive learned so much on here. And yes, Im hooked! Anyone wanna guess where I'll be this weekend?

[NiagaraSteel]

Oh, and both fish were on a chartreuse blood dot bead

[Kleiner]

Nice!! Congrats Catfish! This gives me hope...

[BowSlayer]

any pics? thats weird i was at an east trib on sunday and the only fish anyone saw was at the spot where there is no fishing allowed, lol, did manage to spot 10 idiots looking at a big log telling each other that it was a huge brown, lol, i did manage one though.

[redneckchromer]

congrats on your first chromers!!!  yes the darker fish have usually been in the river a while.  

[DILLIGAF?!]

i'm sure those are steels that probably run 2 3 weeks ago. awesome catfish. you will now fish them hard and keep that hole sacred...

[ChasinTails]

sweet ( its fun isnt it ), got the pics to show us ?

[PUMP KNOWS]

Good stuff...post pics bro!

[NiagaraSteel]

I will once i hide the background

[BowSlayer]

I will once i hide the background

awwww come on thats no fun, lol

[OCDComputing]

Way to go!

[NaturehasIT]

This is my second fall searching for a steelhead. This year i have put in 40+ hours from first light to lunch time every weekend. Timing the outings after rains, i kept trying and trying. I was getting extremely discouraged, after at least 10 outings this fall without a nibble. But I was finally rewarded sunday morning. I started downstream on a lake O trib. Was there at first light, fished my the pool that I keep trying everytime, nothing, but i caught a few glimpses of fish. I moved around, but still nothing. At about 9:30 am i decided to move upriver a few km. I had never fished the spot before. I found a nice deep pool, and drifted sacks, beads, and a dropshot worm. I saw a big old brown hanging out behind an eddie, then after saw a somewhat fresh salmon lurking deep. It was time to go pretty soon, so i moved to a new spot. I stopped at a section of deep riffles that was a fairly long stretch. The riffles were about 1.5 ft deep and was the speed of a fast walking person. I didn't have high hopes for the spot, but I tried anyway. First cast, within five seconds i turned around, looking for my float. I started feeling small tugs, so i rammed er home and there quickly was a small ~12 inch steelie in my net. My first steelhead brought onto the shore! A pic and off she went. It had the colours of a resi, so Im assuming that it had been in the river for a while? I was so stoked, i threw my float back out there. Cast, then another. Hero drift alert. It was just at the end of my drift when i felt 3 freight trains hitting my bait. It was a great fight, and finally a thin ~18 inch steelhead was in. What luck, no fish for almost 2 years, and then 2 fish in 2 minutes??? Both fish were not chrome at all. Does this mean that they were in the river for a while? Also, is a spot like that a common spot to catch a steelie? The second fish bit in a hole just before a big rock that causes and eddie behind it. Is that commonly a good spot? And also, how long should i give a single pool before i move on? Thanks to everyone on here for helping me get my first steelie, ive learned so much on here. And yes, Im hooked! Anyone wanna guess where I'll be this weekend?

If u will be there Friday. We can meet up. I will be there this Friday. Nice fishing buddy. Keep trying u will know the dos and donts  once u spend alot of time fishing.

[NaturehasIT]

awwww come on thats no fun, lol

[TRINIBOY]

Catfish/Naturehasit. Come out with me on the west tribs ill get you guys into some steel. Don't mind sharing some spots with fellow OFF members.

[Christopher K]

Congrats! The first fish I would guess to be a large smolt, the second is definitely a steelhead though. Probably took me 100+ hours before I got my first, now I'm surprised if I don't get one on a trip, it definitely gets easier after the first that's for sure!

[NaturehasIT]

Catfish/Naturehasit. Come out with me on the west tribs ill get you guys into some steel. Don't mind sharing some spots with fellow OFF members.

Hey Triniboy. Are u in for some fishing Friday? If not we will schedule another suitable time  in one of these good weather days.    

[FrequentFlyer]

Congrats! The first fish I would guess to be a large smolt, the second is definitely a steelhead though. Probably took me 100+ hours before I got my first, now I'm surprised if I don't get one on a trip, it definitely gets easier after the first that's for sure!

 

 

im surprised......got into one my first day....

 

 

congrats catfish, im hoping to be out this weekend

[Christopher K]

im surprised......got into one my first day....

 

 

congrats catfish, im hoping to be out this weekend

To be fair I wasn't the best at predicting runs.

[FishChaser67]

Way to go Catfish,,Congrats

[NiagaraSteel]

quick job but here's the second one. the background wasn't obvious but I don't want the regulars there to dissect my secret spot