Finally got one!!

[uba01]

So this is how my long journy to catch my first steelhead began.
I started salmon fishing two years back and quickly got addicted to it. I had to learn all by myself so it took me a while to know little bit about float fishing.
I then somehow arrived in this forum and knew about steelheads. Didn't even know such thing exist back then.
Anyhow, I began steelheading last fall and I can tell you it was totally different GAME.
I began to learn more about float fishing (big thanks to you guys) while I got skunked I don't know how many times.
So last week around 6 am, I went to one of the east trib for about fifteenth times since last fall.
Casts about an hour and YES!! I saw my float going down. Can forget that feeling. Set the hook and for the first time caught my first steelhead!!

I honestly think I cast few hundred times, walked more than 20 hours and spend few hundred dollars for my car gas before I got to catch just one.

Couldn't resist but to go steelheading one more time.
So around 6 am again today, I went to one of the east trib. (I went to almost all the east tribs during my learning period)
Casts about an hour and YES AGAIN!! Set the hook. Got my second one in last to two trips.

Released both of them.
Posting this just to give thanks to you guys guiding me to the right direction.

 

[NADO]

very nice piece of steel and nice pin too

 

[Graham Bristow]

It gets easier, keep at it....good job releasing them...

 

[RiverNinja]

It gets easier, keep at it....good job releasing them...

GJ releasing??... sorry, but that is a piss poor effort.. I would bet that they died shortly after being put back in the water..

 

[Graham Bristow]

GJ releasing??... sorry, but that is a piss poor effort.. I would bet that they died shortly after being put back in the water..

lol, as a newbie it probably wasnt the best or fastest release but what I meant was good for him for atleast trying to release his fish and not keeping them.. Maybe we should put a post up here for the new guys on how to properly handle and release a fish.

I`d like to hear your tips on better release RiverNinja..

Unfortunetely i see to many guys both new and veterans that dont release them properly, I rarely see guys with nets and most guys still drag em up on shore where they flip around bashing themselves of the rocks or get covered in mud and breathing in all that muddy water cant be good for them.

Buy a net guys, keep there heads in the water at all times, take quick pictures or none at all, and put them back fast....If you need to take picture, take them in the net.. My net hangs off my back and most of the time I dont even know its there until I need it..

This pictures was taking using a dollar store mini tripod placed on a rock and I used the 10 second delay on the camera. With a little practice you can get decent pictures when you`re by yourself and the fish is only out of the water for about 3-5 seconds.

 

[Graham Bristow]

in the net shots look better then muddy fish on the bank shots..

 

[RiverNinja]

Agreed Graham. -Those are some great shots, btw.

I also carry a net at all times.. I typically don't hold the fish out of the water, if I do it's literally for a few seconds.

 

[JaysonMarion]

I agree as well about the muddy gravel covered pics.

Definitely not good for the fish.

And just an observation, you just started floating and bought a kingpin right away?

heh..

 

[uba01]

Thank you Graham.
I will try to release the fish properly next time.
I didn't think that we need a net while wading. Good to know that I was doing something wrong so that I can fix it next time.
As for the kingpin, I read a lot on posts that it is worth do buy a quality pin when properly maintained.
Soon or later I know I will want to upgrade so I thought why not buy the good on the first place.
And I acutally bought it for $150 off the regular price so I definately thought it was a good deal.

 

[habs_freak18]

This is the second post ive seen today where a young inexperienced fisherman catches something he should be proud of, only to get a negative reaction from "fellow" fishermen. I, for one, am happy for you, congratulations on the beauties. Don't forget that these fish have more rights than humans do.. getting a little out of hand.

 

[Porter86]

Nice lookin fish there bud! Nice report as well for your first post here on OFF. I would def get a net like their talking about. I'm picking one up before my first time out for the year.

Habsfreak, I would def say hes got deeper pockets than the rest of us who are looking at getting a centre pin reel lol.

 

[Graham Bristow]

Hey Uba01,

You learn more and more as you go, keep at em, and keep the reports coming. I agree with Habsfreak congrats to you on landing some nice fish and my hats off to you for releasing them, even if it was a bit dirty...lol

Hey Habsfreak, Dont you think that a little negativity actaully helped this post become more educational. I dont agree with bashing guys but unless someone actually tells you what you`re doing wrong you may never know. Negativity should be expressed lightly and suggestions to correct the issues should follow. I hope Uba and the guys making the odd mistake realize it`s only constructive critisism and dont take it to heart. It sounds like UBA01 is a good guy and is eager to learn, now he knows and I bet his future pictures will be of nice clean fish that were released better.

Chances are any other new guys reading this will also learn from it and consider better handling and release proceedures and that benefits all of us.

 

[Dozer]

Isn't it a rush uba? Quite thrilling if you ask me. Guess what, they get bigger and stronger too

As for the previous comments, we are just tryng to help you, really.

Congrats on your first, looknig forward to seeing more!

 

[NADO]

The problem is when the criticism is written in a negative way, there are a few members on the forum who just looove putting the new anglers down. Must make them feel better about themselves or something. And let’s not forget about what these fish go through on their journey up river jumping over obstacles and smashing against rocks as they struggle to get as far up river as possible. Not to mention how muddy the water gets after a big rain too. When I land fish I tail them and set them down gently on the bank making sure they don’t thrash around. I set my reel beside them and take a pic as quickly as possible before releasing them. Sure the net is better but its not a requirement, maybe with resident browns and specks. Id be willing to bet that the guys who use the nets still tail the odd fish every now and then too, these fish are tough.

 

[float^drifter]

best way is it to net them if u can, if u can't u can steal beach the fish without takin it out of the water .Lift up for a few sec to take a pic and that's it I just cant figure out why people take the fish completely out of the water and let it roll in the mud/flop on rocks. they do travel far and they are tough fish but u still need to be careful how u land them. I've seen it millions of times when guys take fish out of the water they flop on rocks they bump their head and they cant revive them. Criticism is good, its how we all become better fisherman :wink:

 

[NADO]

as long as its constructive and civil, "piss poor effort" could be rephrased

 

[RiverNinja]

as long as its constructive and civil, "piss poor effort" could be rephrased

Re-phrased to what? -You think that was proper C&R?
If you (all you noobs) can't take the criticism, than there is a problem.. I am not here to hold someone's hand and wipe their a$s. YOU can do that if you please.

And FYI, I have helped more noobs on the river than you will ever know.. A couple of board members that I fish with, know this and have seen it first hand.
-This is how I would talk to you in person... I am not changing to garner a few e-Fans, online..

 

[RiverNinja]

This is the second post ive seen today where a young inexperienced fisherman catches something he should be proud of, only to get a negative reaction from "fellow" fishermen. I, for one, am happy for you, congratulations on the beauties. Don't forget that these fish have more rights than humans do.. getting a little out of hand.

You are one of the loogans, that thinks it's ok to fish on closed sections of water, because of loop holes in the law.....
-Need I say more?

 

[NADO]

Re-phrased to what? -You think that was proper C&R?
If you (all you noobs) can't take the criticism, than there is a problem.. I am not here to hold someone's hand and wipe their a$s. YOU can do that if you please.

And FYI, I have helped more noobs on the river than you will ever know.. A couple of board members that I fish with, know this and have seen it first hand.
-This is how I would talk to you in person... I am not changing to garner a few e-Fans, online..

You dont get it....I dont think anyone would disagree that the amount of mud on the fish was from improper handling as that fish must have thrashed around quite a bit. The point is that the way we come across can be a little more constructive and a little less negative. Uba took it well but a different person could have easily been discouraged or angered by the way that was said and then a thread with 50-100 replies would follow and the whole forum gets into a pissing match. Alot of the arguments on this forum could be avoided if people would convey their criticism in a more civil manner.

 

[uba01]

Hey guys, to make use of your advice, I bought the net and took it with me this morning. Didn't have a chance to use it tho. I just caught the little one and I thought using the net will simply take more time to release it. Took it out from the water for few seconds to take a picture.
I also like to post my thoughts here too.
First of all, I care about our fishey as much as you guys do. I really like my one year old son to experience this thrilling excitement of float fishing when he grew up. That is the reason why I never kill fish just to keep roes or take it home to feed my family (I have no negatively feeling for anglers to keeps their limit ). I can pruoudly say that I tried everything to do no harm. My point is that there are many noobs (just like me) out there who cares about these fish at least as much as you guys do but doesnlt have the knowledge and skills to properly transform their thoughts into an action . I believe one of the main purpose about this forum is to eaducate them and guide them to the right direction. Just one little advice can help me and the others become BETTER fishermen doesn't matter if its online or on river.
And hey river ninza, please, don't take what other fellows members said personal. Although I had to agree with NADO about conveying the cristism in more civic manner, by seeing your reaction to my muddy fish picture I can tell that you cares about our fishery and I truly respect that.

This is just my thought after reading you guys comments...