First Steelhead on my Pin

[AJAK]

Well finally hooked into my first and then my second steelhead ever with my pin this morning. First steelhead was big buck, felt like a tank, could not budge him and he eventually broke the line at the hook even with trying to keep firm pressure on but not too much. The second one eventually got the line, spit out the hook. I was fishing with both roe and beads but both were caught on a single yellow 8mm bead, both on the first drift through a pool. I am believer in the power of a single bead now. Now that I have managed to hook into them, any advise for landing them? Keeping enough pressure on them but not too much.

 

[Bowie]

Nice job. Part of landing them is keeping the line out of their teeth and keeping the fish away from rocks and logs (and being a bit lucky). Usually my hook sets are in the upper jaw so I keep pressure upwards/up to the side depending on where I need to maneuver the fish. It takes practice getting a feel for how much pressure is too much, knowing your line and equipment etc. Also if one broke off at the hook make sure your knots are good. When tightening them down lube them with saliva to stop them from binding as much. Just my $0.02!

 

[myspacedave]

Still exciting as hell i bet! Good job! Thanks for sharing!

 

[BERRRG]

Congrats buddy. Happens to even the most pro looking pinners on the water. Some things I'd recommend would be practising knots, and err on the side of less drag applied I guess is all you can do about the pressure.

 

[Anglerette]

That’s Awesome! Nothing feels better than a fight on a Pin. Quick landing tip that works for me is to keep your rod low (for maximum fish mojo), not up, on the handle. It will help bend the butt of your rod instead on fighting the fish with your rod angled high and bending the tip of your rod (which doesn’t have a lot of power. Oh and don’t forget to change your leader line every once and a while because nothings worse the losing a big fish to frayed leader line. When it comes down to it everyone has their own preferences on fighting/landing fish it just takes practice. Hope this was helpful.

 

[AJAK]

Thanks for the replies and information.
I was thinking about the line break yesterday and it broke off well above the hook as the bead and the hook were both gone.
Good advise to keep checking leader lines for frayed leaders and changing as required.
I was so excited to finally hook into a steelhead and a big buck at that, it was hard to stay relaxed and ease him to the shore, he did not want to budge. I actually thought he was off and I was now snagged on something as I pulled again I realized he was just down on the bottom of the pool not really caring that he was hooked at all.

 

[tossing iron]

Thanks for the replies and information.
I was thinking about the line break yesterday and it broke off well above the hook as the bead and the hook were both gone.
Good advise to keep checking leader lines for frayed leaders and changing as required.
I was so excited to finally hook into a steelhead and a big buck at that, it was hard to stay relaxed and ease him to the shore, he did not want to budge. I actually thought he was off and I was now snagged on something as I pulled again I realized he was just down on the bottom of the pool not really caring that he was hooked at all.

Yes they were very sluggish this year where I was also. I neve even bothered walking any fish out of the pool.
Now if that was a fall chromer he'd be leading you everywhere. Lol

 

[instapump416]

Congrats AJAK

 

[tombo]

In regards to knots, lube is key! And after tightening knot if line near knot shows any stretching, cut off and retie! You want perfect looking line behind the knot!!

 

[fishermandan420]

Quick landing tip that works for me is to keep your rod low (for maximum fish mojo), not up, on the handle. It will help bend the butt of your rod instead on fighting the fish with your rod angled high and bending the tip of your rod (which doesn’t have a lot of power.

Great advice! The side pull rules