most memorable steelhead moments

[fenwickfisher]

Going crazy with this long cold winter let's hear some of your most memorable steelheading experiences....personally I haven't been steelhead fishing for that long but I would say every chrome I've fought has each been a rush of its own can't wait to get back out on the rivers!

 

[AaronKrick]

My most memorable was my first one, even though it was small. I had put in so many hours that fall to not even get a bite, but near the end of november, I was about to pack up for the day when the float went down. I thought it was a snag like every other time my float went down that fall, but that time it was the real deal.

 

[instapump416]

MY VERY FIRST STEELHEAD!!!

I remember having a knot in my leader and I decided that I would retie after I get snagged...but first drift and FISH ON!!!

[media]http://youtu.be/LAPpfP81IcE[/media]

On the second drift I got another fish on but it snapped at the knot.

 

[ChromeAddict]

This fish I got in November. I fished all day and everyone else was catching, but I couldn't buy a bite. I lost my last float to a snag, so I tied on the last thing in my box, a Kwikfish K9 in Blue/Silver. First cast I got a big brown, and second cast, a big steelhead hit.

 

[fenwickfisher]

Let's hear some more stories!

 

[[email protected]]

outside of my very first one caught with my dad who had made the 3 and half hour trip from Sarnia. The most memorable would be the one that got away. mid morning drifting a fly through a pool, caught a 3inch fish, my boss, who was fishing with at the time laughed and said now go catch his big brother. release the little guy, reset and put my second drift through, wham!, my boss looks over and says snagged? I said no, big brother, as huge bow jumps 5ft into the air, i looked that fish in the eye. it landed then proceeded to roll up in my leader, managed to get it untangled, but the damage was done, and leader broke. inspecting the remaining leader showed that is was stretched and twisted in the 14lb section.

i held onto to that leader for 4 years.......

 

[Dozer]

The time I was converted on using flies more... fishing a stretch of frog water in low and clear conditions... mid afternoon, sun is high in the sky. Stretch is stacked with fish and no ones catching, I was there in the AM and only a handful of fish got caught. I put on a bead head wooly bugger and although I don't remember the exact number of fish caught, I remember the action was so fast and furious that people were approaching me asking what I've put on. It was something stupid like 8 fish in a half hour... that bug just turned them ON. Damn I drove fast home that way from the excitement.

Another memory that keeps repeating itself was when NADO came down with one of his buddies and we were fishing a pool in the Spring. I had moved upstream from the main pool and situated myself underneath an over hanging tree. Waist deep in the water, casting low not to get tangled. My float drops and I feel weight, this thing was on steroids - like a fall fish. A fat 10+ chrome female just starts propelling itself outta the water, over and over again... she then hugs bottom, swims towards me and about 10 ft. in front of me leaps outta the water, twirling and twisting - she got some serious height too. That bright silver fish, leaping outta the water, underneath the overhanging tree right in front of me was such a magical moment... we had an amazing day that day, topped off with a decent harvest of fiddleheads.

Oh how I can't wait for this ice to melt...

 

[fishermandan420]

My most memorable fish is one that got away. 15+ Pounder that did stuff no steel i have ever hooked did. Had my mainline looped downstream like a fly line while he was jumping upstream

 

[Dozer]

Wow, this thread has got me reminiscing hard now... another moment was when I took my brother and he caught more than a couple fish. I wanted that day to be special, as he was just getting back into fishing and I had to get him hooked. Previously he had caught steelies however more time was spent retying and adjusting than catching. The setting was great... a long hike through the bush, the banks lined with river rocks, steep clay cliffs, water has a nice tinge of green to it, Spring was upon us. Man, he lit it up that day. The excitement was felt all around him. Once he was dialed in on them it was non stop, laying a beating on them with a 6 foot rod and spinning reel. Now this guy rocks river fishing gear, slums the rivers and has officially become a trout bum. I love infecting people with steel fever

 

[Dozer]

My most memorable fish is one that got away. 15+ Pounder that did stuff no steel i have ever hooked did. Had my mainline looped downstream like a fly line while he was jumping upstream

I remember fishing with the Commander for steelies and we ended up catching ducks :lol:

 

[fishermandan420]

Trying not to catch them!

 

[flandogg]

Wow, this thread has got me reminiscing hard now... another moment was when I took my brother and he caught more than a couple fish. I wanted that day to be special, as he was just getting back into fishing and I had to get him hooked. Previously he had caught steelies however more time was spent retying and adjusting than catching. The setting was great... a long hike through the bush, the banks lined with river rocks, steep clay cliffs, water has a nice tinge of green to it, Spring was upon us. Man, he lit it up that day. The excitement was felt all around him. Once he was dialed in on them it was non stop, laying a beating on them with a 6 foot rod and spinning reel. Now this guy rocks river fishing gear, slums the rivers and has officially become a trout bum. I love infecting people with steel fever

Haha thats awesome, nothing better than getting family hooked. And yep you got me good with the steel fever

 

[Dozer]

Dude, that was a wicked great time - fish cooperated as well, a bit too mental actually LOL

 

[flandogg]

I know! First set of steelhead ever, and I couldn't even react to some of their acrobatics hahaha. The weather was fantastic too, it was a great day overall. As a matter of fact, that day fits perfectly into one of my most memorable steelhead outings lol.

 

[fenwickfisher]

Awesome stories everyone! Definitely can't wait for ice out now.

 

[goodentight]

I will tell a funny story actually.

After opener I was up river a found a school of still fresh running steel in clear water. It was kinda cool actually, there was probably 15 of them. I sized up the area I was in, and knew there was maybe a 5% chance of landing a fish due to log jams and over hanging trees.

I toss on a pinkie worm, and watch it drift into this school and see a fish rise up a few inches, open wide and inhale it. I rip my rod and get a good hook set. Fish on. I am not kidding when I say this thing ran for a few seconds, then did this insane jump on a slight angle, landing right on top of this old beaver dam/ log jam / teepee thing. I dont know what it was, 3 or 4 feet high? I snapped off immediately, and then this is the funny part.

At first, I thought, the fish is pinned, and going to die. I can't get out to it, and the fish is stuck, its trying to jump out of the logs and can't. Food for the birds I guess. Then this steel starts playing plinko down these logs! Obviously I hope the fish was OK, but, it was so neat to see, unlike any other "long distance release" before.

 

[salmotrutta]

I snapped off immediately

OK, but, it was so neat to see, unlike any other "long distance release" before.

Damn son that's a whole nother level of passionate steelheading!

 

[rich_ace_G]

October 2012...steels started they're run...trib was full...ended up in a small pool of about 5x5. boom. 1 atlantic. 2 steel and 2 brown all on roe. This spot has been taken for granted but it will always be the first spot I fish when i'm in the area.

 

[real]

I've caught a lot of steelhead and have been fortunate enough to fish all the great Lakes both American and Canadian side for steel. One fall we had a dry spell in November for 3 weeks and virtually nobody was catching much at all on a very popular river that I had grown so fond of due to the effort of volunteers that worked on it and the amazing runs it was beginning to see. I had made a move to southern ontario for a year and was going thru a tough time on making yet another big move north of the province. Choosing career over my passion for steelhead I had only one trip left in southern ontario. I packed up my gear and grabbed only my fly box knowing that where I was going on a sunday would have a million guys as usual and these fish had seen every bead, bag and pink worm out there. I decided I would try my go to stones till I found the right colour and style of stone. After 4 switches my float got buried and this tank measuring 35x21". I horsed this fish in as fast as I could knowing just to catch a glimpse of it vs killing it due to finessing it would break my heart. I landed her and took a quick pic. As I released it an older man came up to shake my hand and tell me it was the biggest steelhead he had seen there in over 5 years. It was funny because I always saw the old man in the same spot but for some reason we never had spoke words but more less just fished and took it all in. We sat on the bank and shared life stories after that. I shared some flies with him and we both ended up having a great day. It was the perfect way to leave this river and I haven't been back since nor do I ever really wanna go back because of how perfect it felt to leave it.

 

[Freezer]

I've caught a lot of steelhead and have been fortunate enough to fish all the great Lakes both American and Canadian side for steel. One fall we had a dry spell in November for 3 weeks and virtually nobody was catching much at all on a very popular river that I had grown so fond of due to the effort of volunteers that worked on it and the amazing runs it was beginning to see. I had made a move to southern ontario for a year and was going thru a tough time on making yet another big move north of the province. Choosing career over my passion for steelhead I had only one trip left in southern ontario. I packed up my gear and grabbed only my fly box knowing that where I was going on a sunday would have a million guys as usual and these fish had seen every bead, bag and pink worm out there. I decided I would try my go to stones till I found the right colour and style of stone. After 4 switches my float got buried and this tank measuring 35x21". I horsed this fish in as fast as I could knowing just to catch a glimpse of it vs killing it due to finessing it would break my heart. I landed her and took a quick pic. As I released it an older man came up to shake my hand and tell me it was the biggest steelhead he had seen there in over 5 years. It was funny because I always saw the old man in the same spot but for some reason we never had spoke words but more less just fished and took it all in. We sat on the bank and shared life stories after that. I shared some flies with him and we both ended up having a great day. It was the perfect way to leave this river and I haven't been back since nor do I ever really wanna go back because of how perfect it felt to leave it.

That story was beautiful, that is what fishing is about. The time spent out on the river, the people you meet along the way and the feelings you get that cannot be met by anything else. Thank you for sharing that story, it gives me the nostalgic feeling of similar stories I have had. Tight lines, I hope wherever you are now, you will find a new area and create new memories.