Today was a different approach. With my 6wt, waders, and vest I returned to the spot I was fishing last Thursday. This time no spoons, only eggs and a little split shot for weight. I started tossing the egg across and letting it dead drift to the end of the line, which was about 45 feet. I have a marker at 35 feet and was about 10 feet past that. I'd do 3 or 4 swings and then move downstream 5 feet or so and swing again.
I got to a point where I was swinging out of the current and into the slow area below the rocks in the picture below. After a couple of swings, I got one of those line slapping hits that almost jerk the rod out of your hand, and then it was gone.
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| Water was only 10 inches deep |
On the way back upstream (I took another shot at that hole) I saw the guy below fighting something big a ways upstream from me. The reason I mentioned this is because I leapfrogged him and a guy he was fishing with (with their permission of course) all the way to the open river.
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| The agony of defeat |
So went the day, but I am much inspired but the line snapping hit this morning. I've got to do this again, real soon.
Till the next adventure.
Mark
Steelhead fishing I understand is a low numbers game. At least you had a connect. What is the final tippit material and strength? I just read today that steelhead sense of smell is better than a dog. Do you have luck with big spinners too? All gold or all silver, or black?
ReplyDeleteIt's a lost fish, but what a feeling. Wild steel.
ReplyDeleteBack to the drawing board buddy. You'll get em next time.
ReplyDeleteOk, now you have felt the "rush" when you hook a Steelhead. Keep working on it, pretty soon the "rush" will result in one in the net!
ReplyDeleteaaah steelheading.. the tug is the drug, you must endevour to persevere..
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun.
ReplyDeleteSoon grasshopper, soon you will achieve you goal.
ReplyDeleteThanks Guys.
ReplyDeleteHey Mark. I was using a 4# Fluorocarbon tippet on a 5X - 9ft tapered trout leader. Probably a little light for Steelhead, but I tend to fish that way rather than heavy line and horsing them in. I tried the big spoon only because of the article in the magazine. Color wise, it said nickle or silver and nickle was the color available.
Mark
Mark
ReplyDeleteI am really into the tight lining technique, because I keep in contact with my fly at all times. Sorry about the loss but that is what makes all of us keep going back and back and back time after time.
Mark, I could be wrong but that sounds like a snagged salmon by the discription of the fight. Steelhead go and go hard. You just cant turn them Salmon with light fly rods, especially when they are foul hooked. It happens often on American, Feather and Sac.
ReplyDelete