I don't believe I have every fished on Christmas Day for steelhead so with the chance from yesterday fresh in my mind I decided to slip out this afternoon for 2 hours or a little more.
On arrival water conditions remain excellent except for a little wind and the temperature was a tad above freezing, I see 2 anglers working the water I wanted to fish but decided to head down where I had the chance yesterday. I fished a couple of runs above it first before I arrived at the recent hot spot.
I decided to fish it from the other side this time as it would be hard to land one from the side I fished it yesterday.
On the first cast in the run I could not believe it as the Maple Leaf Drennan was gone, this time I did strike and yes a fish is on, a brief flash and it is gone, once again this sinking feeling in my stomach. Maybe it will come back but several casts saw the float stay dry.
So I work the rest of the run giving the spot where the fish was a bit of a rest. When I come back in about 15 minutes a couple of casts the float dips a bit but does not go under.
The next cast the floats is gone from my view and I am really ready this time, the strike hooks the steelhead this time firmly I am hoping, I see the flash as before, the fish does not look too big but what the heck a fish on my third trip is OK as I have had many days without even a bite in years past. I am wondering if it the same fish or another as it was maybe 25 feet below the first one I had on, of course we never know for sure.
Just as I start to enjoy the pull and fight of the fish, after maybe 5 seconds the sinking feeling of slack line, gone, no Christmas present of a steelhead. I am a bit disappointed but hopefully there will be more to come in the days ahead maybe tomorrow as I should enter the derby as the fish may give me another chance tomorrow thats if it stays in the run.
A shorter report than usual as the Turkey dinner is ready, a good substitute for a bit of chrome, I guess.
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Topic: Chilliwack River, Christmas Day 2009 (Read 1481 times)