My buddy and I fished the Tamahi area in the early morning but nothing, so we headed downriver. Fished the campground area and on my second cast using roe bags I hit a beauty right in front of my feet. Looked to be around 7-8 lbs. Did some cartwheels and her tail hit the leader and off she goes.
Fished the run some more but nothing. Moved upstream and fished a deep slick behind a rock and on the first cast, whack, the steelie hits and runs downstream. Then she broke into a flip in the air. Back up stream with a surge then flipping her big tail out of the air waving at me. She did another run then back up to me. Some standing on her tail and head shaking then....PING....out comes the hook. No way!!!! This one looked around 10 lbs. Man was I miffed. I had been trying some Gami's Octopus hooks. I have lost 6 in a row on these hooks, so I am going back to my regular steelhead hooks.
Man the wind was cool out on the river. I was warm but the fingers!!!!
I think as other reports have indicated that we are in for a good start for the steelie season. The numbers are looking good. One guy that I saw land a 12 lb doe said that it was his 6th fish since Dec. 2. Two hatchery the rest wild. He had released one doe about 17 lbs, the biggest he has even taken. I think that we are going to see a lot of fish taken on Boxing Day derby. Merry Christmas to all.