For some people, steelheading seems to come naturally. Somehow, maybe with a bit of luck, natural instinct, or even naivety, they’re able to connect and land one in their first season or even on their first outing. This certainly wasn’t the case for me. I spent the first 2 seasons dabbling in the arts and treating steelheading trips as I would any other fall salmon trip. Over that period of time, I only hooked up once, and only for about 5 seconds, never actually seeing the elusive fish. I heard it all “…the average fisherman takes 2 seasons to land a steelhead…” "...fish of a thousand casts..." yeah yeah yeah, two seasons are up, what’s going on? If not for the peacefulness and beauty of the season, I might have given up. I read every bit of steelheading literature I could get my hands on…magazines, internet sites, Dec Hogan’s “A Passion for Steelheading”, and soon I became obsessed with this fish that I simply couldn’t catch.
In my 3rd season, I started fly fishing for summer-runs after learning that they’re more active in the warmer water, and perhaps willing to move further for an offering. Every week, I made the long trek out to the flow in hopes of finally connecting, and by the 3rd trip it finally happened; I hooked a bright summer-run and completely lost my composure. For some reason, I decided to play the wild fish by hand. The slack line ended up entangling my feet and after the summer-run made a quick dash, the line pulled tight and I ended up flat on my butt, wet, and without a steelhead. I thinking I entered a new phase here, where I actually believed that it would never happen for me and I put the elusive fish further up on a pedestal, never meant for me to touch.
This is my 4th season. I decided to come into it with a strategy:
- concentrate my efforts on the most productive river
- fish it hard during peak season
- choose one offering and stick with it no matter what
- find one stretch of river and fish it exclusively, learning its secrets and holding spots
Every trip I’ve made this year has been slightly more productive than the last, whether it’s learning a new technique from fellow fisherman, or observing them to find new holding spots. Last week, I fished my chosen stretch of river bottom to top and as I began to work it down once again I found my own holding spot. My float shot below the surface and the fight was on…but only for about 10 seconds… My leader had worn down and snapped just above the hook. I already knew this, but it was reiterated in my consciousness, always check your setup for weaknesses whether it’s in your mainline, leader or hook. There’s not much room for error here.
Today, I made the trek out again, confident that I would at least connect. I worked the same stretch of river bottom to top. And once again, and the way back down, in the exact same spot, my float shot down. I set the hook hard and the fight was on!!! For real this time! I kept my composure, and after a spirited fight, I finally did it!! I landed my first steelhead ever! Shaking from excitement, I took some quick photos and sent her on her way. I actually thanked her for the fight…that’s the first time I’ve ever talked to a fish.
As hue-nut’s last report was meant to inspire others, I decided to do the same. Sorry about the life story, but I figured that some of you can relate to the struggles and might find this interesting.
Oh and Chris, I think this may be the beginning of my own lucky float...but mine doesn't stand for all that is wrong and evil
the leafs suck *cough*
Author
Topic: Chilliwack River, February 27th 2009: The journey to the beginning (Read 4961 times)