I took the week off work in hopes of catching my first steelhead. This is my first season fishing and I havent had a lot of luck with anything this year but knew I just had to keep learning as much as I can and being persistent. I had gone out Tues, Weds, Fri and again on Saturday. No luck at all on the first 2 days and then on Friday after being skunked for about 12-15 trips since salmon season, I caught a little mountain white fish. Id like to say the fight was on but the little fella wasnt exactly putting my gear through a workout, lol. Nonetheless, I was just happy I wasnt heading home skunked again even though my 7th trip for steelhead didnt even yield me a bite.
I headed out on Saturday morning for one last attempt before I go back to work on Monday. I picked up Milo and after a stop over to meet up with my brother, we got to the river a little late. It was busy but not as bad as I expected, a nice surprise. We got down to our starting point and Milo told me, today is the day. I had been telling myself this every trip out this week but I had to admit, I did feel it too. After casting in spot for about 15 mins waiting for everyone to get their gear ready(nice Mcguyver job on the rod Milo), we started marching down stream.
I was taking a few casts to cover water then move down and wash rinse repeat. I got about 50 or so yards down from where we started and saw a fishy looking spot behind a rock and let me gear drift around it. Soon as my float went around the rock, it disappeared. I was excited but cautious in that split second because I have snagged a couple times in the same scenario but set the hook and HOLY cupcakes, its a fish.
It gave me a good turn and I saw the chrome flash of its belly and boy my heart was racing at this point. It jumped and darted this way and that and I was doing my best to let my rod do the work and not winch it in with my real(thanks again Milo), I did not want to lose this fish. I played it for a bit and after about 5 minutes or so, it was ready to come in and it was a hatch too, about 8-9 lbs I guess. I decided not to keep it as we had only been fishing for about 30 mins and had the whole day in front of us and things were looking good.
I gently released it and had to sit back for about 10 mins and just soak it all in before I started fishing again. It was pure elation and I feel it will do no good for my fishing addiction, lol. I had a smile so big it felt like my mouth was trying to eat my face and I could do nothing about it.
We fished for the rest of the day, till it started to get dark. I had another hook up later in the day but lost the fish after about 15 seconds. It was a hell of a day after 7 outings without a bite, minus the mountain while fish and then I get 2 on in one day and landed the first, great 8th trip, lol.
Thanks again to Milo for a great day on the river and being a more than willing camera man to capture the moment for me.
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Topic: Chilliwack River, February 11th 2012 (Read 2982 times)