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Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: shadowless_nite on July 23, 2016, 07:50:46 PM


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Title: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: shadowless_nite on July 23, 2016, 07:50:46 PM
Sort of a late post but I finally found some time post up. For almost a year now Ive been trying to get into salmon and steelhead fishing. I got my first taste during last year's pink season and it was a blast and now I'm anxiously waiting for next year's run. But then I wanted to get a REAL salmon and a steelhead, something to make those pinks look more like dinks. I tried a little for some fall chinook run but with archery season I didn't make it out much and had no success.  Tried my luck at winter steelhead but also no luck, meanwhile my buddy next to me was able to land one. No time for springers this year.

      I was able to make it out for some summer run steelhead on the columbia. First time out 2 weekends ago fishing on the bank plunking I had one bell ringer but it was a swing and a miss. Went out the next day and I missed another one but my buddy was able to connect and landed a nice one.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi279%2Fshadowless_nite%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2FIMG_20160716_065921_zps12lavltq.jpg&hash=a3aa5ca8f258055fcfb1f212ac0c8ff9d48bce78) (http://s74.photobucket.com/user/shadowless_nite/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160716_065921_zps12lavltq.jpg.html)

Last weekend after waiting all week to get back out there saturday. We catch the tide at 4am ish and get the kayak out with the lines. After a few hours of fishing I get a good hit and connect. I get it halfway to shore and it jumps out of the water and with a good shake of its head it pops the hook. Felt like that kid in P.E. who never hits the baseball but then  one day gets a solid hit only to get thrown out on 1st base. Same day my buddy gets a swing and a miss.

Next day I got both my kids out of bed and nestled into the rig at 345am.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi279%2Fshadowless_nite%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2FIMG_20160716_034140_zpskcuyvb8n.jpg&hash=5f1535e105c8c46c4c98f0443b14ea498836faf1) (http://s74.photobucket.com/user/shadowless_nite/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160716_034140_zpskcuyvb8n.jpg.html)

 After a slow morning. It's a decent day out, my son and daughter are playing with my friends son in the sand, rig parked with the tailgate down and music playing....

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi279%2Fshadowless_nite%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2FIMG_20160716_084850_zpsxygrhegb.jpg&hash=7f1191f4adbfadd457e85587d6c71b357ca477cf) (http://s74.photobucket.com/user/shadowless_nite/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160716_084850_zpsxygrhegb.jpg.html)

  We reel the lines back to shore for fresh bait. We get strung up and he runs my line out. I told him just to drop it where it feels good.  So he does, and as he makes it back to shore for his line and starts running it out the bell goes off on the other rod. I  throw the pole in the holder as fast as possible and nail the other rod. Felt like a solid hit. As the kids notice the action I tell my daughter to grab my cellphone out of my jacket and make a video. She did manage to get a pretty good picture too....

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi279%2Fshadowless_nite%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F20160717_124154_zpsxio1d4ds.jpg&hash=5bb8fcd294e8e6f14eee413eec0616b31c6c830b) (http://s74.photobucket.com/user/shadowless_nite/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160717_124154_zpsxio1d4ds.jpg.html)

With some coaching from my good friend on the right I was able to land my very first steelhead of my life! After a lot of swings and misses I felt very accomplished and the best part is it was a hatchery fish so it's a keeper! And even better than anything was the fact that my good friend and kids were there to share the experience!

The obligatory long arm. Sorry I'm not very good at it, I guess it's due to lack of practice holding these things up.

 (https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi279%2Fshadowless_nite%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2Fsteelhead_zpsnxbu7gkt.jpeg&hash=d6442252b40a7366395f780504b2638a54ae9035) (http://s74.photobucket.com/user/shadowless_nite/media/Mobile%20Uploads/steelhead_zpsnxbu7gkt.jpeg.html)

Me and the youngest. He absolutely just had to touch the fish as soon as it was out of the water. I told him to let his mom sniff his fingers when we get home :chuckle:

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi279%2Fshadowless_nite%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F20160717_124555_zpsriwesr0e.jpg&hash=cc157b31a8c1bbd7827b809e4300cafc23d4c5d7) (http://s74.photobucket.com/user/shadowless_nite/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160717_124555_zpsriwesr0e.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi279%2Fshadowless_nite%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F20160717_131617_zpsqws0up82.jpg&hash=2b203301a4f52c274a366c6740dae30ce44c8659) (http://s74.photobucket.com/user/shadowless_nite/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160717_131617_zpsqws0up82.jpg.html)

All in all after gutting it weighed 7.7lbs on the scale. Good enough for me! Sorry for the long winded story! Hope you enjoyed!
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: Taco280AI on July 23, 2016, 08:05:00 PM
Good job  :tup:

What kind of setup do you use from the shore?
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: Lucky1 on July 23, 2016, 08:10:50 PM
 :) good job man. Way to stick with it. :tup:
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: Mfowl on July 23, 2016, 08:33:34 PM
Nice work! Nothing wrong with a day on the beach plunking! Congrats!  :tup:
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: Oldguy on July 23, 2016, 09:00:16 PM
Congratulations on a nice fish! Not only was the steelhead hooked, but I would guess that you are hooked on steelheading now. Not really a bad thing.  :)
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: WAcoueshunter on July 23, 2016, 09:54:00 PM
So many great things about this post.  Nice work!  Plunking in the summer with the kids playing on the beach, pretty great right there, but then to get your first steelhead too!  I fish for everything we have, but to me steelhead have always been tops.   :tup:
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: shadowless_nite on July 24, 2016, 12:30:18 AM
Good job  :tup:

What kind of setup do you use from the shore?

Plunking 3 spin n glo with coon shrimp and dropping with a kayak

Congratulations on a nice fish! Not only was the steelhead hooked, but I would guess that you are hooked on steelheading now. Not really a bad thing.  :)

Yes hooked now, it's definitely a different feel than having small trout/bass/catfish on the end of your line that's for sure! Hoping for another fish soon!

So many great things about this post.  Nice work!  Plunking in the summer with the kids playing on the beach, pretty great right there, but then to get your first steelhead too!  I fish for everything we have, but to me steelhead have always been tops.   :tup:

Yeah its definitely a lot more enjoyable to just have the kids playing while we fish. Keeps everyone entertained. When my daughter is there she gets a pole in the water as well and sits to read a book while waiting for that bell to ring!
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: huntnphool on July 24, 2016, 12:37:39 AM
 Congrats, that's awesome. I'm betting you've been bit with the bug now! :tup:
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: bowhunterforever on July 24, 2016, 01:25:26 AM
Congrats :tup:
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: nwwanderer on July 24, 2016, 06:32:36 AM
Great illustrated story, nice fish
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: Wingin it on July 24, 2016, 07:46:07 AM
Congrats. That first metalhead usually proves to be a tough one to catch. They usually come easier once that first one is out of the way.
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: ELKBURGER on July 24, 2016, 08:05:04 AM
Congrats on your first! Where have been fishing? I've been trying around woodland with only 1 caught so far this summer. Lots of hits though. Keep it up!
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: shadowless_nite on July 24, 2016, 04:35:41 PM
Congrats on your first! Where have been fishing? I've been trying around woodland with only 1 caught so far this summer. Lots of hits though. Keep it up!

We've been over in austins point fishing on the bank
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on July 25, 2016, 09:39:47 AM
 :tup:
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: 724wd on July 25, 2016, 04:02:49 PM
AWESOME!  nice fish, too!   :tup: :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: 270Shooter on July 25, 2016, 04:17:58 PM
Congrats man you never forget your first steelhead. I think they are my favorite fish to catch.
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: SteelheadTed on July 25, 2016, 04:35:10 PM
Cool man, nothing like the first one!  The tug is the drug and you are hooked.
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: seth30 on July 25, 2016, 05:34:43 PM
Thanks for sharing and great write up!  :tup:
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: Bow tech hunter on July 25, 2016, 05:35:06 PM
  :tup:
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: SeaRun1 on July 25, 2016, 06:36:38 PM
Nice job.  I love sitting in a chair plunking on the Columbia.

SR1
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: cbond3318 on July 25, 2016, 06:42:59 PM
Nice work!! :tup:
Title: Re: Caught my first steelhead!
Post by: PLAINSHUNTER on July 29, 2016, 12:03:18 PM
Way to stick with it.  Congrats
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