Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing Reports => Members' Fishing Reports => Topic started by: fishiotherapist on January 05, 2008, 05:12:13 PM
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Inspired by Chris' report on his steelhead, I decided to try hunting for the very first time for these fish.
Armed with my salmon outfit and a roe sac, I began to cast and cast but no takings.
Switched to procured shrimp( prepared according to what the other guys are doing in this forum- many thanks guys) after several casts -fish on!!!
The feeling while I'm playing the fish reminded me when I used to play with those Chums @ Stave, it is for sure nice and sort of invigorating ;D ;D ;D
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/fishiotherapist/Stealhead_2008.jpg)
Fishiotherapist
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very nice good for you!! ;D
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Just curious, looks like an adipose fin by the crook of your right arm??? I'm hoping it's not!!!
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It was indeed a wild doe and of course it is still swimming by midriver right now ;D ;D
Fishiotherapist
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Wow that is a nice first steelie! Congrats
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Before I go off, lets start by saying Fishio is that all we have to go by here is the photo and I would have guessed that the fish in that shot was going to be bonked. In fact based on the blood on you hand, I thought you had killed it already.
Fihio...you should never touch a fish in and around the gills, it looks like you have got a pretty good hold on it there. As well, slime coats protect fish from disease and for a fish like steelhead that can return to the ocean after spawning, it is very important to disrupt it as little as possible. Your are, your hand, your leg, they all look to be in contact with the fish...not the best thing for a fish your are going to release.
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Dude your fingers are in the gills.
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I know. It happened when I'm trying to grab the fish by its head and tail for a quick photo shot when my index and ring fingers slipped into the gill area while the fish is still in the net. Anyways it was released and was seen by other fishermen on the other bank.
Fishiotherapist
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Congrats on the fish. But some of the other members raise good points, on safe handling methods for catch and releasing fish. Especially Steelhead, since they can return back to the Ocean and come back to spawn hopefully the following year. Don't let some of the feed back though deter you from braving the cold to get some more
Winter Steel.
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Thanks guys for all the inputs.
Being a newbie I still have lots of things to learn about fishing especially carefully releasing the fish-I just started fishing last summer during the pink salmon run.
Again many thanks for the pointers.
Fishiotherapist
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That is a beautiful specimen, but it does look a bit bashed up, so next time, please be careful.
Regular nylon and cotton nets are not kind to fish, unless you are using a rubberized catch and release net. I'm not sure what kind you have.
And a warning, there are anglers out there who consider steelhead to be a species worth messing someone up over if they are mistreated... But as you go on you will learn...
They are certainly no chum let me tell you, totally different class of fish ;)
Congrats!
Nicole
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People have been very quick to point out his mistakes but I don't think Fishio has been bashed on. Fishio, a good rule of thumb is dont net a fish which is to be release. Looks like you have waders on...I would have handed my rod to my buddy, steppped in to the water and tailed the fish. When my buddy has the camera ready, i would lift it out, snap a quick pick and then revive/release. After battling a fish in, having it out of the water is like holding your breath after a 200 yard dash...not to good for you or the fish.
Sounds like your learning so hopefully next time you be better prepared.
PS - fish are tough, I dont know if that encounter killed that fsh but you never want to risk it.
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Nice fish Fishiotherapist, congratulation on your fish steelhead and thanks to those for mentioning some pointers on how fish of all species should be handled at all times.
Fishiotherapist has accepted them graciously and that is the important thing.
I know when I started steelhead fishing many years ago I made handling mistakes as well.
As far as blood on the hands go I believe that is pro cure from his pro cured shrimp, my hands look like that often as many know by looking at my reel and my fishing rod's handle. ;D ;D
I hope your next steelhead will be a hatchery fish, I am sure you are now hooked on steelhead fishing, once again well done and keep the reports coming, you now have me enthused about my next trip out. ;D ;D
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Thanks very much.
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nice fish.
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Chris, you are the diplomatic one indeed.
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Actually when I'm reading your awesome report Chris, I sort of thought of writing to you somehow- to ask you if I can go fishing with you sometimes.
To learn firsthand the skill of fishing from a good mentor. ;) ;)
Anyways I do appreciate all the sincere pointers from all of you guys, when I'm not rehabilitating my clients I'm educating myself about fishing from this website.
Fishiotherapist
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No offence but sometimes its good to learn how to handle fish before you head out fishing. Reading reports helps as there is often posts about it but you gotta remember steelhead arent sturgeon. Cohokiller hes getting slammed because he made the mistake of putting a pic ahead of the steelheads treatment. Live and learn though i bet i treated fish like that when i started
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When i started that fish would be called bonked. ;D ;D
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Well what a way to do a first post for myself here but........ I have been lurking on this site and tonight with the post of the steelhead, I had to reply.
Wild steelhead, well as we all know is a dying breed of fish, People have the right to be bent when you see a WILD FISH HANDLED AND TALKED ABOUT LIKE IT WAS!!!!! I have seen people thrown into Rivers for the way they have handled fish, or have had there lights knocked out!
I have fished all over the North West due to my posting in the Armed Forces, so I have see what mishandling of fish do to systems, one might say Ah just one fish... Just one fish like that today what about the next and the next you get my drift!
These fish aren't Coho, Chum, Sping & Pink's these are Steelhead, so some of you need to shake your heads as what if that Wilds are Gone what are we left with....... Not much........
I have yet to fish the what Vedder, but ya had to use a net come on ::)
Well back to my post!
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Welcome SSD to FWR and I hope you have enjoyed reading the forum in the past. I hope you will be able to contribute about your fishing experiences and stories in the systems you fish.
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whether or not thats blood... learn how to handle fish. how would you like it if i grabbed you by the throat and throttled you? Im sure theres a ton of guys in line already. also a net is not a good idea unless its specifically designed for C & R.
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whether or not thats blood... learn how to handle fish. how would you like it if i grabbed you by the throat and throttled you? Im sure theres a ton of guys in line already. also a net is not a good idea unless its specifically designed for C & R.
Hey where's your report, did you get skunked today? I might have to guide you. ;D ;D
Send me your e-mail if you wish and I will send the photo I took.
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The guy has been very humble about the whole issue, so easy off on him. Some members seem to believe that Sr membership includes the right to treat others like crap.
Nobody learns to handle fish from reading this (or another) forum, you do it on the spot, and of course, you make mistakes.
Everybody has made mistakes, some are still making them, probably.
If I get thrown in the river for mishandling fish, I'd sure go after the bastard(s) later. However, I would be happy to be told of my mistakes and will surely learn from them, as long as it is done in a respectful way, otherwise the would be teachers can go f**k themselves.
Nice fish Fishio!!! Keep posting, don't get discouraged by the inquisitors.
Yopesco
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Nice fish. From reading your posts, can you please tell me what the red colored stuff is on your fingers? It would appear to have rubbed off on the body of the fish too. Not trying to accuse you of anything and you say you have witnesses to the release of the fish but I am curious to know what that stuff is.
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nice fish fishio...as for the mishandling i'm sure your aware of it now and as they say if we cant learn form our mistakes then we have learned nothing at all.Good on you for taking the criticism the way you have ;)
scruffy
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Thanks guys for all the inputs.
Being a newbie I still have lots of things to learn about fishing especially carefully releasing the fish-I just started fishing last summer during the pink salmon run.
Again many thanks for the pointers.
Fishiotherapist
Fishio judging by this post you fully realize your mistakes and your are willing to take the constructive criticism and learn that the proper handling of our amazing fish species is very important to all of us as well as to the fish itself,it is very refreshing to see someone who has been called out on something they have done that is frowned upon only to handle it in such a positive manner as you have,hopefully this is a lesson learned for you and one that helps you to be more carefull when handling fish that are to be released.Nice first steely.
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Nice fish. From reading your posts, can you please tell me what the red colored stuff is on your fingers? It would appear to have rubbed off on the body of the fish too. Not trying to accuse you of anything and you say you have witnesses to the release of the fish but I am curious to know what that stuff is.
Read my post. ;D
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nice fish i am sure you have learned now, lets not take this further ty
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Nice fish. From reading your posts, can you please tell me what the red colored stuff is on your fingers? It would appear to have rubbed off on the body of the fish too. Not trying to accuse you of anything and you say you have witnesses to the release of the fish but I am curious to know what that stuff is.
Read my post. ;D
I actually asked fishio since I didn't want anyone to assume otherwise what the red substance might be Chris. I've used procured shrimp and roe too but usually it doesn't come off on the body of fish I touch because it's stained my hands but it's not necessarily running all over my fingers, all liquidy. Fishio can choose to answer my post or not.
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It happened when I'm trying to grab the fish by its head and tail for a quick photo shot when my index and ring fingers slipped into the gill area while the fish is still in the net.
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It happened when I'm trying to grab the fish by its head and tail for a quick photo shot when my index and ring fingers slipped into the gill area while the fish is still in the net.
Thanks. I must've missed that. :-[
Interesting point to make about this though. Best to ask the person involved the details about what occurred. Chris assumed his fingers were red from pro-cure shrimp, a number of people thought the fish was bonked. I need to learn to read more carefully. ;D
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My pictures of Steelhead are of the fish in the water. Not all the slime and blood coming off the fish in a death grip so it can't jump out of my hands.
Anyway the guy's a beginner. ;D
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Thread reopened. Sorry fishiotherapist that I did not get to this fast enough, I was asleep here in Europe. ;)
Big steelhead for your first one. Others have already given you the pointers on catch and release for steelhead (or any other big salmonids actually) so there isn't a need to beat the dead horse further. I've made just as many mistakes when starting out, most people on here did too, just not admitting it publicly.
The rest of you, play nice.
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i wasn't gonna wade into this one, and i'm glad a few cooler heads have spoken up.
We were all stumbling through our beginning days, if anyone here can say they've never mishandled a fish in thier fishing carreers... they are liars, myself included.
Fishio seems to be one of those guys who wants to play by the rules, wants to take the time to learn the right way, and looks to many of us to shed light on this fishing game. Ya have to respect that.
BTW nice fish Fishio ;)
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Great fish, Fishio. Beginning's luck or what? You just have to be lucky too these days when steelies are not as abundant.
Thank you for handling those jabs so nicely. You must be a really nice guy. I don't mind fishing with you if Chris turns you down. ;D I am just as old as he is. ;D
Talking about how a newbie steelie fisherman can get hammered for his success, the following is a true story of my newbie fishing partner some years ago:
I took a first time steelie newbie out trying to catch the elusive steelie. He had been fishing rock fish mostly, had no idea what steelie fishing is all about. So I loaned him all fishing equipment, including rod, bait-caster, and even the terminal set up. Boy, what a day he had. We started off right below the Tamahi Bridge, got him set up, then let him make the first cast. He had a fish on. But his rock-fish fishing background fouled up the rest. He did not let the fish run and reeled in with dear life. Of course, fish gone. Then I let him cast some more in the prime water while I casted to secondary spots. Before long, 2nd fish. Guess what, he held on with dear life again and there go the fish. After that, he told me he wanted to switch to his own equipment in the car. He came back with the big rock-fish equipment and the big spinning reel. I could'nt bear the sight. So I walked around some log jams to fish the pool below (the one you could see from Tamahi Bridge). I stood on a rock in the water & casted. Before long, I fell something rubbing my feet area. It was fishing line. I looked up. Here was my friend above the log jam waving at me madly. What happened? He hooked another fish again. But he was so scared about breaking off the fish, he flipped open the big spinning reel to let the fish have a free run down river. The steelie actually was swimming at the calm water right below where I stood. Knowing it was hopeless to have him land the fish, I told him to hold on, rushed back to the car parked at the Bridge, rushed back to the pool with a net, and gently pull on the line so the steelie did not even feel the pressure. Got it close enough to the rock and scoop it up with an outside-in scoop. Wow, what a way to land a fish, haha. What a beginner's luck too.
What happened next was just amazing. My friend had 3 fish on and got the only fish around that area. Other steelheaders gathered to look at the fish and talked to the fisherman who caught the fish. They found the guy not even with a vest, no wader, and holding a big meat stick up with a huge spinning reel and couldn't seem to answer any steelie question intelligently. At this point, one guy even asked if my friend had a license, and was eager to even check it out if he had a steelhead stamp or had the fish registered. It was quite embarrassing. I had to step in to intervene the harrassment.....LOL That is what you got when a newbie told every body he caught 3 steelies in a morning when every one else was skunked, including the poor mentor himself. ;D
Be nice to the newbie steelhead fishermen. Every body started as a newbie before. Congratulation again Fishio, and welcome to the forum.
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whether or not thats blood... learn how to handle fish. how would you like it if i grabbed you by the throat and throttled you? Im sure theres a ton of guys in line already. also a net is not a good idea unless its specifically designed for C & R.
He made a mistake and openly admits it. I dont want to put my hands around his neck. Why not try to put your hands around my neck, I doubt you would get very far with that.
Enough has been said on proper handling methods and I wont add anything other than if you do want to use a net use a proper catch and release net. The proper ones are not cheap so if you see one for under $100 its probably garbage.
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The proper ones are not cheap so if you see one for under $100 its probably garbage.
The one that I use has been great and if I remember correctly, they are $40 each at Berry's. The opening is large enough for fish up to 12lb. The handle is extendable/collapsable. I usually have it collapsed and secured to the back of my back pack. The same net is used for fishing for pink, coho, bull trout in the Tidal Fraser. Good mesh quality, so far it has been excellent on catching and releasing fish. Lucky has the same one as well.
Here is a photo of the net being used.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/album34/070910_1.jpg)
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Just woke up and still on cloud 9 feeling after yesterday's adventure ;D.
Thanks for the fish net pic Rod, I'll definitely get one of those.
I will for sure give you a shout there Steelhawk and thanks ;D ;D
Happy hunting for those guys going out today ;) ;)
Fishiotherapist
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stop being a blood hound, guys. Give the newbie a break. Fish are tough. How many times we caught fish, even steelies, with bad deep wounds from seal bites all over the body and still swimming, not even swimming, actually active enough to bite your presentation. Go figure. Yes, some will die, not just from wound but from exhaustion by getting hooked repeatedly by fishermen. Do we then tell the flyfishers to stop fishing their light equipment which take too long to land a fish, or tell people to stop fishing the mid/upper section of the river because those fish might have been hooked too many times? So why jump on the newbie who has been quite gracious about his mistake? Take it easy and fish in peace. Forum members should be courteous and nice to each other. Trust and respect other members and stop being a blood hound looking for troubles in every post, particularly those from self-professed newbies. That is my 2 cents.
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Steelhawk summed it up perfectly for the thread. Deleted a few more posts, the negativity seems to be repeating itself once again so we'll close the thread now.