Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => Fly Fishing Cafe => Topic started by: gmachine19 on January 09, 2012, 06:18:03 PM
-
***This is a copy paste from a different site. I have a couple of friends direct me here so I thought I'd post it too so they can read it***
January 9 is a special day for me. It marks the day I was born screaming in this world. So what could make this day any better? Catching the very first steelhead of my life! It's even extra special because it was on the fly. And it gets better. It was on the experimental fly I tied myself!
I did not have a great start today. Today marks the 6th day of steelhead hunt for me and I got skunked every time. After an argument I lost to my dad on who's gonna use the car, I woke up late. He called me around 10am and told me that he did not use the car. So what did I do? I immediately packed up my stuff. I was planning to use my gear so I could just catch my first one. But as luck would have it, instead of cutting the leader only, I also snipped the main line near the reel in my rush. I did not have enough time to fix it so I picked up my fly rod instead. But for some reason, I picked up my camera too. I always use my cellphone for pictures but I told my self, "at least I'll have good pictures even though I never catch a fish when I go home." So, off I go racing down Highway 1 just to get to my spot...
I got to the Vedder river pretty late than usual. It was around 11:00 am when I started fishing. I was overdressed. It was pretty hot when I got there. Also, in my rush, I forgot to eat anything. I fished my first run feeling pretty crappy. Then I fished the second run. Then the third run and still no fish. I packed up my stuff and went to the nearest store to buy some food and drinks. As I was sitting in the car, I wanted to call it quits and go home. But I said to myself, "c'mon! 1 more run!" So I got to my fourth run around 12:30 pm. As luck would have it, I have the whole run to myself! There we're 2 guys way below the run so I started as far top as I could.
I worked the run fast. I took a couple of steps every cast. The water was almost too perfect. About 4 ft of visibility! Slow moving too. The sun was not shining. I remembered everything I read about fly fishing for steelheads. From previous posts, to blogs, to pm's with another member. I took my sweet time going in the water. Made sure my knots were perfect and my hook was razor sharp.
The river was flowing from right to left. So every time I was casting to my 10 o'clock position. I remembered that steelheads like to stay near the banks if they are not spooked. So, down to the water I go. 20 minutes in the run I felt a serenity that you could probably compare to a monk meditating. I could feel the water flowing smoothly under my feet. The soft breeze blowing through my hair. I almost caught up with the gear guys down below me and then it happened!
I saw a small fish jump the water not 20ft away from me! I remember from all the salt water fishing I had in the Philippines that schools of shrimp would jump away and clear the water because there was a predator there after them. So I tossed my fly 3 ft ahead to where that fish jumped. Then the dead drift. And then it hit the fly! I thought there was a fast moving current underwater and I got snagged on a moving log. An then I felt a head shake. At this point my heart rate was elevated. Then I saw what looked like a head splash. Then... It jumped! I screamed, "oh my god! It's a steelhead!" It jumped 2 more times and every time it jumped, my smile got bigger and bigger! I knew that the fish was hooked good. It took me about 15 minutes to land the fish. My new rod and reel was being tested! It felt like an eternity! I'm afraid that everything would go wrong and the fish would get away. At this point, the older gentleman below me was racing to my spot to watch me.
So I got the fish close to the shore. I did not see any fin so it was a keeper. I remember from what I read here that steelheads love to run just when fishermen are about to land it. So I did not give it any slack. Knowing that it was a hatchery, I pulled it to dry land. The old man was yelling at me. "What are you doing? If it's a wild you'll f*** the fish!" But I was in a daze. I could not answer him. My heart was beating so fast. It was like I ran a marathon. Then as I was giving the fish the rock shampoo, he asked me why the hook did not fall of yet. Was I using barbed hook? I knew this guy had a genuine love for fishing so I told him that I confirmed that it was a hatch before landing it. Showed him the barbless hook too. It's good to see people still care for fish out there in the river. His name was Tom. Then he told me of his first one back in '62. Then I told him that this was the very first steelhead of my life. He reached out to shake my hand. I hesitated and told him I got slime all over it. It did not bother him. Then he helped me take a picture so I can immortalize this day 'till the day I die.
I know I wrote a novel, but I want to remember this day until I die. Now on to the pictures!
Fish size: 25" Weight: 9lbs
(http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq15/gmachine19/Fishing/DSCF3007.jpg)
(http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq15/gmachine19/Fishing/DSCF3013.jpg)
My experimental fly. I call it the "Pilipino Miner"
(http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq15/gmachine19/Fishing/DSCF3012.jpg)
-
Congratulations that's incredible! First steel on the fly is crazy, but after just 6 trips that's almost unfair..
I think you need to change your username to Pilipino Miner!
-
Haha thanks! Maybe I should.
-
Congratulations !
and it was on a single hand !
-
Awesome story! I dont care if it was a novel, it had a lot of feeling and conveyed your experience very well. Although I dont know the feeling of a steelhead, I do know the feeling of the first fish on the fly and that first fish being able to watch her take your fly. Thats a damn fine fish! And if you remember anything from this trip, remember how you DIDNT GIVE UP!
-
Congrats!! You couldn't ask for a better present ;D
I have known Tom for years. Sure he can sometimes come off as a bully, but he means well and cares about the fish. He is a stand up guy and knows the Vedder well. Anyone can learn a thing or two from Tom.
You will never forget your first steelie, especially one that was caught on a fly you created!! Happy B-day!!
-
Awesome story I'm on near day 30 without a touch on my fly rod. Still looking for my first as well, Guess I will go out in the morning. :)
-
You will never forget your first steelie,
correction, you will never forget ANY steelie ;)
congrats man , if i only had that luck when i went out fishing :D
-
Thanks fellas.
Now I'll have to catch one on my bait caster since I did buy it for steelhead!
-
congrats on your first and on the fly as well ;D
I ran into a guy 3-4yrs back that was fishing his first every trip the the Vedder and for steelhead as well. He followed me through the run and pulled a fish out right behind me using almost the same fly as mine LOL sometimes i think its just luck i swear ::)
-
Thanks Hook. I can't believe that ugly fly I tied worked!
-
that is not an ugly fly by any means. it has two of the 3 colours that are used in Tequila Sunrise patterns and the flash tail is perfect for slightly off coloured water and for predatory fish like Steelhead. steelhead will generally hit anything that comes into their attack path ;D trick with the fly is getting it and keeping it in the zone long enough
-
Great read.Thanks for the vicarious thrill.Just goes to show you it is persistence more than any one thing that matters when it comes to steelheading!Welcome to the brotherhood!
-
Thanks Riverman. Now I'm just waiting for the ice on the road to melt and try to catch em on gear.
-
that's a great read gmachine19! reading it brought back memories of my first and i was able to relate to you...the quick beating of the heart, the shallow breathing, and the adrenaline rush....Congrats!
-
I agree with Hook that the fly you concocted has good potential. The colours are nice, bright but not too gaudy, perfect for the clear water and overcast conditions you described. The flashy tail and long wing material would give that fly considerable movement and profile in the water, irresistible to a steelhead. All you need do now is name it. Sumas Sunset?
-
I was joking with a buddy of mine and I told him I'll call it "something miner" if it catches a steelhead. So the Name "Filipino Miner" kinda gut stuck to it haha!
-
thanks for sharing this experience! you captured the exhilaration i think everyone feels every time a steelhead is caught, especially the first time! "crap i snagged a rock! oh no way it's a fish!! please be a steely please be a steely! i hope my drag is set right so i don't snap my line! please be a hatchery, so i can get it on shore for a picture because i'm fishing by myself!" the thought process happens so fast, and when the heart starts racing and the body starts shaking it's the most exciting and nerve wracking experience i know that i have ever felt.
way to go and thanks again for sharing!
-
No problem Danny :) Hopefully more to come.
-
6th time out....your kidding me...right ! Well done, took me almost two seasons to hook up on the fly.
And on your own fly pattern........priceless !
-
WOOOOOOOO!!!!!! What an awesome experience, so similar to my own report on this site just a few days ago on the Feb 18th thread. Glad you got 'er, what a rush! Have you spent the past day or two just reliving the whole thing in your head like I did? lol
Way to go!
:)
Tex
-
I've spent the whole season just re-living it lol! I find it hard to catch one one gear. I have 3 long line release so far. Hopefully I'll manage to land one on grear when I go out next week.