I was planning on fishing the whole day friday. So thursday night I get my best jigs tied for low and clear water. The weather forecast showed some warmer weather up to mid fourties which will help the bite. The action I got last tuesday got me excited to go again on friday anticipating another good day. I couldn't help but to visualize every single take down I've had this season, recollecting where and what I was using to help me plan where exactly I was going to go first thing friday morning with the conditions changing again. Experience paid off...we get to the river at light and I was surprised that there weren't that many guys out. I figured that there was no need to get to the river too early since it would be better that the fish thaw out a bit from the cold weather at night. After about an hour of multiple drifts I drift my bobber extra long during a run as far as I could see it. I've drifted this run similarily before and was rewarded with fish. From a far distance I see the silhoette of my bobber and atlast I see it dissapear hoping that a steelhead took my jig. Felt some heavy headshakes as I set the hook hard. I am literally fighting a steelhead from almost a hundred yards out. After several minutes of bringing the fish back up river it surfaces and I see that it is a larger than average hatchery hen. At the last moments of the fight my hook pops out. I look at my hook and I see I had no chance as my hook was flattened out from the initial hook set. The fish was only on by the barb of the hook. I had no chance given the size of the fish but was thankful that I atleast got to see it and had it close to the bank from being so far out.
I suck it up and start fishing again. I cover some more water and cast further out towards the middle of the river. It didn't take very long to get my second take down. The steely took it hard and there was no question it was another large steely. This time I play it alot more careful because I am sure that my hook is nearly bent straight from the hook set so hard. As it surfaced it was a very large buck in the teens. It was man handling me for most of the fight. I finally get it close and carefully bring the head of the fish pointing towards the bank and into the net. The last second my hook pops out but i'm relieved that my buddy just netted my fish the slit second that my hook popped out. My heart could beat again. I look at my hook and sure enough it was also flattened out and only by the barb of the hook the fish was on. It was a monster buck. I look for an adipose fin and sure enough it was there. Wild fish. I've been wanting to catch a native anyway so no problem releasing it. It had it's red war color on and looked like a bruiser, it had some battle wounds, probably from protecting it's spawning grounds. Admired the beautiful fish and gave it time to revive as it gave a life draining fight. Back fishing again and very shortly I get another fish on in the same area, this time I am barely putting pressure on since I have no confidence in my hooks. I was almost relieved that this fish felt like a smaller one. I had the eagle hook jigs which work fine for 5-6 pound lethargic hatchery fish lol. I was looking for the gamagatsu hooks which are way stronger but they were all out of them in the stores. So luckily this fish was lethargic enough to give me a little fight and it was no problem netting the fish and my hook was still in it's original position. The action was definatley good for me within that thirty minute window. I was very happy that I tied that particular jig for low and clear conditions. It paid off. All three were on that same jig. It's been a killer all season in this low and clear water it's a combination of orange, white and peach. I spent the remainder of the day fishing till about sun down without another take down and no other fish taken. It was great action for that short period of time. Very few fish caught throught out the day. The water is low and clear so cover lot's of water and fish hard.
As soon as I have a bad day fishing and get skunked I will definatley report it. I haven't had a bay day fishing yet for a very long time. I feel like I have been "that guy" out there.
One great tip I could give is to read an article done by terry wiest from the northwest sportsman mag. He has it pegged exactly right "the hatchery steelhead enigma". Great read and gives valuable information about understanding hatchery steelhead more. Which will help you catch more fish;)
I write these reports for those guys out there who have a serious passion for steelheading like I do. I know you are out there and will enjoy this read. Maybe i'll start a blog.
-posted below are some of my pics during the winter season for the proof;)