Big SteelHi Speed Only
Daylight found us knee deep in a run that Joey had familiarized himself with the previous day. It wasn’t long maybe three drifts and Joey’s line came screaming down river towards me. The battle lasted a short time, the big fish spit his offering and his line went slack. Steel 1 us 0. The day was young, we had plenty of water to cover and minimal pressure, no worries. We trudged upriver to a tailout of a large pool and set up shop. Jeremy was into a decent fish. He brought it to hand and we were officially on the board. With high spirits we decided to check out a couple of stretches that fish well at the current water level. After a hairy river crossing we reached a sweet piece of real estate above a set of hard rapids that looked like an ideal resting place for a weary steelhead. Jeremy had given it two drifts, got hung up and was re-rigging, “give it a drift while I retie” he said. I took him up on the offer and half way through the drift all hell broke loose! The indicator stopped, I raised my rod tip and the leviathan’s head broke the surface and shook back and fourth violently. Jeremy and I looked at each other speechless and totally stunned. The fish took off upriver with such force my fly line made a slicing noise as it ripped through the water column. Suddenly it turned on a dime and shot through the class two rapids and the foot chase began. The chromer covered 300 yards of water with me in tow. After a stressful fifteen minute battle Jeremy was able to get a hand on the mighty hen and we brought her to shore for a quick photo. During that moment all my cares and troubles vanished as if the current of the river had swept them away. Thoreau said it best, “many go fishing their whole lives without knowing it is not fish they are after”. For me it is the instant in which I have just spoke of, when nothing else in the world seems to matter. Thanks for the memories guys.
Nice fish Whippa, she’s a hog.
“Jeremy had given it two drifts, got hung up and was re-rigging, “give it a drift while I retie” he said. I took him up on the offer and half way through the drift all hell broke loose!”
That’s awesome makes me feel like I was there!
Whip Great article. Thoreau couldn’t have put it any better. Those moments on the water seem to wash away every worry one could ever have. We were all excited when that fish was brought to hand. Nice job landing the BEAST it was a tough battle for sure.
j-
Awesome Fish Dave!!
I really enjoyed meeting and fishing with you the other day. Thanks for all the info! I can’t wait to do it again. I’m planning on spring but hopefully I’ll be able to sneak in another trip this winter.
Keep in touch
Keith
Holly crap!!!!! what a fish! nice chrome and the size is unbelievable. Congrats!
whippa, what a beautiful fish. What would you guess the weight to be?
great article. “many go fishing their whole lives without knowing it is not
fish they are after”. Never knew Thoreau said that. Thanks for that piece of knowledge. Hope all is well with you. Merry Christmas.
Thanks Pat, I would estimate around 18lbs. give or take, not really sure. All is well here, hope to wet a line with you soon. Happy Holidays. Stay warm up there in the “Great North Woods”