Sean, Frankly, I would be hard pressed to tell the difference between a coho, pink, or steelhead without a book and a fish laying on the beach in front of me. Because the rise I saw just prior to hookup appeared to be a feeding fish, I assumed it was a steelhead - the salmon were jumping out of the water; this one did not, until hooked. Since I have never hooked or caught one so big, I have little sense for size, but I have caught fish in the 3-5 pound class, and this one was significantly larger. I remember fumbling with my net (wanted to be ready) while thinking how useless it would be to try to get this fish into it! The hookup, and the reaction of the fish during the one period of time when I thought I might land him led me to believe it was fair hooked.
Your comment about steady pressure is interesting. For several minutes, that describes how it went - sort of like, who is going to blink first. I recall wondering what I should be doing to get him closer to shore, and, ultimately, I think I got impatient. Having never experienced such a large fish, my expectation was for a long run and, well, action similar to a trout, only larger and heavier. Early on I was very willing to give line, but as time passed, I was less willing to give into the increased pressure applied by the fish. I learned a lot about playing a large fish. Maybe I will land the next one. One last comment. I firmly believe that once a salmon has entered the river it should be free to conserve its energy so that it can spawn and die in relative peace. No offense meant to anyone on the list (or otherwise) - this is just my personal opinion. EH In a message dated 11/12/01 9:55:36 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Subj: Re: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (NF Stilly) > Date: 11/12/01 9:55:36 PM Pacific Standard Time > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Sean Grier) > Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Eric, > > re. The Good: WELL DONE! While you never indicated what species and size > the > fish was that you hooked (not sure if you got it close enough for a good > look), > or if you had indeed fair hooked it, I think you did very well in keeping > him on > for as long as you did. My post about how to fight fish on light tippets is > no > guarantee of results (your mileage may vary), but it greatly enhances the > chances. That's borne out by the long fight you had with this (I presume) > Salmon/Steelhead on trout gear and light tippet. Salmon and steelhead just > require a lot of time and steady pressure to bring them to hand. They are > so > strong, and have such incredible stamina, that time, steady pressure and > luck are > about all you can apply to them. The first big fish I hooked on light > tackle was > a brood steelhead in a lake on a Winston LT 3wt and 4x tippet. That thing > drug > me and my float tube around for 30 minutes before I could get him (halfway) > into > my C&R net. My girlfriend took pictures as the weather came in during the > fight > (rain, then snow, then sleet - all the time the wind blowing at 30 knots - I > looked like the Old Man and the Sea!). He was already spawned out, so he > didn't > have as much fight in him as your fish did, so you should be VERY proud of > yourself!!! I would say that keeping him in the heavy current would be the > better choice, but it works both ways. You have to be quick to give line > when he > wants it. The slack water is what you want when you know you have him beat > and > you can get his head up (the classic sign that the fight is about over). > > re. The Bad: I've had good luck with Fenwick in getting broken rods > replaced. > They even replaced a model that I broke that was no longer in production > with a > better version. Give 'em a call and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. > > As for the Ugly: One man's stink is another's perfume. Just think how > those > carcasses will feed this year's lot of parr/smolts! 2004 and 2005 should be > good > years for salmon/steelhead (one prays....) > > Nice report. Get back in that saddle and do it again. I went on a guided > trip > to the upper Skag earlier this year and my buddy and I consistently caught > Big, > Healthy humpies on 5wts and 3x tippets. My conscience bothers me though, > when I > think about C&R'ing salmon after fighting them that long, but I figure there > were > SO MANY humpies this year, that I probably wasn't doing much harm to the > next > generation of fish. If I was targetting Silvers or Steelhead, I would not > treat > them with such disregard. > > Sean > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > I fished the NF Stilly just below Fortson (Picnic Table?) yesterday. > morning. > > I arrived at about 10:30 and fished until 1. I like that particular spot > > because I fish for trout, but it always offers the opportunity to hook > into > > something big. > > > > The weather was mild, overcast, and by 1 it was starting to get chilly and > > wet. > > > > The Good: > > Within minutes of arriving I saw some very large fish jumping and rising. > I > > assumed these to be silvers and/or steelhead. The sides of the fish had a > > pinkish look and they looked strong and healthy. I also saw what I > thought > > to be a (very) few BWO floating by. Ignoring some of the advice I was > given > > several weeks ago I decided to tie a size 18 BWO onto my 6 weight with a 5 > lb > > leader with 6x 3lb tippet. I watched a large fish rise about 25 feet > > downstream and decided, what the heck - my cast was perfect and within > > seconds I felt the line tighten. The fish left the water - I would like > to > > think it was a steelhead, but I think I hooked a salmon; I am sure it was > not > > foul hooked (maybe it was leaving the water with it's mouth open when my > fly > > floated by??) by the way it pulled and shook. The fish was on for over 15 > > minutes (I took the time to check my watch); easily the largest fish I > have > > ever hooked. It jumped once and, for a short time, I was able to > carefully > > work it towards shore where I got a quick look at its size before it > bolted > > back into the current. After 15 minutes I felt the line begin to strain; > the > > water rushing past sent vibrations through my submerged floating line. > The > > fish shook wildly and the fly came loose - it was then that I realized > that I > > should have given back some line... > > > > Sean, I was careful to keep the rod at 90 degrees to the water and I am > sure > > that this is the only reason I was able to keep the fish on for so long. > I > > also managed to stay downstream of the fish, but I am not sure how much > this > > helped - perhaps I should have gotten further down into the slower current. > > > The fish made only one short run, after which I was able to hold it steady > - > > it was quite content to stay in the current at a 45 degree angle upstream, > > working left to right in a 15 foot range. > > > > The Bad: > > Shortly after playing this wonderful fish (or, it playing me) I stumbled > and > > fell into the water...breaking my Fenwick Cofi 57 fly rod (I hope they > stand > > by their product, but I have my doubts). I will be looking for advice > about > > a new fly rod in the less than $200 range soon. The medalist reel held up > > great, and the drag worked well. > > > > The Ugly: > > This is a matter of perspective - it is beautiful to see the plentiful > fish > > populations working their way upstream, but, once dead, the smell, well, > you > > get the idea, there were dead fish everywhere. > > EH (Eric Hausman) > > >
