Pictures for this can be found at
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r240/bionic_one/Wynoochee%20River%20January%202010/100_0793.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r240/bionic_one/Wynoochee%20River%20January%202010/100_0789.jpg

I've never fished for steelhead before yesterday. I was lucky enough to go to the Steelhead University seminar a few months back. I listed closely, took notes, went and bought the tackle that was recommended, made a few minor tweeks for my own style preferences, then ...


I went on my first ever steelhead trip on Sunday. I floated beside my buddy's pram on the Wynoochee (in my inflatable kayak). We were on the river a total of about 10 hours, I froze my butt off (no really, I did, my inflatable kayak is not designed to stay dry inside and you sit in ~2 inches of water).


About 20 minutes into the start of my drift I hooked into a 28.5" buck. He ran all over and went in the air twice. I was amazed he didn't throw the hook. Got so worried that I'd lose him that I jumped out of the kayak (the water was knee deep where I was), had my girlfriend hold it from the pram and I banked him.

About 2 hours later I started thinking "well, beginner's luck I suppose. I probably won't catch another for a long time" but wait, my bobber is down, did I snag? BOOM FISH ON!!!

I had a monster on, she was so big she didn't fit the hawg trough measuring stick I thought would be big enough. Turned out to be a 32" hen and she was spilling eggs everywhere as soon as I picked her up.

Method was floating a jig from a cheepo bobber (not an actual slip/dink bobber, just some foam junk I found at Wal-Mart) I had about 2-4 feet of leader, adjusting it for depth depending on the river depths, trying to keep my presentation close to the bottom (actually was dragging bottom when I caught the big one) I put a split shot 1/2 way down my leader to make it easier to cast. I tipped the beau mac SMJ 2 with half of a gulp night crawler. (comes in a power bait size jar)

Pictures for this can be found at:
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r240/bionic_one/Wynoochee%20River%20January%202010/100_0793.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r240/bionic_one/Wynoochee%20River%20January%202010/100_0789.jpg

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