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Early GBay Steel

steelhead gbay september

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#1 christotheashto

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Posted 20 September 2015 - 10:29 AM

Hey everyone,

 

Well I've been fishing the rivers for the past 3 weeks, hooked a few jacks but I don't generally target salmon. What I'm looking for is early steelhead that make their way into the rivers right alongside the chinooks.

For the past 3 weeks, I've come home with no stories to tell, no pictures, and a horrible skunky aroma clinging to my gear.

 

Yesterday morning I started at an old faithful spot, that did not produce. Talked to some guys who were saying the salmon seem late this year and we still need some rain. I agreed heartily but assured them there were lots of fish in the river. They balked when I spoke of mid-September trout. "I don't waste my time going for rainbows until at least mid-October".

I told them I believe that mother nature would show me good karma. That for putting in leg work and time on the water while the rest of the steelheaders were at home, I would be rewarded.

 

I tried two more spots, nothing. It is now noon. I pull up to my last spot of the day and cut through the property I have access to. I put a few drifts through my favourite pool and no dice. I decide to tie on an apricot bead 8mm and underneath it a chartreuse roe bag. This tandem combo is a reliable producer for me.

 

First drift and the float shoots down. I assumed it was a weed as the river IS still pretty warm and there is lots of growth, but I set the hook and *immediately* felt a powerful tug and then the pin started whizzing. There were a few times I thought for sure it was a small chinook as there weren't alot of headshakes, but several divebomb runs and a few rolls on the surface. No aerial displays.

 

2 minutes later this sweet sweet beast was at my feet. This beats my previously best "early steel" by 9 days.

I know there will be internet fish warrior defenders of the universe so please note that the bead was originally 2" from the roe bag. It slid up at some point.

 

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#2 NaturehasIT

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Posted 20 September 2015 - 12:47 PM

Nice Fish. 


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#3 flandogg

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Posted 20 September 2015 - 02:15 PM

Fresh as it can get. Great story thanks for sharing!


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#4 Will

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Posted 20 September 2015 - 05:28 PM

Beauty fish! Congrats! Gotta love the ghosty clear fins.

 

I was at a GBay trib this weekend and I think chartreuse was the ticket. It outproduced pink and clear bags for me, but I only brought a few bags and I ran out of them on young rainbows by like 9 am. So I switched to a chartreuse and silver spinner and it paid off with a very energetic steelhead.


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#5 Shmogley

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Posted 20 September 2015 - 10:40 PM

trying to see the pic but i cant find my sunglasses ;)


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#6 fenwickfisher

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Posted 21 September 2015 - 07:52 AM

Beauty fish! Congrats! Gotta love the ghosty clear fins.

I was at a GBay trib this weekend and I think chartreuse was the ticket. It outproduced pink and clear bags for me, but I only brought a few bags and I ran out of them on young rainbows by like 9 am. So I switched to a chartreuse and silver spinner and it paid off with a very energetic steelhead.




Chartreuse was killing it out east all last week especially those little rainbows like you said
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#7 Fishheads

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Posted 21 September 2015 - 03:53 PM

BOOM! I saw this on IG and was stoked for you. Great story. Keep at it and go get more! 


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#8 fishfreek

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Posted 22 September 2015 - 02:41 PM

Nice fish Chris.
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#9 chinooky

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Posted 22 September 2015 - 06:48 PM

Nice! This is my favourite time of year because no one else is on the rivers.

I took the day off to go out today and agree that we need rain! Still, there was some aerial action, including a surprise chinny. Unfortunately even with the action the stench of skunk has not been lifted for me.

Things will just get better :)
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#10 artimus001

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Posted 23 September 2015 - 06:18 PM

nice fish.

 

now the rod handle is another story all together!


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