First Bite
04-07-2009, 01:51 AM
Last week my girlfriend and I loaded up the cataraft and headed out under the cover of darkness. We were destined for a Coast River for some late winter steelhead fishing. My girlfriend, Cindy, hasn't officially caught her own first steelhead and I was anxious to change that this day. We arrived at the put in just after sunrise and were one of a few boats on the upper river that morning. We shoved off and floated down to a nice drift that I was sure had at least one nice steelhead resting in it. A few minutes later I hooked into a nice native buck with my Okie. I immediately handed off the rod to Cindy and rowed to the shore. It was great watching Cindy feel the weight of a big buck and the thrill of the fight. You can see the big native buck in the water on the right side of the picture.
http://www.firstbitejigs.com/store/pictures/1cindysteelhead.jpg
We landed and released that buck and then pulled anchor and dropped down to the next drift. This next drift was one of my favorites and has produced many steelhead and fall Chinook in the past. We both worked the drift thoroughly but couldn't get a hook up.
I rigged up her rod for bobber dogging after she choose her drift rig which happened to be a small rainbow drifter. I put on a dab of raw shrimp and set her rod for the right depth. I told her to cast the float and rig about 20 feet ahead of the boat and we'll just float on down the river to the next drift. I was watching the clear water for any spooked steelies that might be around when I hear Cindy exclaim that she thought she had a fish on. I looked up and sure enough...there was a small but bright winter steelhead tearing off line as Cindy held the rod tight. I coached her while at the same time I maneuvered the cat over to the shore. Cindy did a great job landing the fish and after a quick picture we let the native go. This was her official first steelhead that she hooked and landed on her own. She was thrilled to say the least.
http://www.firstbitejigs.com/store/pictures/1april_2009_2.jpg
Later that morning I was bobber dogging a green-butt skunk jig in about four feet of water when the float just buried. Fish on! This was one scrappy native that peeled off line like crazy. After I hooked the fish I again handed the rod to Cindy as I rowed to shore looking for a safe spot to land the fish. The fish was starting to slow down as I tailed the little guy. Cindy took this quick picture before I released the fish.
http://www.firstbitejigs.com/store/pictures/1april_2009_1.jpg
All in all it was simply a great day on the river sharing it with my fishing partner. Life is good. :wink:
http://www.firstbitejigs.com/store/pictures/1cindysteelhead.jpg
We landed and released that buck and then pulled anchor and dropped down to the next drift. This next drift was one of my favorites and has produced many steelhead and fall Chinook in the past. We both worked the drift thoroughly but couldn't get a hook up.
I rigged up her rod for bobber dogging after she choose her drift rig which happened to be a small rainbow drifter. I put on a dab of raw shrimp and set her rod for the right depth. I told her to cast the float and rig about 20 feet ahead of the boat and we'll just float on down the river to the next drift. I was watching the clear water for any spooked steelies that might be around when I hear Cindy exclaim that she thought she had a fish on. I looked up and sure enough...there was a small but bright winter steelhead tearing off line as Cindy held the rod tight. I coached her while at the same time I maneuvered the cat over to the shore. Cindy did a great job landing the fish and after a quick picture we let the native go. This was her official first steelhead that she hooked and landed on her own. She was thrilled to say the least.
http://www.firstbitejigs.com/store/pictures/1april_2009_2.jpg
Later that morning I was bobber dogging a green-butt skunk jig in about four feet of water when the float just buried. Fish on! This was one scrappy native that peeled off line like crazy. After I hooked the fish I again handed the rod to Cindy as I rowed to shore looking for a safe spot to land the fish. The fish was starting to slow down as I tailed the little guy. Cindy took this quick picture before I released the fish.
http://www.firstbitejigs.com/store/pictures/1april_2009_1.jpg
All in all it was simply a great day on the river sharing it with my fishing partner. Life is good. :wink: