300 mile Steelhead....

ANDYCOHO · 12-15-2003, 07:49 PM

When I woke up this morning I told myself, "Self, your going to catch a Winter Steelhead today!"

And so I started driving west.

First stop was Gnat Creek off of Hwy 30. Good looking water, not much angling pressure, but no fish for me or heard of any fish caught.

Second stop was Big Creek. Again, good looking water, not much angling pressure, but no fish.

Third stop, or should I say "Third Search", The Klaskanine River. I drove myself silly looking for this river. I found plenty of this river in Tide Water, but nothing that looked good to fish. Note to Self, "Self, bring detailed map next time!" [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

Fourth stop, the Nacanicum River. I had high hopes for this river! Perfect color, height, and a fish being brought to the bank!!

I methodically worked every bit of water that looked even remotely fishy, with drift gear and bobber and jig. NOTHING!

So I head home, sulking. "What happened?" I ask myself over and over...

Well, I guess I will give it one more shot on Gnat Creek, I say with a renewed vigor!

I pull over next to an empty looking creek, just as it was getting dusk. "I better catch my fish quick." I say to myself.

And for once I listened! First cast, FISH ON!!

A nice well colored Steely comes to the bank:

Not what I expected, but not bad, not bad at all!

[ 12-15-2003, 08:57 PM: Message edited by: ANDYCOHO ]

ultralight · 12-15-2003, 08:00 PM

Sounds like your hard work paid off [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Mr. Shannon O'Brien · 12-15-2003, 08:02 PM

Ah Yes the Hwy 30 run. I have made that run myself and have had little success right off the bat, but as you, when I returned to the beginning I pulled it off. A bit later on always seemed to bring on consistent success for that area.

blacktail519 · 12-15-2003, 08:03 PM

Its A keeper....
Congrads. You put some time in for that baby..
Well deserved!!!! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

ChuckDog · 12-15-2003, 10:00 PM

Nice reel! :grin:
Also, nice fillets (and in turn, fish)! What was the determining factor (other than it being a hatchery fish) in keeping the fish? I would have released it thinking it would have cut reeeealy pale. I know that some check under the gills (?)
I love that creek!

ANDYCOHO · 12-15-2003, 10:07 PM

ChuckDog,

It was a tough call wether to keep that fish or not. But I have a Hatchery Harvest Card with lots of openings, the fish was a pre-spawn buck (they seem to hold up better), there were no leaches in the gills and I just felt like taking something home, even if it might of ended up in a crab trap... :grin:

north coast kook · 12-15-2003, 10:33 PM

That looks like the same fish I lost on the EFL the other day! That's cool you got yours in, after all the die-hard searching you did, you deserve to go home w/some meat!
-KooK

Tacklebuster · 12-15-2003, 10:46 PM

Thats what I call dedication. Way to go bro

I look forward to seeing you out in the salt this next year chasing those Coho's

SHOUGALNITE · 12-16-2003, 07:11 AM

Nice Job

fisheromen · 12-16-2003, 08:05 AM

I can't believe you drove all the way back up to Gnat Creek Andy! That's hardcore. I've done the Gnat/Big/NF Nehalem loop a couple of times (or reversed) but you must have really been desperate (er, I mean determined). Nice job. Sometimes it pays to keep bucks that don't look so great. Good call on that one.

BTW, what's the Sandy looking like?

Steve

Dakotan · 12-16-2003, 10:16 AM

Persistence pays off. You are a trooper. Congrats on the fish. Good story

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 12-16-2003, 12:29 PM

Good job Andy Coho...

That meat sure looks good for a fish with that kind of color...

Congrat's

Digifish · 12-16-2003, 02:11 PM

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

I love to hear I'm not the only one who has days like that....at least up to the part where you caught the fish!.....no matter how long it takes. Great job...you're an inspiration! :grin:

Mad Mikey · 12-16-2003, 04:30 PM

That IS a stray Summer fish no doubt. NFN gets a lot of them too.
I'd prefer a Summer fish with colors like that over a Winter that looked the same too.
As mentioned previously that was a heck of a trip to travel to catch a steelhead, I used to do those too!!! Emphasis on USED to... :grin:
I bet you are still in your twenties eh', Andy???

Good job.....

Jellyhead · 12-16-2003, 11:52 PM

I'd almost bet you money that's a stray summer steelhead. No worries though, that fish was fun to catch, and looks like good eats....That's what counts.

Good Going, that never say die attitude will catch you alot of fish.

Aaron

fisheromen · 12-17-2003, 06:18 AM

You guys may be right - we used to pick up summers in October fishing Big Creek that were in good shape.