Four Year Drought

It has been four years since I have caught a Steelhead. In December it will be five years. Not for a lack of trying.

Perhaps not as much time on the water as the earlier days of my Steelhead career. Up to 11 days in a row of fishing, at times for only one fish.

That was 2019-2022…

Feels like forever ago!

I felt like I was missing something. Was it my setup? Was it my timing? Was it my approach?

Well, to fix the first question, I got a new reel and put hi vis 8 pound monofilament line on it. Threaded in a 6g float, split shot, swivel, leader, split shot, hook, egg sac.

Had a short window of time to get to a creek. This same creek had been super high and muddy three days prior.

Before arriving I was expecting it to be mud.

Nope! PERFECT CONDITIONS. Even better, nobody else around.

Felt confident in my setup and approach. A few drifts in, I looked up to see a Bald Eagle circling. Within a moment, my float dropped, hooked set, line peeling.

After a good fight, I finally landed my first Steelhead in years!!!! It all happened so quick and also so slowly. During the fight, I looked down and day a pair of forceps, reached down and grabbed those. Brand new!

What an amazing day! But wait, there’s more!!!

A few cast later in the same drift, another float drop. This time though, it was a way harder fight. Then this Steelhead shot clean out of the water! Ran way down stream.

One spectacular fight! My second Steelhead in the net! A bit bigger and thicker than the first fish. Both are a pink egg sac in the same drift.

Take a look at these fish. How can you not love them? The rosy cheek? Silver, gold and green? Even teals, purples, pinks, oh my!

Pastel Palette

Thick tail

Rosy Cheek

Return to the pack

Thanks for reading about the adventure! It really turned the tides for me and brought my confidence up!

See you in the woods or on the water! Tight lines!

Jordan H. DiVirgilio