My first saltwater steelhead

[Ken Hunter]

All this time I thought it was just a local myth, but they really will hit a fly in the salt.

Today at high tide at lagoon point a beautifull wild fish about 8 to 10 pounds made my day. Quickly released, I forgot to check the sex but boy was it bright. It hit a red and yellow Saulk River Shrimp patttern about 50 feet out on the first strip.

Having about five witnesses made things better but I snapped my rod just below the ferule as I lifted the fish up to the point that I could check for a fin and release it. I always carry a spare now.

The wind was not too bad on the north side of the point. Now that I have learned the island a little better, I know there is always a place to hide from the wind.

Now I'm hooked

[TomB]

nice

[wolverine]

Congratulations! Now you'll soon be like the rest of us salt addicts that chase silvers and steelhead from Ft Casey to Lagoon to Bush. There is nothing more "chrome" than a saltwater steelhead.

[Smalma]

Very cool!

Though sorry about the rod.

Curt

[Ken Hunter]

Not to worry for me about the rod. I hardly noticed my misfortune. The grin on my face covered everything up.:) :)

[Ken Hunter]

Hey Wolverine,

How about some saltwater steelhead stories and tips from someone who has been fishing the area for awhile?

[Porter]

Congrats...still have not caught a salt SH. Don't really want to tell you how long I wished to catch one in the Salt.

What kind of rod did you break on this catch?

[Ken Hunter]

It was my backup rod. An old Cortland Saltwater 6/7. It wasn't the rod. I was just lifting too hard to get the fish up on the beach. If I had it to do over again, I would have looked closer at the fish to see if it had the fin or not. I guess it was just the heat of the moment. It must have been a hen.

Anyway Cortland will replace my backup for a small fee.

[crazysalmon]

Can't wait to get my first in the salt. Broke my Winston this year on an eight pound silver. Sharp contact with a bow rail, not good. Small fee new rod. Congrats.

[Jeff D]

What a treasure, saltwater steelhead on the fly! I go somewhat regularly and have not yet landed one. Glad you did, only wish I would have been there for it.

Wolverine: Tell us about beach fishing for flatsiders :)

Jeff

[Matt Burke]

I would gladly sacrifice any one of my rods for a steelhead in the salt. What a great opportunity for you.

[wolverine]

OK I'll play. I've been beach fishing for 30 years. I'm not married to any style of fishing from the beach. I'm one of the guys who goes fishing to catch fish, and will give the fish what they want when they want to play. I'll often have 2 rods with me. An 8 wt fly rod for tossing clouser style streamers, and a long drift rod rigged for drifting a hoochie and spin & glo. Someone once said that beach steelhead are the fish of a thousand casts. True statement as I average a fish every 4 trips. I've prowled the beaches from Ebey's landing, down to Ft Casey, to both sides of Lagoon Pt, to Bush Pt. Most of the time I leave the beach without touching a fish, yet last Christmas Eve day I caught two 8 lb hatchery bucks in 5 casts on a bunny/maribou streamer. This winter season I've landed 7 fly caught steelhead from the beach. 3 hatchery kept and 4 with the extra fin released. I've also caught 6 on gear. My winter season on the beach is from thanksgiving to New Years as thats when most of the hatchery fish move thru. After the 1st of the year the mix is nearly 100% nates. Not a lot of fish moving thru between now and March, but they are a lot bigger than the hatchery dinks.

[Stonefish]

Wolverine,
Welcome aboard. Sounds like you've been hitting them pretty good.
Brian

[Jeff D]

Good hearing from you Wolverine - sounds like you've had a great steelhead season thus far...

Jeff Dodd
Whidbey

[Ken Hunter]

Wolverine,

Thanks for the great information. Not too many people post data on saltwater steelhead here or any place else. It sounds like this season has been kind to you.

I see you toss a baitfish pattern when using your fly rod. Do you get more hookups fly fishing or on gear? Do you fish one more than the other?

My fish hit a shrimp pattern. I always thought that steelhead feed on shrimp more that baitfish. In fact I have never heard of one caught on a herring. Do you have any thoughts on this?

As far as you personal season goes, does this mean that you do not target summer runs? I have heard of one person that fishes a pink? maribou jig under a float into July. If that is true, he can only be fishing for summer runs.

[Mingo]

I would gladly sacrifice any one of my rods for a steelhead in the salt.

I have to second what Matt said. I too would gladly sacrifice one of his rods for a steelhead in the salt ;)

I've caught a whopping three myself, over the course of ten years, and nothing over 4 or 5 pounds, tops............but man what a rush. Those suckaz are HOT fish!

nice going Ken. As for you, Wolverine......................damn dude, you're killin' me with that much success! :thumb:

[Piscivorous]

Nice work! Sounds like you've adapted your fishing game plan well to the torrent of rain!

[MrP]

Decades ago, when Bush Point was being developed, my aunt and uncle built the cabin/home right next to the light house. They died years ago. During those years after they built the home I fished with Uncle Ed right in front of his cabin. We caught salmon from his boat and we caught steelhead from the beach. To this day it is a treasured memory. Congratulations Ken; I hope the memory lives with you for years to come. Uncle Ed has been dead for almost 20 years; I don't know why but I thought of him several times today. Thanks for posting this report.

[Ken Hunter]

Mr P.

Your story is great. You have a lot of great memories.

How did you fish for steelhead than and what kind of productivity did you have?

Did you have access to all of the beach or did the keep out signs plague you then as they do now?