C&R record steelhead
- Thread starter Brian in OR.
- Start date
It is bullshit Shad, but this whole Clearwater C&R record has only been going on for a few years. I've released one that was photographed and taped over 40" (a hatchery fish no less), and that wouldn't have even get the old timer's blood pressure up. I've seen fish larger than mine caught, and I lost one in 2017 that dwarfed it. Dead or alive, that fish was just a larger than average B run.
The state record winter run isn't that much smaller at 32.75#. East Fork Lewis 1980.
I caught that too… a little humble brag (and maybe a little exaggeration) on what a great cast he made.
Wait, are you saying that some flies are not tied by hand? I don't know of any other kind. All my Wheatleys are old and therefore battered. Not that that has anything to do with the size of the fish I catch. Or anything else for that matter.
Damn, tough crowd. Haha!
To me, the fish is looking down so probably alive. Would I like to see more water between it and the rocks? Sure, especially given our vast selection of rubber nets that most of us can afford now.
The biggest thing that got me was the "The full floating spey line was at approximately 120 to 130 feet when the fly started the swing,"
Ah-huh, sure man. Nice cast.
On the topic of landing steelhead...I'm 100% in favor of rubber landing nets. Not looking for an argument. Just my opinion based on the fish I've landed with a net versus the fish I've landed without a net.
We've all had landings go wrong, especially with big fish. If you haven't, you haven't fished long enough. Nets decrease my bad landings. Things can still go wrong, but usually that's bad news for me, not the fish. I also freely admit I have high net man standards, brought on by some bad net man trauma. Haha!
So don't be offended when I say "No thanks, I got it" if you ask me if you can help me by netting my big fish.
To me, the fish is looking down so probably alive. Would I like to see more water between it and the rocks? Sure, especially given our vast selection of rubber nets that most of us can afford now.
The biggest thing that got me was the "The full floating spey line was at approximately 120 to 130 feet when the fly started the swing,"
Ah-huh, sure man. Nice cast.
On the topic of landing steelhead...I'm 100% in favor of rubber landing nets. Not looking for an argument. Just my opinion based on the fish I've landed with a net versus the fish I've landed without a net.
We've all had landings go wrong, especially with big fish. If you haven't, you haven't fished long enough. Nets decrease my bad landings. Things can still go wrong, but usually that's bad news for me, not the fish. I also freely admit I have high net man standards, brought on by some bad net man trauma. Haha!
So don't be offended when I say "No thanks, I got it" if you ask me if you can help me by netting my big fish.
Paige
Wishing I was fishing the Sauk
In my honest opinion landing fish from the bank with a net saves about 30 seconds if not even less.
Just ask Daniel Ocean, sorry bud, I had to go there
Total waist off time and even extends the fight.
I can't see how anyone can think this fish is alive and the eye is looking down. This fish is 100% dead, plain and simple!
Just look at the 2 examples of live fish vs this dead fish!
Just ask Daniel Ocean, sorry bud, I had to go there
Total waist off time and even extends the fight.
I can't see how anyone can think this fish is alive and the eye is looking down. This fish is 100% dead, plain and simple!
Just look at the 2 examples of live fish vs this dead fish!
TicTokCroc
Sunkist and Sudafed
It will smoke up fine
Where do you get a line that long?
Probably into the running line
In my honest opinion landing fish from the bank with a net saves about 30 seconds if not even less.
Just ask Daniel Ocean, sorry bud, I had to go there
Total waist off time and even extends the fight.
I can't see how anyone can think this fish is alive and the eye is looking down. This fish is 100% dead, plain and simple!
Just look at the 2 examples of live fish vs this dead fish!
Agreed. I haven't used a proper salmon/steelhead net when bank fishing in years. Usually not enough help to justify the hassle of lugging one around.
I made an exception last week after losing so many fish in this bouldery pocket water over the last few weeks. Many at the last minute. Apparently the net has fish repellent properties because this was the 1st day I didn't see or hook a single fish in this spot.
Actually some of the older "long" lines like the Rio Windcutter were 130' to 150' long in the bigger sizes. Not too many casters are skilled enough to throw the entire spey line but maybe this guy was. Or he fed a bunch of extra line into the cast once it hit the water and got it to that length "before the swing".
I like his reel and tried to zoom in and see what spey rod he was using, but couldn't see any markings. It looks big though.
Millsfly
Steelhead
This whole thing is kinda a joke. I know of several fish bigger than this caught this year, we just dont tape and fuck with them enough to get an official length. Hold to your rod, mark that spot, go from there. Idaho is so regressive in terms of anadromous fish it's not even funny
Merle, the rod appears to be a Bruce and Walker 16'6" Walker, paired with an old Hardy Perfect 4". Many of the folks that use longer spey rods also cast extended taper lines (70'+ forward tapers). He certainly may have cast all 120', it's possible with rods that length. Guys with big rods often like to talk about how far they cast - it's important to them. Probably why he included that little detail in his story.
There are a number of anglers who fish the Clearwater for whom 120' casts are normal.
That’s some cast
The whole idea of records like this is so far beyond me. I don't understand why we need this to be a thing in the first place.
