Native fish.You don't target Steelhead with a 3wt unless you're a masochist. I'm assuming these would be hatchery Steelhead . . .if native fish are present it's a whole other story.
Bycatch is unavoidable - I've played and landed both Silvers and Chum on a 3wt while Euronymphing. This was not intentional, both under 8lbs, and I used every trick in the book (and 8lb fluoro tippet) to get them to shore so I could recover my flies. It was not fun.
You can also hunt Grizzlies with a machete. Not advisable but YMMV -
Based on the ones I have handled ( never fished)
I'd say trout up to 25 inches or so.
yeah, I think you're right. Last thing I want to do is hurt the fish. The Thread was kinda a joke but I was a little curious about how people would respond. I did catch a 24'' steelhead last summer that was wild on a 3 wt, the thing is the fish was not very heavy. Was just a joke though. I was not targeting them however.This is accurate, IMO. You could probably go higher, but I wouldn't.
Folks use 4-5wts for those fake east coast steelhead. For a proper PNW steelhead, there's some specialized 6wt euro rods around. Soldarini and T&T make some, I believe.
Whether it is or isn't, it's good we have the discussion for someone who doesn't know these things and is learning.Total joke BTW
It is true, new anglers don’t consider that they can tier the fish to a point where they can hurt it.Whether it is or isn't, it's good we have the discussion for someone who doesn't know these things and is learning.
NO! They are not heavy enough and the tippet you will be using to get a proper drift is much too small for fish that size.I want to fish for summer steelhead with my 3wt euro rod this summer, but I don't think that it can handle an 8lb fish. I don't know if I should purchase a 4wt or not. What do yall think?
No lie... landing a chinook on a 3wt is surprising. I think that this can be detrimental to a large fishes health by exausting them.All caught on a 3wt euro and 6lb tippet… I’ve always been of the opinion that the weight of the rod had more to do with the size of the fly you cast with it, not the size of the fish you catch with it… btw the chinook and the sockeye were unintentional bycatches….
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Thread was a joke.NO! They are not heavy enough and the tippet you will be using to get a proper drift is much too small for fish that size.
Cool bro! keep killing fishThread was a joke.
that pink reel is niiiiiiiiceAll caught on a 3wt euro and 6lb tippet… I’ve always been of the opinion that the weight of the rod had more to do with the size of the fly you cast with it, not the size of the fish you catch with it… btw the chinook and the sockeye were unintentional bycatches….
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Agreed, I like the contrast with the line ...that pink reel is niiiiiiiice