I have posted a report or two where I have said I caught it on my steelhead rod. Well I FINALLY caught a steelhead on MY steelhead rod. It was my first steelhead ever ON MY steelhead rod. Lots of other fish on my rod and even steelhead on other rods - but my first on my rod.
Ed and I want to get out before we got a warm streak and it ruined the fishing. So Wednesday we headed over to fish with Steve Emery (Full of Hope Charters) on the Big Manistee. We had a good day.
We started at 9:00 and fished until 4:00. It was 24 when we got there and 32 when we left, and windy all day. We started at High Bridge and fishing upstream toward Tippy.
It was slow to start with no bites. Then we move further up and hit a new hole. The first drift through the hole I pulled up one of these, (note the reel):
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The next drift bought in this:
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The third drift brought in one like the first:
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We picked up a few small browns and a couple of skippers and that was it for the day. We were fishing spawn under bobbers all day.
I was using my steelhead rod with a center pin reel. The line was 8 pound P-line with an 8 pound fluro leader.
You can see the Center pin reel in one of the pictures. There is no drag on this so you have to palm the reel to stop any run. It is then a straight crank to bring in anything.
The good news is I was able to watch the rod to determine the force on the line and did not lose a fish due to a broken line. I did lose a small one late in the day.
In case anyone is wondering: Two pair of socks, long-johns, pj bottoms, pants, insulated bibs, tee shirts, long sleeve shirt, flannel shirt, hoody sweatshirt, winter coat, and insulted upland boats. That plus gloves and ear wrap. It was not that bad all day other than the line constantly freezing.
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