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RobO · Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 285 Location: South Windsor

Last November I took my first trip up to NY to try and catch some of the monstrous and very elusive steelhead trout. As many of you know I was pretty much skunked for the three days I was there.

I had done tons of research before going up by reading blogs, and had spent some good money buying the right equipment. etc. My buddy caught a decent one and I only caught a smaller rainbow and a brown. Even though I was happy for him, it just plain pissed me off that I didn't catch any.

I was determined to get back up there and catch my damn steelhead. So I did more research, read books and even made sure I was going back at the right time (post spawn drop backs). So I booked a trip for April 21-24. As that week approached I was very nervous about going up. The river was flowing at 4000cfs. The norm at this time of year is below 1000cfs. The weather forecast was rain for all three days I was going up. So I decided at the last minute to cancel the trip and reschedule it for two weeks later. I am glad I did as it snowed up there in the 21st.

So on 5/5/11 I headed back up to Pulaski with my buddy. We stopped at the fish hatchery when we got there and took a tour of the facility. It was a nice stop and we learned a lot about spawning etc. Then we got our licenses and dropped our stuff off at Whitakers motel.

The weather was perfect. A light breeze and the temps in the 50's with a slight overcast. The water was flowing at 1800cfs. Fast but fishable. We were on the river by 1pm and fished until 7pm. We hit a lot of the good pools but all we were catching was 12 inch trout. We threw everything at them including the kitchen sink. They big ones just weren't biting. We could even see some two footers near the banks and no matter what we threw at them they just didn't want to take it. The only reason I didn't get upset was the fact that every other fisherman we saw wasn't catching anything, except one drift boat that catch two chromers by back plugging.

On day two we hit some different pools and still nothing big to show for it. We probably walked about 4 miles hitting different well known pools. Again, no one was catching anything. So at about 5 pm my buddy said lets hit one last pool and then we will call it a night. So we drove to a different pool and it had about 6 fisherman there. We decided to just hang out and watch them. All of a sudden two guys get strikes and they both catch nice chromers. So I instantly grab my gear and waded out into the pool. I casted twice and then my split shotted leader got all tangled up. A guy fishing next to me with a center pin suggested I use smaller split shot and more of it and to tie a 7 foot leader on. Well I didn't have too many tiny split shot left (remember the water was moving fast, so I didn't think I needed bb size split shot) so he gave me a pre tied leader he had. I tied it on and on my second cast with it I hooked up with a beautiful chromer. Damn can those fish fight. It must have jumped 5 times before my buddy was able to net it. It was about 23 inches and bright silver. I was so ecstatic I could barley talk. I think I was even shaking a little. I released it and tried for some more. Well that was the only one I caught on day two.

On day three we decide to get up early and get out to that same area that we fished the night before. I am glad we did. We got there by 5am and I had another steel head by 5:45am. Around 10am I caught a 24 inch 6.6lb Atlantic Salmon. I decided to keep this and bring it home for dinner.

I had a lot of hits but they were fast and I missed a few. Float fishing with a 7 foot leader can be difficult to set the hook as soon as you see the float dip for that brief second. I ended up fighting about 8 fish but only landing 3. I had 3 fish jump out of the water and snap my line in mid air. I was using 7lb flouro as my leader and my knots held strong, but these fish were stronger.

After about 6 hours working that pool we decided to try another spot and I am glad we did before heading back to CT. I caught a huge steelhead with beautiful colors.

Over all it was a fantastic trip as I got the R&R I needed and I caught 4 big fish, releasing all but one. This trip I got the best of my buddy as he got skunked by the elusive steelhead. Good things do come to those who wait. LOL and payback is a bitch.
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I'd rather be fishing, than sitting here in front of this computer,,,

metalfish · Joined: 10 Nov 2008 Posts: 330

Congrats. Nice fish!
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I Love My Fishing And NASCAR. But When There Is ICE On The Pond Bet Your Britches I Will Be There.
Bassin In The Summer Perchin In The Winter Mr. Green

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Steelhead is one of my favorite fish to eat. That looks like a tasty one! I would have kept it instead of the salmon. Nice job, though!
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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!

DirtyDawg10 · Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Granby, CT

Glad your luck turned around this time out. Great fish!! Congrats!!

mustang11 · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 65 Location: Deep River, CT

Beautiful looking fish!

Brian

jonnyfly00 · Joined: 08 Nov 2010 Posts: 104 Location: Simsbury, CT

Well done my good sir!

TurtleKiss · Joined: 09 Mar 2010 Posts: 1200 Location: central CT

Congrats Rob!
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Kira

*~ "Not everything about fishing is noble, reasonable and sane..." -Henry Middleton ~*

RobO · Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 285 Location: South Windsor

Kira,
Wish you were able to come. It would have been a blast. Maybe you could make it in the fall..
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I'd rather be fishing, than sitting here in front of this computer,,,

TurtleKiss · Joined: 09 Mar 2010 Posts: 1200 Location: central CT