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A couple other WA Laker's and I decided to hit Reiter for one last time before it closes. We arrived at the Highway side before sunrise and fished our favorite hole.
After a couple of hours, I decided to work my way slowly down towards the rapids. I casted into a slow ripple and bobber down! I fought a small steelhead for a couple of minutes. I got it up near the bank and realized it was fairly small. Perhaps 20". It "self-released" when I tried to maneuver it around a submerged branch. I thought to myself... oh well, at least I caught something. It was dime bright, but probably deserved to come back next year.
I moved downstream about 100 yards above the rapids and cast into a soft seam when bobber down! This was definetly no midget. It boiled to the surface, shaking its head violently, where I got a look at it. It was a monster steelhead, by far the biggest one ever on the end of my line. It decided to make a run downstream for the rapids. My drag on my Curado was giving up line in large quantities, so I tightened it down several clicks. That didn't even slow this beast down. I panicked when I realized it was spooling me out, so I thumbed it down. Thankfully it came to a rest and I was able to turn it back towards me. I worked it in about 30 yards, when it boiled to the surface again. This monster shook and rolled again on the surface, allowing me a bit of time to get a look. A touch of color, but easily the biggest steelhead I have seen in person. At this point, my forearm and wrist are starting to feel the strength of this fish, but I had adrenaline on my side. I worked it for several more minutes, walked downstream in its direction and generally held on. The fish apparently had enough of this and made another huge run downstream. This time, it peeled off about 20 yards and bee-lined for a rock. It must have nicked my 30lb. Power Pro on a rock. Snap! fish gone!
I wish I could have landed this beast. My guess is that it was a Native. I've landed several of the hatchery brats and they just didn't fight like this. The fight in this fish was impressive and something I'll hopefully never forget. I wish I could somehow share my mental pictures of this experience. What a day!
As for the other WA Laker's - they both landed their fish.
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