What is it about steelhead fishing reports that make me want to write a poem (Ryan Hung)? After hitting my first local steelhead with reel priorities guide Ryan, I was hooked and back at the river the next morning. Only this time alone. I tied on my home made jig and got all set up the night before. I arrived at the river at 7am and waited til it was just light enough to see my float on the water. I hit a few holes with nothing happening other than most likely hitting bottom once or twice for a float down. I was cold and tired of having to chip away ice forming in my rod guides but I was determined to hit one last hole before I called it a day. My first cast was perfectly placed in the slot and was one of those perfect floats that you just feel something should happen. It was so perfectly placed that at the end of the run I decided to just let it keep going and going. With a bunch of line out, my float disappeared. I set the hook and was back into a steelhead for my second time. I think the fish was cold because she didnt put up too much of a fight but it was fantastic none the less. A beautiful hatchery hen that I kept in the water and released successfully. Theres no greater feeling for me than catching such a gorgeous fish (with my own hand made jig) and watching it swim away. I think its safe to say I'm hooked on steelheading!

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