My largest Steelhead @ 26 #'s was a Sol Duc buck that fell for the worm in gin clear water and 8# test. Just after going under the bridge and turning the corner above the hatchery. At the top end of the run behind a large boulder he had my float submerged within the first foot of hitting the water. After putting the steel to em he proceeded to burst downriver with a reel smoking run! With line leaving rapidly we had no other choice but to follow. After finally retrieving a ton of line he was finally within my sight...just 15 feet away. He came straight up at me, then the inevitable happened...he made a turn...showed me his 3X tail and made another long burst twards you guessed it...Wood! Watching my line B-line twards this fishes preconceived emergency escapement plan had me with the thought of bitter defeat. Luckily for me...I thought...he turned just in the nick of time. Since he had already shown me how fast he could strip line he now had testing to see if I could keep up in mind. Reeling like a mad man I caught up just as he came across the bow. Swinging my tip down to the water with no thumb he once again bolted. Working our way to shore we finally brought the scrapping buck to hand in knee deep water just short of the spillway where we removed the hook, revived him, thanked him then set him free.

Cool thing was within seconds of my hookset my brother had his video in hand covering the action! I will always have it not only in memory but also memorex.

My largest King to date a 41 # buck was a half hour tussle on a 12# leader. His first three jumps had him totally out of the water. The sound of his reentries had fellow bankies from above and belows attention. With him being just above and myself being on the outside of a large deep right hand corner thoughts of him turning tail had me concerned. Anytime I put pressure on him his negative reaction had me for the longest time just keeping a hook in him to slowly wear him out. After finally working him in after 20 minutes for the first net attempt he chose to add 10 more minutes to the fight after having seen it. The second and successful net attempt by Craven was more of a defensive measure as the fish turned and headed straight for his legs. Craven spreads his feet and then jambs the net down just as the fish bolts between his legs. He yarded the net up and our eyes couldn't believe that the tail was still hanging out and that was no small net. That fish is only 1 of 2 40+ fish that I have had the pleasure to be apart of.

So having memory plus the memorex and with not having gone over the 50 mark for a king I chose...king for me please!


FJ...out.