No, it isn't a 20 pounder...but it is my first.



24" long and maybe 5 pounds, but it is a righteous steelhead! Saw the clipped fin so decided to keep it, but didn't realize till after I bonked her that it was a spawned out hen (kelt?), but filleted her out for the smoker all the same.

Hit a spoon in the tailout below the house here, and put up a very honorable fight..enjoyed every second of it.

Here's a shot of the fish + gear....



This is the first fish I caught on this new rod, a Lami 10' Cert. Pro and Trion reel...what a way to break it in!

I know most of ya don't get too excited over a little one like this, but since its my first I thought I'd share it.

Mike

I think trouble is ahead...cause now I want a bigger one..:-)

Great Job and Great fish!! I get excited when anyone catches a fish but their first steelhead is the best. Too cool dude.

I get excited over any fish I get lucky enough to hook... Good job on that one

Hey, 5 lbs is a start... I would have gave my left n*** for a 5 pounder when i first started steelie fishing...good job You got a good setup to boot. I love my lami cert, its great for throwing spoons and drift fishing(sensitive tip, strong backbone)...Is that Izor High Viz you got on the trion?

Looks like your ready for a Skagit Nate

Mike,

It was great meeting you on Wednesday night. Guess all the talking we did about getting that first fish was just a warm up for today. Glad to hear that you broke the ice on your first Steelhead.

Way to go Mike B !!!

They get easier after the first one. Mike. Just wait until that 15 lb native buck drills that spoon next time you're out.

Congratulations Mike!!! It seems like you "popped your cherry" pretty quickly. I fished for 3 years before I got my first one. Of course, that was before the internet and Piscatorial Pursuits!

Excellent condrats it'll get easier now:)

Mike,
The journey begins!!! Nice Fish!!!
Winterun

There are no bad steelhead. What kind of spoon?

Mike

How is that reel working out?

Way to go!!! That first one is a great feeling of accomplishment. There are a ton of people who will never know that feeling.

Atta Boy!! Next ...... "the limit" ....... Go for 'em!!

Congrats Mike! Got my first on a spoon also.

Beezer

Getting the first one is pretty tough, but it's not nearly as difficult as catching the last one.

Thanks to all for the support....getting the first one is the big uphill battle, it seems.

bank walker: Yep, its the High-Vis Izor. Its 15 lb. and seems a bit stiff/kinky to me, and I plan to re-spool with 12 lb. this weekend. The rod seems super for spoons, but I need to get a bunch more proficient with the Trion. I can wing a spoon right out there, no problem, but for some reason trying to cast a float/weight/jig setup causes nasty backlashes...so I got to work on the mechanics a bit.

Grandpa: The Trion is awesome. The Islander needs to go on the market to pay for the Cert. Pro/Herzog rod and the new Trion reel. Told the wife one would pay for the other..so sadly the Islander has to go. (I am entertaining offers if anyone is interested).

Mike

got to agree with AuntyM, ya never should a done it! Now you have to spend hours upon hours frezzing your n*#s off trying to catch your next one and then the next one and so on... Soon you will understand how a crack junkie feels, unable to control you actions, lying to your boss about being sick on the days the river drops into shape, no longer able to drive past a river without looking for a new piece of holding water, slobber running down your face every time you pass a drift boat or new sled. You might as well divorce the wife, ship the kids to boarding school, sell the house and use the proceeds to buy every color corky, spoon, jig and plug out there because it is only a matter of time until you start getting the yips, cold sweats, and shakes as you look for that next flash of silver, that run towards the logs, that tell tail pause as your lead is lifted off the river bottom.

Its a sad experience watching grown, resposable adults turn into steelheaders.......