First steelhead!

[colchilibeck]

Well today I was able to get my first steelhead! And to make it even more sweet I was using a fly I tied and my new Spey rod!
I was on the Vedder with kevin all day today and I was lucky enough to get this beautiful fish! We worked through a sweet run (sorry but I am going to hold off on saying where exactly, if you've fished the vedder you already know it, if you haven't then you can easily find it with some exploring ) and got into this buck near the end. He took it on the swing and then took off. He ran three times before he was tired out and man was I glad I didn't lose him! The whole time I was just thinking "Don't lose it! Don't lose it!). This was our third time on the river so I feel pretty lucky to get one and I know some guys try for a long time before getting their first. So it turned out to be a wild buck. I measured my rod when i got home and from the line above the handle to the end is 29 inches and his tail was pretty far passed, so I'm guessing he was about 33" give or take. I have no idea about weight but man he was big! We safely released him quickly and he shot off like a rocket!
Now I'm going to save this fly for the mantle and tie up some more just like it

Hopefully this keeps others who are searching for their first steelie motivated to be on the river even if in crap weather

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[herkileez]

Beautiful fish !!....Congrats !!

[Zane]

Very nice.

[Coastrider]

congrats, you beat me to it. Oh well, it will happen some year. Great hook set by the way

[btree]

Nice fish! Good to see you got into a wild one too May many more come to your line in the coming months.

[micman]

congrats to you, that is an awesome fish. It must have been a great experience.

[bub1]

beutiful fish! I still have the fly of my first one.... somewhere. Congrats and thanks for postin. PUMPED to say the least!!!yahooooooooooooo

[Slim Diggity]

Very nice fish! It's always great when the hard work and persistence pays off. To get one on your third time is very special. It took me well over 30...

[Magnum]

Congratulations and what a beauty! There's something special about your first and to catch it on your own tied fly just adds to the experience. You will live that one over and over again which only adds to the anticipation of your next one. Good for you and keep at it as it seems you pay now or you pay later as the chrome have this all figured out and they "will" make you earn their status as a fish of a thousand cast! Again Good for you and Enjoy! Take Care.

[BCBound]

Those pictures are awsome Colin. I'm really excited that you got into your first Steelhead, especially so early on in the season. What that does for your confidence (and mine!) is going to be amazing. The stretch of water you fished is great hey? I knew the other day when I went through it, and decided to lighten up my fly and go through the same section again. Glad to know that water was holding. I'm going back out on my next days off. Can't wait!