Swinging For ....Seal

**Banjo** · February 21st, 2012, 09:10 AM

Went up to the Squamish river this last weekend. Arrived at one of my favorite runs and started to swing. About midway through the run the swing stopped. I lifted up on the rod and could feel lots of weight and some movement. I thought to myself yes finally I have hooked one of the big Squamish river steelhead and its going to go nuts in a second. Then I noticed a seal head pop up. I heaved on the rod to try and get my fish away from it but soon realized that it was the seal that I had hooked. Can you imagine the look on my face. The crazy part is that I actually reeled it to the shore. It was just a baby and was quite frightened. I had to distract the teeth end while extracting the barbless hook. The seal was then let go and was spotted hunting not ten minutes later.

**robin** · February 21st, 2012, 10:43 AM

I wonder if you need a salt water license to fish for Squamish seals... As much as I despise seals I am glad the lil' fellow was released safety.

**Coastrider** · February 21st, 2012, 10:45 AM

Wow, great picture man. Although we all have our moments with the frustrating seal, that is a bit sad as its just a pup. Good for you for unhooking it and getting it back to the water to eat your steelhead

**BH_flyfisher** · February 21st, 2012, 11:08 AM

Poor little guy. Thats a wicked Story! Great Pictures!

**BCBound** · February 21st, 2012, 11:25 AM

Look at all that dubbing!

Just kidding. That's a crazy story. I've seen them in the river a lot, but have never heard of anyone taking a fly. That's wild. I'm surpised it let you pop the hook.

**woolybugger** · February 21st, 2012, 11:33 AM

Wow, what are the odds! Im glad you took the courtesy to do it as fast and as safely to return the little guy back into the wild. Im happy to hear he is not hurt! Good story!

**professori** · February 21st, 2012, 01:17 PM

There are guys out there would have bonked it before identifying it and then insisted that it was legal because it had no adipose fin. Neat experience.

**Banjo** · February 21st, 2012, 01:43 PM

Thanks everyone for the replies. This was a weird experience and I was glad to be able to share it with my little sister. She is seven years old and loves steelhead fishing. She was the one that took the photos. She even filmed me getting the hook out and releasing it. This was a neat experience for me so I could only imagine to a seven year old. Here are some photos that did not turn out so well but you get the idea. With all his/her blubber I doubt the seal even felt the hook and thats why I was able to bring it in to the shallows.