American Steel 1/22-1/23

Plan was to go back out for Sturgeon Tuesday, but plans changed and that didn't work out. I told myself I wasn't going to buy a Steelhead card this year because I usually only go 3 or 4 times a year I didn't think it was worth it, but I found myself in Rancho with nothing to do so I caved in a got it. My friend Steven who I took fishing twice last year really loves the sport so he got his fishing license this year and I hit him up to come on out with me. Got on the water around 1200 at the hatchery. Plenty of fisherman out today, found a spot between em and tried throwing beads for a while. Saw tons of fish swimming by and there were some hogs in the ladder so my hopes were high. We tried for a couple hours though without hooking into anything besides a few snags.

Steven did manage to pull up some dead line with a silver and orange Little Cleo on it, pretty nice score. Figured why not, had Steven tie it on and give it a shot. He had a few followers come real close to it, but they never hit it. Moved on down to try another area with a little less crowds. After two hours there we still had no luck.

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We fished until 1600 saw maybe 5 or so fish get caught around us. Not as many as I would have expected to see with the amount of fish and fisherman out there, but that's how things work out sometimes.

Today Wednesday I don't start work until 1400 so I figured I could give it another quick shot before I had to go and punch in. On the water today around 1000. A little less crowded today which is always nice. Took a spot that I saw a guys doing pretty good at the day before. Started with beads again, hoping to get at least one hook up. Gave it a couple solid hours of trying for still nothing. Saw a few fish get landed around me, but still no crazy action happening. I started seeing a few fish cruising right at my feet next to the bank, so I figured I'd try the spoon to really work the shore line and try to entice a bite that way. After about 20 mins. of tossing that, my spoon stopped dead literally inches off of the bank. Not feeling like a normal rock I slammed that hook had a fish on!

Fish was heavy as heck on my 7ft bass rod I decided to keep this Cleo on. I immediately regretted that decision about 2 seconds into the fight when this fish wanted to show me his power by going on a 50 yard run straight down river. I wasn't really worried about my line snapping, but I didn't think I was going to be able to pull him

back up the rapids with the lighter rod. I didn't do anything except hold on and did a lot of praying for the first 4 mins of the fight before I got on turn of the reel on him. After a while of keeping pressure on him though I was slowly able to pump him back up the river towards me and after roughly a long 10 min. fight I beach him and got my first steel head of 2013.

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Didn't have a scale and I forgot to measure him so lets guess him at close to 10lbs and roughly 30 inches or so. First steelie I've ever gotten on a Cleo too which was awesome.

Kept fishing for a while longer, but I have to admit my arm was sore as heck, I didn't know what I would have done if I hooked another. Stayed until 1230 before I left for work.

I've never been a big fan of steelies, but if days like this come around every now and then I can defiantly learn to love it.

Till Next Time Guys
Mark