[Philster]

Had a 26 to 29 inch hatchery buck nearly open up a size 4 7989 on me. Did manage to tail him... Well... actually I managed to grab his tail 3 times, only to have him shake free of my grasp. The barbless hook finally pulled free as he drifted tail first through my legs. Ever have a steelhead come flying back upriver through your legs? I highly recommend it... It's breathtaking...

 

[mayflyman]

So, its the old steelhead between the legs trick, eh?

I had that happen to me before, although it was a northern pike, not a steelhead.
It scared the #@$%&*$ out of me when I remembered pike are freshwater barracudas. (Swimming teeth) ;D
Creek chubs and shiners would be a lot easier on the heart, but not as fun.
I had one hook straightened this summer, by a monster carp. That little #10 nymph hook didn't know what hit it... }>

Your steelhead adventure sounds great, wish I was there...
mayflyman

 

[Philster]

I had one hook straightened this summer, by a monster carp. That little #10 nymph hook didn't know what hit it... }>

Oh Man! Before I moved to steelhead land I used to fish me some carp! There was a lake that was in a shallow bowl in rolling grasslands. Every spring and fall it would flood and there would be acres of what was previously grassy bank under one to three feet of water... As a carper you can imagine what the sight fishing was like. Took a dedicated bonefisherman out there once. His casting literally fell apart when the first 3 footer cruised up during the spawn it looked like people were throwing hand grenades into the shallows... "pound for pound" carp challenge tuna in terms of strength.