I was set up perfectly for this sequence after I ran my first cast through a piece of dark water at the tail out of a nice run, when a steelhead bolted out of a hole to look at what I was offering; then bolting back to where it was laying. I handed my friend the camera and said “Watch this!”.
After that fish revealed itself to me, I know exactly where to put my next cast. I stick it perfectly, upstream of where the chrome is lying.
The fish slams the float down and takes the wool. Fish on! Massive head shakes and quickly makes a run upstream, hoping to spit the hook (with no success).
After its run upstream, I work the fish closer to me which turned into a Mexican standoff, where we both catch out breath.
After the brief pause and a photo opp, the fish quickly turns its head, does a 180 and takes the current downstream. Giving resistance with my hand on the reel, keeping pressure on the hook, deciding whether the fish will turn around or if I’ll be chasing it downstream.
Having the fish take line, and not turning around I make a quick dash downstream to get back in control. This is where the fish takes me for a run.
The fish heads right towards a root bank. I have to give it the gears to keep its head out of the sticks; which would love to pull that hook out of the side of this fish’s mouth and leave me tangled, with only a glimpse.
Finally giving up, tired and defeated. The fish bow’s it’s head submitting.
Quickly tailing with one hand, lying the rod over your knees and pulling out the hook with the other before picking it up.
A quick picture with my prize, before it was released. 34 × 16 wild buck.
C.P.R- Catch, Picture and Released
