[dinsdale piranha]

the drive up friday night was incredible with a full moon lighting up the valley and river. i camped at the grease hole and got a rip-roaring fire going. there is something about camping on the thompson, huddled around a fire in -7C temperatures having a beer that epitomizes steelhead fishing.

i never get too concerned about "first light" steelhead fishing, so after a relaxed breakfast i started in. basically i fished from 8:00am until 4:30pm without stopping. the only break i took was on my drives from spot to spot which were spent eating oranges and granola bars.

i think the hardest part about this kind of fishing is staying focused and maintaining your confidence for extended periods of time without even getting a sniff from a fish. so when i hit my first fish after 5 hours of blank cast after blank cast, i was thrilled. mind you a knew i was about to hit a steelhead because a moment before, it came up and slashed at my float. the fight was a classic with countless runs, first taking me 50 yards up stream and then 200 yards down. it took me about 15-20 minutes to land a 16-18lb doe. unfortunately i had a crappy place to land the fish and because of the ice around the shore, i was forced to gently slide it up on the rocks where it gave me a quick chance at a picture before sliding her back in to the river.

my next hook-up came just before dark set in and only lasted half a minute before a very bright, maybe 12lb-ish fish spit the hook.

the day was also punctuated with a couple of big (18"-20"), fat trout.

well it was certainly not the stellar day HR had, but considering i never saw or heard of another fish caught, i had a great day.

Dinsdale

 

[Big Green Machine]

Dinsdale,

i was forced to gently slide it up on the rocks where it gave me a quick chance at a picture before sliding her back in to the river.

Very nice! On Dec 31st last year I tried to do the same thing but dropped my camera in the water! It's bad enough you have to contend with slippery rocks but then add the ice factor and it makes for a treacherous day! Last time I camped at Grease I fondly recall eating Chinese food from the cafe in Lytton in the back of my truck. It did not keep me as warm as your fire however!

 

[Eric]

I know catching a steelhead on the thompson is a feat but pictures taken of a fish out of water on the rocks in sub zero temperatures? Please keep the fish in the water, the fishes eyes can freeze in an instant in cold temperature and do alot of damage. And nothing good about having a thompson steelhead on the rocks. :naughty:
Nice fish by the way.

 

[dinsdale piranha]

hi eric,

i know, i know. i was caught between a rock and a hard place. that fish was caught by the **********. as much as the fish took me way downstream, i was actually looking for a good place to land her. there just was nowhere. it was either me in the drink or her on the shore. i basically laid my rod down, took the snap (my camera was already out, hanging from my neck), and got the fish back in the water. total time out of water was under 30 seconds. under the circumstances, it was the best i could do.

DP

 

[hotrod]

Nice job! What a great looking fish and what a price to pay considering the cold weather. Nice pic and looks like a nice release even though you had to beach it to get her back in the water. Way to go man!


Hotrod

 

[JetBoat Jim]

If you seen some of the stuff we put those fish through tagging, shoving a HUGE radio transmitter down thier throat, cutting a chunk of finn off, ripping out a scale or two, mesuring and then dumping back into the water, after of course being caught on shrimp or roe.................only to survive several months in the river ,spawn, go live in the fraser, return the following year, to be caught again. so will they survive this?

nice fish.

but thompson fish dont deserve internet advertisment. :2cents:

 

[dinsdale piranha]

but thompson fish dont deserve internet advertisment. :2cents:

true enough. i was just sharing my experience. but neither do the fish deserve chum nets, de-scaling, spaghetti tags, radio transmitters, or even to be caught 20 times.

i really wrestled with even going up there in the first place. i fished a day, got a bit of a thompson fix, came back a day early, and won't go back this season. the fish need a break.

DP

 

[Cummins]

What is up with the fish's eye in the pic?

 

[dinsdale piranha]

What is up with the fish's eye in the pic?

it is turned down which means the fish is alive. when you see a picture with the fish's pupil level and centered, it's dead!!

DP

 

[HOOK]

he is probably trying to see the hook stuck in his lip LOL I hate it when your trying to unhook a fish and they are watching you do it then JUST before you pop the hook they thrash usually coming off but getting the hook in your finger or hand issed: issed: OUCH!

 

[young gun]

that is the sketchiest part of landing fish yourself, when ur rod is buckled over, and u go to grab the leader, hate it, scares me alot. if the hook pops ouch! nice fish, is there alot of pressure this year? oh i suggest cleats, not sport cleats but actual wading cleats, much easier to get a grip

 

[Rick Baerg]

After viewing this thread I felt the overwelming urge to post the link to the regulations page discribing the proper catch and release methods when handleing any fish! Follow this link and go to page 11, its a pdf file. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/docs/fish-synopsis_2007-08_general.pdf

:cheers: Rick

 

[Fish Finder]

Great post Rick. For those with navigational problems, the info. pertaing to the hadling of fish is on page 11. :cheers:

Finder

 

[fishhog]

A "Glory Shot" isn't worth dragging the fish on the beach. :naughty:
I've had many of these fish caught & released without a decent picture !!!
I know sometimes, a picture is the only thing we come away with, but in my opinion, it's best to leave them in the water. :2cents:

 

[fishortho]

For what it's worth, I think DP has stated his case surrounding the picture and clearly understands the situation. Please, people,I don't think we really need to pound him into submission!..He has been forthright in his discussions/reasons. I dont think we should ignore the 240 other informative posts he has posted on this board.
Ortho 8)

 

[Thrasher]

I agree that we shouldn't "pound him into submission", however one would like to think that along with his 240 other informative posts, comes an educated angler willing to respect the fish as they should be.

Sure he wanted to get a pic, we all like to take a pic, when the opportunity presents itself. However, when there isn't an opportunity that favors the well being and safe handling of the fish, safely release the fish and continue fishing.

However, if you choose to take a pic that doesn't show the best handling techniques, don't post it in the forum. Otherwise, chances are, you will get flamed by people wanting to protect the runs. I think that if there wasn't a "bit" of flaming taking place, one would have to wonder why no one cares enough to speak up.

There is plenty of info here regarding the topic...

http://www.bcfishingreports.com/forum/index.php?topic=2699.0

 

[fishortho]

Good point..............Ortho 8)

 

[Cummins]

I myself am not one for photo's, I never take a camera along with me!!! The only time was yesterday!

I am not one for "HERO SHOT'S", to me hooking at a big T fish would be better to have it in my memeroy bank then to slide it up on the rocks!!

Just my two cents eace:

 

[fishhog]

I agree that we shouldn't "pound him into submission", however one would like to think that along with his 240 other informative posts, comes an educated angler willing to respect the fish as they should be.

Sure he wanted to get a pic, we all like to take a pic, when the opportunity presents itself. However, when there isn't an opportunity that favors the well being and safe handling of the fish, safely release the fish and continue fishing.

However, if you choose to take a pic that doesn't show the best handling techniques, don't post it in the forum. Otherwise, chances are, you will get flamed by people wanting to protect the runs. I think that if there wasn't a "bit" of flaming taking place, one would have to wonder why no one cares enough to speak up.

There is plenty of info here regarding the topic...

http://www.bcfishingreports.com/forum/index.php?topic=2699.0

I agree 100% There's more than enough flaming goes on. Maybe that's the cause of global warming ;D I'm glad to see picture being posted.......

 

[steelie 99]

Ah nice fish!! I was down river from you whan you caught it!! To far to come for a pic but nice job!! and nice fire!!