Steelhead Duo!!

Early this February (2015), Aidan and I decided to try our hand at a relatively new (to us) adventure--steelhead fishing. We chose to fish the Mad River somewhere east of Highway 101.  About 3 hours into our second outing, we hooked into a nice 7-8 pound, 28" hatchery steelhead.  After a spirited fight lasting a few minutes, Aidan successfully landed the fish (a hen filled with roe).  Aidan's big grin says it all!

 

 

 

The Mad River is found in upper Northern California where it flows for 113 miles through Trinity and Humboldt Counties before draining into the Pacific Ocean north of Arcata.  The Mad River Hatchery is located east of the small hamlet of Blue Lake.  Wild/native steelhead may only be caught and released, but anglers are currently allowed to keep two hatchery steelhead (easily identified by their clipped adipose fins).  Barbless hooks are required.  The steelhead in this river average around 8-12 pounds I've been told though bigger fish are caught. 

 

Aidan and I returned to our favored fishing spot about a week later.  I hooked a big, silver (fresh) native steelhead about an hour into our excursion (using a hand tied yarn ball).  This one was much larger than the one Aidan landed. I estimated its weight at well over 10 pounds.  It fought me for a good 30 minutes (on 8 lb. test line) before I was finally able to land the beauty. After a quick photo, I released it back into the river.  I've caught fish from Loreto, Mexico to southern Alaska but this may have been my most cherished catch.