TR - Southern U.P. Steelhead Action

**Happy Fun Ball** · 04-09-2008, 08:56 AM

When the wife to be asked me to take her fishing on Friday I damn near soiled myself. She loves to fish, but hates the cold so early spring steelhead action isn't the best environment for her. Nonetheless, I sucessfully dumped work on Friday and started prepping her gear.

We left Marquette bright and early on Friday morning in an effort to get on the water by 8 a.m.. We arrived to clear skies and light south winds. I brought a few different setups with including the centerpin on the noodle rod and the 10' 8 wt. She lasted about 20 minutes before getting a little too cold and had to return to the car to do some more layering. So there I was with a very long open stretch of water with the centerpin just calling my name. Rigged it up with an egg pattern and a bead head nymph dropper and went to town. In the next 45 minutes I got into 6 steelhead. Anything from a skipper to a nice, fat 7-8lb male. Here's one of the little chromers that took the egg pattern.
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The sun came up and back came the lady looking a little more eager to fish. I left a stretch of water untouched that has produced for me in the past so she could hopefully get into some. She's faught steelhead before, but never hooked her own. So away she goes and approaches the run with her 9' 8wt. I stand back and just enjoy the morning. I had to do a little re-rigging when I hear what seemed to be some sort of blood curdling scream. I look up and there she is, rod doubled over, and chrome steelhead racing down river. After a few instructions, some nice rod work, and some running down river I slid the net under a beautiful 7lb male. Christy's first steelhead on the fly!!
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The trip is a success at this point in my book, but the morning is young so I head back out into the cold waters and try a few more runs. I got into a few more players including a nice, fresh hen and a winter hold over male.
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Great day on the water catching fish, enjoying the company of my lady and a her first steelhead.

We'll be back again when winter decides to loosen it's icy grips on the UP.

Tight lines.

**72Twenty** · 04-09-2008, 09:05 AM

NOICE! Way to get after it with the lady!!!!

**Dean Youngblood** · 04-09-2008, 09:19 AM

Nice lookin' fish (and lady!!). Makes me miss Michigan in the spring. Grew up battling the crazies at the dam in downtown Grand Rapids.

**Andy_B** · 04-09-2008, 09:49 AM

Nice fish.

What are you throwing? My Father is up there as we speak.

**Happy Fun Ball** · 04-09-2008, 10:52 AM

Steelhead orange with blood dot glo bugs were my best by far. Two hook ups came off a chartruese, McCheese, bright orange and tangerine clown egg. Once I got the first three off egg patterns that's all I used. Must have been some spawning ladies around with some eggs coming down river.

**Andy_B** · 04-09-2008, 11:32 AM

^^ Thanks.

**Happy Fun Ball** · 04-09-2008, 11:51 AM

Where is he at? We're in the tail end of a blizzard warning. Not too much snow around here, but about a foot in the highlands. Lots of high and dirty water on the Lake Superior tribs right now.

**Andy_B** · 04-09-2008, 12:23 PM

Im not sure, they were at the PM yesterday and left to head over the bridge to see what was going on...

PM and The Man very few fish being landed... Lots of walley thou.

**mushmouth** · 04-09-2008, 12:51 PM

Your wife should pull her cock out because she rocks and we all know the only way to properly rock is with the cock out.

Although my wife isn't into fishing she had an experience last year with a big large mouth engulfing a bluegill she had on her line over and over again (she jerked the rod in surprise/shock at the first hit and the bass kept on lunging) resulting in a 20 second episode worthy of Wild Kingdom.

I love it when they get it...

**schwerty** · 04-09-2008, 03:43 PM

Nice TR!

**ak_powder_monkey** · 04-09-2008, 06:08 PM

nice rainbows

**yooper** · 04-10-2008, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by mushmouth

Your wife should pull her cock out because she rocks and we all know the only way to properly rock is with the cock out.

Shit, you should see that chick ski....

**Jer** · 04-10-2008, 04:37 PM

I was gonna go slay some steelhead this weekend, but now it's supposed to snow two feet.

Anybody going to Bohemia?

**Jer** · 04-19-2008, 05:22 PM

Caught three steelhead this morning (all about 25") on a small creek north of Algoma on Lake Michigan. I'd have taken some pics, but I left my camera in the truck. I was only there for about an hour - river was high and fast, but the action was pretty good. Nobody else there too.