Fishing a Sage Flight 7 weight 10 ft

Nice salmon! I won't get to go there until the steelhead show up. I am too busy doing other things. I have been busy with a ton of projects. I want to see some photos of some salmon though!

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're 5 weight would be in big trouble. I used my 7 weight last night and hammered some giant Smallmouth Bass, no photos cause I was alone and wading in deeper water. >:( I had a few Bass around 3 and 4 pounds and they were harder to bring in with the current. Try to imagine a 20 pound King in swift current. I saw a guy at the bridge on the Esky trying to haul in a 12-15 pounder with twelve pound test and a walleye/bass rod. Let's just say, he was NOT successful.

Gotcha, i'll go heavier, maybe a 7 or 8wt before I try Salmon!!

Uhhhh...... Start thinking 9-10wt. My 3 peice Grey's 7wt is now a 4 peice trying to net a King by myself. High rod angle and darting runs = rod return. No pics............long story.

This trip reminded me of an article i read a while back about Steelheaders. Let's group Salmon chasers together with them for the sake of this post.

Steelheaders are a special breed all their own. Rugged tough with a take a no prisoner no whiners allowed attitude. Sometimes these qualities can cause friction in our relationships with our less than hard core companions. Just because your on the river Steelheading(Salmon) does'nt make you a Steelheader. It does take a certain mind set to bang out on the river day in and day out regardless of weather and conditions and still want more. These are times when a sense of urgency to get in the water and an unbridaled passion to fish are pre. rec.'s.

To be a part of this unique group of individuals requires keeping your sniffling to yourself and taking the bruises to your pride given to you by the fish or the group under wraps. Only if you return after taking the beating from the river,the fish and your fishing companions can you begin to be called a "Steelheader". Those who can not handle the verocity of the sport and the mind set it takes to be consistantly on the river regardless of the bumps and bruises will return home with their tails tucked and their relationship with the "Steelheaders" in jeoprady. Many are brought but few return.

If you have never been Steelheading or Salmon Chasing here are a few notes you should remember so you don't tick me off or any other "Steelheader".
1) No 3:30 is not too early to be putting on waders.
2)Yes,getting on the river well before sunrise is neccasary.
3) Your coffee is not more important than my fishing!
4)If you don't have the fortitude to fish any more you are still required to be on the river and net my fish
5) Just because you dropped $1000 on your set up does'nt mean you deserve to hook fish
6)Never leave your group period. And definately not to go clean out the motel room and return to the river and sit in your car in street clothes while your "buddy" is breaking rods trying to net 20-30lb fish by himself and then say "I'm ready to go home" at 1pm on day 1 of a 3 day trip just because your a sniffling -------------. (you know who you are and a "Steelheader" you are not.

I can see why you're so addicted to fishin' for them, my friend. Are you saying then, Brandon, that you shouldn't go up alone to Salmon/Steelhead fish 'cause it's too hard to net them by yourself? Also, when does the Steelhead season start up there usually? 1 more thing: you don't think an 8wt is solid enough to handle those fish up there or are you saying to go w/ a 9/10wt just to be sure? As you know, I have nothing bigger than a 5wt so I'll have to do some shoppin and get something before I can try my hand at this Salmon/Steelie stuff!!

An 8wt is a good all around rod for up there if you had to choose just 1 I think. I did see Doobers 8wt literally explode into 4 more peices than the factory intended it to be on a Salmon.

You can get it done by yourself. But if the fish takes you down to a less than desirable spot where beaching it is out of the question your going to have a problem. Had the fish that broke my rod take me into a knee deep area witha few logs that it kept dashing under. While lifting the rod up and reaching with the net the fish took off and blew the bottom ferrule completely off my rod. That's pure power!

Wow that IS pure power. Even an experienced angler is gonna have problems with a big fish on any rod, possibly. Going heavier than a 7 or 8 weight is no problem and definitely recommended. Species like Steelhead and bigger Salmonoid species like Chinooks can blast away from you and really put stress on your rod. Having the recommended equipment could save you a few headaches on the river. Also, @ Esopus Guy, your post sounds a little personal there, and believe me I been in those situations before. That's how I am with all fishing and including bird hunting.

It was................ If I said that we are going home and cleaned out the room already at 1:00pm on day 1 of a 3 day trip I would expect you to be a little pissed too.

if your going to do it give 110%

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