Big Steel

[trout5]

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Broke the cherry on my Spey rod with this biggy. The trout of my life so far. 34 1/2 inches and heavy as heck. Took a size 12 krystal flash wet fly

[Nymphmeister]

You look like one happy guy, congrats. Looks like you were indicator nymphing with the Spey? Did you do some swinging too?

[AaronJasper]

I am pretty sure he was indicator fishing with the spey rod. I talked to him that day right after he caught it. He sounded like a kid that got exactly what he wanted for Christmas!

[trout5]

Thanks. I was indeed indicator nymphing but i was doing a swing lift at the end of the drift with a little wet fly and that's when the fish ate. I alternated all weekend between nymphing with the floating head and swinging wet flies and streamers at various sink rates. It was a lot of fun using the two hander and made covering water much easier. Still the single hand rod better for close in nymphing I think. It was a tough cold weekend but the big guy was worth it.

[Dave]

Oscar, that is an awesome Steelhead NICE! I remember you saying recently in a post that you just got a hold of a spey rod (TFO) I think? If so, how is it, and could you possibly review it?

After getting bit by the steelhead bug recently and being completely obsessed, I'm contemplating a spey rod sooner or later for certain larger rivers. That. . .and I want to be able to cast from my apartment to central park! ;D I obviously see the benefits of using a spey rod for wider streams and rivers, especially in the cold winter, where one has to key in on specific qualities of water-type, and focus on those for longer periods of time. It seems more efficient both from an energy and time perspective.

Aaron, typically what would you think of being the limit to using a spey rod? (how wide or large a river would you expect to use a spey rod in?). And conversely, what would be the largest amount of space that one could cover with a good Steelhead rod, ie: 9'6''-10'' range in terms of river dimensions?

Back to this post, AWESOME fish. I'm heading up next week (or possibly sooner) and can't wait.

[trout5]

Thank you, Dave. I actually ended up getting a G Loomis 13' Roaring River Stinger. it is a good deal more expensive than the TFO but it is a far better crosswater rod so it is worth it. I basically got two rods in one. It is great for steelhead and excellent for saltwater applications. A true cannon. I am still learning to use it but I got some casting lessons from Drew at Tight Lines in NJ, from whom I purchased the rod. It greatly advanced my learning curve. You should see him cast this rod. He threw a 600 grain 40' shooting head and 90 feet of running line so hard that it peeled line off the reel! So the rod has what is necessary and now it is up to me to master it. So far so good and if I have to catch some steel in the process, so be it!

[Troutfishing4life]

what weight is the spey rod
and nice fish

[trout5]

8/9 weight. Thank you.

[Brookie]

Nice dark fish - looks like it's been milling around in the river for awhile. You keep posting photos like that and I'm going to have to brave the cold and umpteen inches of snow we've gotten to get my fix.

[Nymphmeister]

Will you be allowed to go NB?