Fall chrome

I hit the river earlier in the week.  The flow was decent about 200 CFS, the water had stain to it, with about 24”+ visibility.  I caught two fish while I was out.  The first fish was caught in a medium fast run below some boulders.  This fish was HOT, HOT, HOT!  It went airborne several times and ripped line off the reel making it sound like a screaming banshee.  The fish ran me down into the pool below.  The first few times I brought this fish in, it decided it wasn’t done yet and went on another run.  This fish was the kind of fish steelheaders dream of.  The second fish that day was caught in a fast chute in the broken water.  It was runner not a jumper.  The fish went nose down in the current in its effort to get away.  It fought a hell of a fight.  I eventually brought the fish in and was able to take a decent picture of it.  I caught the first fish on a steelhead prince and the other on an orange glow bug.  Pics of both fish are posted below, the first fish is on top.  I also have a close up of the first fish showing the fly in its mouth. 

(Fishy is smiling for the pic!)

The hot fly of the season has been the steelhead prince. That fly has accounted for more than half of the steelies I have caught this season.  The rubber legs on the fly give it great movement in the water that the fish find irresistible.  I posted a pic of the fly too.  Thanks to Dan at Chagrin River Outfitters for recommending the fly.  The fly works so well I started tying them myself.

I was on the river yesterday and the day before too.  Yesterday was no good.  Really low clear water, too many anglers, and no steel for me.  If it weren't for a shiner I caught, I would have ben completely skunked.

The day before yesterday was better.  I caught a skipper in a chute. It was too small for a photo so I don't take a pic.  I caught the little skipper on an orange glow bug.  I also caught a sucker fish that afternoon.  On the way out I decided to make a few casts into run that usually holds fish in a popular spot.  The fish get so pounded there and it's always too crowded for my liking so I usually don't fish in that location.  Since I was on my way out and didn't want to leave until I had to, I gave it a few casts.  On the fourth or fifth cast I hooked a monster!  It ran and ran, ripping line off the reel as if there was no drag!  I was fighting the fish in, after a long fight, the fish mamaged to throw the hook with no warning at all. The tug was just gone.  I didn't even get a look atthe fish.  It must have been a monster because the guy accross the current from me is the one who gave this fish the title.  He was an impartial third party not the guy telling the fish story.