Skeena Steelhead

by Krista Smith
(Smithers, BC, Canada)

I cast my chrome Spin-N-Glo into the Skeena River just after 6:00 A.M. on a cold and rainy morning in August, slid my rod into its rod holder and attached my bell. I stood, looking at the tip of my rod momentarily until my weight stopped rolling, then, satisfied with where it stopped, I walked away to boil some water for my morning coffee. I had only just stepped out of the camper when I heard my bell. I ran over, grabbed my rod, set the hook and started to reel. She jumped several times out of the water as she fought hard.

Steelhead are a protected species in these parts, so I'm adamant about a quick release and don't often take pictures, but when I finally got this one on land, I knew I couldn't let her go without at least one. It is, after all, the biggest Steelhead that I've ever seen. With tired arms I picked her up, got a few pictures snapped, turned and let her go. My morning coffee never tasted so good.