Trinity Steelhead pic

Peter Charles wrote

If you believe the PNW snobs, our "ersatz" steelhead don't have the
balls of an ocean run fish. That said, I don't fish for GL steelhead
with a six weight anymore after the last butt spanking I took from a
hatchery fish. Maitland, Saugeen, and Grand steelhead are all
streamborn and much tougher than a hatchery fish. Just talking to two
American guys today who came up this way to fish for one or two wild
fish rather than catch bucket loads of hatchery footballs back home.
So there's something to be said for the difference.

I believe on average wild steelhead are significantly stronger and tougher
than the hatchery model, but I've had enough surprises (wild fish that
fought like boots and hatchery jobs that battled like tigers) that I don't
think one can reliably predict which a fish is during the fight. I've
never fished for your potadromous GL version, so I can't compare them to
the anadromous PNW fish. I think, though, I'd rather hunt any wild fish
over any hatchery fish.

The bigger of the two fish in the photos I posted, was taken on 6 lb.
Maxima, the other on 10 lb. When the water clears, we have to drop
down in size or we don't catch fish. That fish was landed in maximum
three minutes and most of that time was me wading over to shore. I'm
fishing with a 13'6" 9 wt. two-hander so that may have something to do
with quickly subduing a fish.

From what I've heard, our steelhead here tend to be much less leader shy
(especially to swung flies) than yours can be. This is true even in clear
water. Are PNW fish more aggressive? dumber? who knows.....

JR