32" Champlain steelhead

[Matt]

I had already ran down 100' of river to chase this guy, fell in twice (first time flat on my face, nearly completely soaked) I quickly took my phone out of my pocket and threw it into the woods to avoid water damage. Still, the fish didn't stop. It ran another 50' before I could cut it off, jump into the water in front of it and net it head-first. But the mayhem didn't stop there - he was way too big for my net. I had to throw my rod in the water, almost lay down in the river and hold his tail with one hand and the net with my other to avoid him escaping. When I was holding him, laying in the river in 2' of water with water filling up my waders, it was actually pretty peaceful. It took a moment to process what had just happened, but I had won that battle. I laid there for a full minute before I could get up, I think I was in shock.

Matt whipped out the measuring tape and it was a solid 32" steelie. We guessed it at about 11-12 lbs. I should have kept it for the wall, and I keep telling myself I want a steelie or salmon over 11 lbs for my wall, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. A picture was good enough for me, and I sent him back on his way. It was the perfect way to top off the Spring steelie run for Champlain, and it was also the 13th steelhead I'd landed in the past 3 days.

[mudchuck]

WOW!!!
What a beast!
Congrats!

[Black Ghost (Ken)]

Whoa!!!

Nice fish. Sounds more like you were at a rodeo riding a bull.

On the fly I assume? What wt rod are you using?

Bummer that it doesnt count towards a VT Master Angler.

[Matt]

Whoa!!!

Nice fish. Sounds more like you were at a rodeo riding a bull.

On the fly I assume? What wt rod are you using?

Bummer that it doesnt count towards a VT Master Angler.

My poor 7'9" 5 wt took a beating once I dropped it in the water to net the fish. It slid down 20' of rocks and scraped up 3/4 of one of the sides. He ate a size 14 hares ear. They were all over the hendrickson hatch in NY and VT. Almost all my fish hit hares ears besides a few egg stealing males and another male that hit a white leech on the swing.

[meangreen1]

What a awesome fish!! Congrats!!

[Reelax]

Wow. We landed a 30 " one yesterday, but had to drive 6hrs to do it!
Great fish

[Gecha (Gerry)]

Congrats Matt on that enormous fish. And what a nice gesture for releasing it. You can always have a replica mounted, but the satisfaction of knowing that trophy specimen is still alive will last forever.

And congrats to Reelax for your 30" steelhead.

[fishmaster176]

Amazing catches. I wonder how many fishermen have been frustrated by those big boys. Nice to see the fishermen win a few rounds. Thanks for sharing.

[raz]

Great fish Matt!

[Off season]

You just cant beat the Hairs Ear Nymph ! WTG Nice Steelhead

[Thorny]

WOW!

[flyguy]

On a 5 wt! Wow! congrats!

[shirefisher]

clearly you need a harpoon at this point!!!

Epic!

[vtfishin]

Beautiful fish and great fight Matt! Congrats!!

[StinkyMatt]

Dude!!!!!!!!!!!




That is a beauty. A fish of a lifetime for many.



Major Karma points for letting it go.



Great write up, love the "sacrifice my body" attitude to land that beauty.