Well, Monday morning it happened. Greg got his first steelhead on a jig. Like all of us, he carries several rods with him when pounding the bank. I had just landed a steelhead a steelhead on a jig, and we went back to fishing. I heard him set the hook and his drag start singing. I looked over my right shoulder and saw him bendo. I asked "On the jig rod??". With a big smile he said "Yes.......I can't believe it"
I bet the smile on his face in the photo is still there. He was beyond happy.
I bet he has been tying jigs since he got home!!
You are hooked now buddy!! Congrats! The first one builds the confidence in the technique, the ice is broken, the cherry is popped. Many more to come!!

I don't deserve a whole thread bout it.

You forgot to mention your huge summer steelhead!

I only went and picked up that one color I kept saying f*** that one. Hahaha

The funny thing was, I had just got done saying to John that that jig won't work and next cast, float goes down and it hadn't in that spot before... So I grabbed my spool and pulled up and to my surprise the line started moving. I will say I've gained alot more confidence in the spoon and jig(now) since I know what I was doing was correct.

Good job Greg!! Yes you do deserve a thread about it!! You have come a long way since the infamous Applegate thread
This photo of this old red hookjawed Coho is the "huge summer steelhead greg is referring to. I had landed a steelhead prior to this fish. When I set the hook on this one, I knew it was big. It dogged me real hard with the 8# line I was using and WOULD NOT come to the bank. I had steelhead on my mind of course as always, and the first glipse of the fish was just a big color spot of red in the dark water. Most of the steelhead we are catching up there are red banded and have the rosy cheeks going on. Jon knows my luck with Coho is less than nothing so I was not thinking Coho. I said "HOLY $@#& Greg, that is a GIANT summer steelhead". A couple pumps later, we saw it was a big ole red hookjawed Coho. Good thing greg was there to tail that fish for me to get the jig out, take a photo, and let him back in to finish his journey.

Wow! Good job guys! Greg that is a huge deal to get your first fish on a jig, its over now.

Good job guys. Greg, now every time you cast that float and jig you will be expecting it to go under.

good job greg!!!!

Way to go Greg. I knew you could do it, just was'nt sure i'd live long enough to hear about it.
Just kiddin Greg. Glad you finally got your first and i'm sure there will be many many more.
You have been educated by some of the finest jig fisherman in Southern Oregon so it was bound to happen.

Thanks guys. Ya know... I can proudly say 7 out of the 8 fish on my tag are not a Chinook. Haha. Other than that steelhead.... I've tagged two coho. Released three others... and have tagged 4 other steelhead.... hoping I can carry some of this success into winter steelies

I think pigs do fly cause it happened again.

Yes its true.......Greg got his 2nd Steel on a jig today!!! Its all downhill from here. Still wondering why he waited for Jon and I to hook 2 Steelhead each on the jigs before he gave it a hard try
Good job Greg......Glad we could be a part of it
Learn everything you can!!

wow! that's a chromer for that high in the river.

Now there is an ADULT steelhead Greg! Good job.

archer wrote:Good job guys. Greg, now every time you cast that float and jig you will be expecting it to go under.

Ya know, I'm actually starting to believe that, Daniel. Believe or not but when I had casted in that spot before today... its usually very shallow... and I just now realized that the water was a lot higher so that slot was deeper.... hmmm sorry... just re-thinking about that cast and fish... and john i was throwing the jig at the hatch. So yea... everything is starting to come together nicely finally... sorry for my thinking while typing. Work sucks but its monies, and I just got home and now relaxing.

I'm still waiting to john to post the pics of the other three fish.... did I mentioned I got to watch both of em cracker a fish off!? now to find enough jigheads to tie a winters supply of jigs.

Nice fish Greg. Well done.

Add another one to the low count!

Its True......Greg scored his 3rd jig fish this morning. That smile is gonna be permanently fixed to his face. Look at him, eyes closed, playing it all back in his head. Good job Greg

Dreams are good thing Greg! You hang in there. The J's will make a fisherman out of you yet.

H

Egg with another jig fish...????.... will someone get a picture of the pigs in the air too please Way to go little buddy!!!! I feel sorry for those winter fish if you get laid off... I KNOW you are going to have some GREAT success this winter!!! Just remember us little guys when we are on the water too. Leave some for us

I learned from the best on how to keep Greg from caching all the fish. Just cast in front of him every time like mr. toybox does!!

Only if I'm using a spoon, chad. Hahaha

Went out with my dad today and I ended up hooking one and handing off to him... one of the meanest hatchery fish I've seen.

Greg forgot to mention that he also hooked that fish on a jig, which would make it his 4th jig caught fish .
The confidence should be at an all time high Greg .
Good job!!!

But remember what we talk bout john. Three of the four have been on yours.... but those three have been first cast thru that one sweet spot. Haha

Add number five and six! Tagged out in 30 minutes this morning while it was pouring rain. Woo whoooooooo!