The Magic and the Heartbreak of Steelheading - OPST

We were extremely lucky to be able to spend an extended period of time steelheading this past fall. In the course of losing some fish, Ben mused on what it is exactly about steelheading that keeps him coming back. It's not just about the fish. If you don't appreciate the environment, the casting, the peace of mind and the process, you will never have success. But... to be honest, it's a little easier to get poetic about it after you have a fish or two under your belt. To purchase the gear used in this video visit pureskagit.com... or find a dealer near you: pureskagit.com...
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[@Damdochax]

I love this film. This was my story in BC this year, tons of plucks, hooked 20+, landed 3. Keeps me coming back!

[@Mr777manbearpig]

I watch this everytime before a steelheading trip, gets me absolutely amped up

[@jserra17]

The problem isn’t with the cast, the swing, hook set, hook, line or rod. It’s the failure to properly apply the prescribed attitude adjustment elixir. After you lose two in a row, take out the flask, apply a moderate amount of attitude adjustment fluid, pickup where you left off and remember that the ones that get away are a part of what brings us back. Thank you for the excellent video.

[@Jay-rd8mj]

Listening to Ben talk about steelheading like it's a religion, the passion is palpable. Gets me so pumped to get out and fish even just for my local trout.

[@TezukuriLure]

so painful vid. I got a many pains in 2023 trip.Steelhead fly fishing makes a story.Not easy to hit,Not easy to catch.Don’t give up,Keep casting. What a great story. This vid has a best Steelhead stories ever!!! Beautiful Steelhead documentary 😍👍

[@patricknoveski6409]

You explained it well at the end. Ive done so many types of fishing in my life. Just waiting for thst tug. Now in my early 60's, Ive found fly fishing to be the most beautiful and at times the hardest. But always, just one more tug! And I'll let you go. Thank you fish for making my life rich.

[@crestonlaager3216]

Interesting video, particularly the zen aspect. Since I fish the Great Lakes, I often must remind people how good we really have it, which is apparent when you hear people say things like, "it was slow today, had a few on, and only managed to land one." Our steelhead and your steelhead, however, are not the same by any means. I particularly like when you point out the journey, and the perils that the west coast steelhead must survive in order to come home; each one is truly a miracle and a living example of "survival of the fittest."

[@emiljohnson9548]

Of all the videos, on steelheading, I have watched over the years, this is the one that hits home with me. I am thankfull that not all anglers are cut from the same block of wood as Ben. One fish, in days of fruitless casts, is not for too many people who fish.

[@jimmyx38]

watch "Low and Clear"

[@emiljohnson9548]

@@jimmyx38 good video.

[@stevenxchang]

This video has heart and soul! It catches me right from the beginning. I can watch it again and again and again… awesome beautiful video! Only video matching up to Todd Moen's with its own angle and presentation of a real story! Awesome work, two thumbs up!

[@bridder1025]

Wow this video resonates with me. The blank mind repetition is so soothing, hours and sometimes days disappear. With the magic of a connection waking you up to pure joy.

[@Paul-qe1uf]

Stunning videography. I'm cut from that same block of wood, Ben. It's oddly comforting to know that there are others out there that have that same mindset, passion and zeal that only steelheading offers. How is this not a religion?

[@fabiosoldati1811]

When I watch this video and listen to the music , nature, peace, I can forget for a moment all the problems of the world. Thank you so much !

[@pierevojzola9737]

Hi, I wanted to comment but you said it all, well done! I fish the winter steelhead runs on the Tongariro River every year and thank God that I live in godsown country that gives me such opportunity. Tight lines.

[@Pete-z6e]

Great, it’s oversubscribed now without shouting from the rooftops!…born here.

[@danielstofka2030]

I love how so many people are giving Ben pointers on how to land fish...

[@reneet8710]

just looked like he couldve done a lot to land some of those fish from what im seeing. sometimes people who are great at what they do make mistakes nothing wrong with people pointing out the errors they perceive.

[@christiandemaria2125]

At certain times it looked like he was fighting the fish line tight with absolutely no bend in the rod , tip pointed directly at the fish , from my experience your going to loose the fish every single time at that angle with no load on the rod , it can be beneficial to fight the fish with a low rod angle parallel with the water but you definitely want that rod "tip up" away from the fish not pointing at it , only time I point my rod at the fish is when I have alot of tension and the fish jumps to give it a little room to not snap me and then I pull it right back

[@kitesurfer314]

This is such a great video. I've watched it many times. Captures so many of the emotions. Please make another.

[@AndrewMillerStudio]

Great film you guys! A real rollercoaster of emotion!

[@randallnilsen820]

This is steelheading for sure! Oh how many days I’ve spent on the Hoh river in the rainforest and not landed a fish 😝. The part about anxiety and letting go out there is why I continue to go!

[@LarryBlue55]

Gorgeous looking Steelhead

[@bts1111]

Your comment about getting the bug fishing on the docks for perch really hit it for me...I too did the same growing up. I was too young to go fishing at night near Deception Pass with my dad...got to go to a few trout openers...but what really got me was fishing the various docks on Whidbey Island...my mom would ask my brother and I where we wanted to fish that day (Summer break)...we'd either head to the floating docks in Oak Harbor or the tall docks near Coupeville...rain or shine, we were fishing. In 8th grade we moved to Kodiak Alaska...that's where I really got the bug. I took up fly tying and fly fishing...a credit to my English teacher Don Zellhuber...he inspired me to not only learn to write, but to enjoy the outdoors. I moved to Hawaii in 2002...and it took me a while, but I am now targeting bonefish...I still go back to Alaska in the Fall to visit my mother and brother in Alaska...to target large fall Kenai rainbow trout, silver salmon, and steelhead. I recently purchased the OPST smooth to try out on my next trip...(9' 8wt single hand rod)...and will purchase the OPST Commando Head and Lazar line for my 11' 8wt switch rod. I'll be gathering materials to tie some of your flies...oh, and I just ordered the OPST Rainforest hip pack as well...getting ready. I really enjoy the OPST vids...keep them coming! Thank you, Brent

[@erickphanthavong1715]

How are you enjoying the OPST smooth on your 9’ 8wt? I just ordered one for my 10’ 8wt.

[@aklags]

This is also how I feel when I hit those picky tailwaters where the fish prefer a size 22 nymph under a bobber, but when I just really don't feel like fishing that way and swing all day instead... only to lose my 2 monsters or whatever that day... really enjoyed the emotion and the whole progression throughout the video. Well done. Hope to get out to fish some steelhead in the next couple of years.

[@chriskriewall8941]

You did everything right very patient on the grab and they should hook themselves really but sometimes a little bit of a post take set might help but it's better than not touching a steelhead for over 2 years

[@joet81]

Man I completely get what you were talking about second-guessing yourself. In my last 3 steelhead trips, I've lost about ten steelhead (a few of them after wading downriver for about 50 yards and having them on for like 5-10 minutes), landed 0 steelhead, (3 of which were probably 15- 20lbs and fish of a lifetime for me) also losing about a 15 lbs brown after 10 minute fight. It's hard not to second guess yourself and feel like giving up for the season sometimes. That's about how I'm feeling right now lol. Never had a streak like this in my life. Absolutely awesome video. It's got me wanting to give it another go!!!!

[@KevinGarrigan]

Some piece of work this. Lost count of the amount of times I've watched it.

[@bjornchristiansson2827]

Oh awesome Ben 👌 I'm swedish and have lived in USA and remember how this fishing was. Back in Scandinavia and Sweden we fish sea trout and salmon and it start to get time here now soon river opens up for fishing after been left over winter. I also use a 13' but use a bit more grain as my rod is 8/9# so I'm go 580gr and T14 is a good set up. Best regards I vill try the OPST 470gr as it shorter i guess that compensates and less grain would be as fine ! Best regards i lift my hat for you. Bjorn 🇸🇪

[@fridgidwater1155]

Fantastic cinematography mate!!! Depressing as hell attitude thou 😒 cheer the hell up! A bad day on the river is better than doing anything else!

[@williamblair2934]

The earth cries out God’s glory. Steelhead are a wonderful example of His creative work and how He allows us to enjoy it. Thanks for the real video of showing the highs and lows

[@hilden.]

Great video. Love that you captured the takes, on film!

[@markmcmyn8967]

When you feel the weight, set the hook,put a bend in the rod, and don't baby them. Lightly playing them doesn't necessarily keep them hooked.

[@daniellemalan8832]

Love that click and pawl grindage scream. Wtg!

[@Steeven.Boucher]

this may be the best steelhead film ever created !

[@davitticusmaximus4750]

Great video!

[@Euronymphflyfishing]

I fish a loop and give a hard hook set when i feel the fish. Land about 80 percent of em.

[@Irideus]

love and respect

[@jeromedamian5740]

The best thing is that you know you're in the zone. Now you just gotta get like yoda. Use the force.

[@decoydavesmith]

Love this !!

[@sitrucual3956]

If you do enough STEELHEAD fishing, we all feel your pain! Just had a day like that yesterday. Hooked three fish and all three ran downstream where I couldn’t go. Bye bye steelhead…

[@henningradasewski6172]

Absolutely beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for taking the time and effort to make this film. Where was this shot? Greetings from New Zealand

[@jserra17]

Pretty sure it’s on the Skeena River, outside Terrace, British Columbia. Possibly also on the Bulkley, near Smithers.

[@jglads21]

Try a 2 year drought... I have done everything i can and fish hard for long hours and trying new water too. It's the name of the game and it keeps us coming back because of the probabilities. The tug is the ultimate drug

[@danhasson8548]

I'd blame it on that broomstick of a rod. Hard to keep consistent pressure... Love the vid tho, relates to all of us.

[@FTATF]

I went like 18 days one time, i lost count of how many i lost. what happened was i wanted to catch a fish in this particular stream as early as i could to sort of see when the first ones showed up so i went 3 weeks before i had ever caught one, and i caught one. that was a long couple weeks probably went out 7 or 8 more times, before i had another on, and then once more showed up in the river the losing streak continued. I did however catch my biggest steelhead ever that season on the Nass.

[@georgecolegrave2059]

Great video, I have watched it several times and enjoy it every time. Can you share the make of the reel you are using ?

[@redfrog5515]

Realize a steelhead is just another fish. When I was very young if I lost a steelhead it would bother me. Now after catching literally thousands of them and even letting them go, it has taken the pressure off. Enjoy the fish for what it is.....and start releasing most of them.

[@FISHINGBULLTERRIER]

Hi all I’m planning a once of a lifetime steelhead trip - what river is this can you recommend a super river or lodge for me - Thanks Paolo from italy

[@joshreed7102]

I want to know where you are, no people and all these grabs. Don’t mind not landing them but I like the grab.

[@volkansahin.44]

nice hunting nice video congratulations👏👏

[@kenttaylor4856]

I 'love' the comments where people are telling him how to fish!

[@timmanion2197]

Kent Taylor Took the comment outta my hands! My favorite is the one about Ben’s “broomstick of a rod....”Bet Ben feels just so fortunate to have so many insightful critics and coaches. Ought to make his future trips so much more successful. 🤣

[@eagerobserver6813]

It says it all!

[@EricFishes]

Maybe its my good fortune or my ability to be so in tune with the moment that allows me to only lose a fish or two on the swing every year. Or maybe its the fact that i don’t use barbless hooks. Anyways, i would give anything to be out there on that river in the fall time connecting with so many fish. Regardless if i bring them to the net or not. Very jealous of your opportunity to fish such a beautiful big river.

[@tezcan.yavuz38]

Excellant thanks you

[@gregg5303]

Very intuitive film structure, well done! Is it customary to always fight the fish from upstream?

[@stevemorton9585]

Pawl drag! Old school! I like!

[@Scott-jj5on]

I've fished those runs,hard to keep them on in the shallow water. They'll either run down or swim shallow up river and your line will catch a rock. I put a bend in my hook.....seems to help. Hint, keep the scenery out please.

[@YTBEN1045]

don't know much about fly fishing but where is the hook set?

[@dalekoop2207]

usually when a fish takes a fly they move away and correct their position. during this move the fish will hook itself considering the fly line is straight on a swing so any down river movement will pull and set.

[@Raevenswood]

yeah we don't rip lips when we set the hook like the gear guys do :)

[@БородатыйДед-з6о]

В этом и есть весь кайф рыбалки, когда ты уравниваешь все шансы - или ты, или она ))

[@robertforrester4019]

I think I know why you're loosing fish. at least what I see . when you cast you're fly out , you don't have any slack out under you're handle of youre rod , you should have at least 12 of loose line hanging under you're right hand. so when the fish takes it . he feels no resistance until he turns his head. Robert from Northern indiana great lakes area . cheers

[@PewGoBoomLife]

This year on Oregon river. I went 3-13 in two weeks. I went back out for a weekend and went 4-4. Its just called steelheading. Nothing you do wrong just steelheading.

[@mwong000]

It’s been three years since you shot this video. I’m hoping you have figured out why you were losing so many fish. If not, I assert it’s not luck. I myself was fishing wet flies for trout a few years ago. I had maybe 80+ hookups, and only a couple landed. They all came off while fighting them. I asked famous fly fisherman John Barr, and the answer was obvious. When you swing your hook downstream, and a fish hits it, you are pulling the hook out of his mouth. Geometrically, the further away you are, the more you directly pull that hook out. The lower your rod tip, the more that hook is straight out of his mouth. I also noticed you never do a hook set with a vertical motion, neither initially nor even when the steelhead is closer by. A vertical hook set when the fish is close gives you the chance of penetrating the top of the steelhead’s mouth. Without that vertical hook set, your hook maybe penetrating a very thin layer of his mouth, and under tension it comes off. Again, geometrically,setting the hook VERTICALLY with a LONG rod gives you the advantage even at longer distances. This is DIFFERENT from moving the fish, which should be done with a lowered rod tip once the hook completely penetrates the mouth. it is also different from FIGHTING The fish when it is upstream. That should be done with a raised rod tip because you are now using the faster current at the higher water column against the fish. Tight lines.

[@allenyen5793]

What model of simms jacket you are using?

[@dylanmounsey7515]

Poor guy 😂 I had a stint like this in the fall it was brutal

[@googlesalpass]

Listen folks.....If you wanna lay rod one side or other, think about a barbless hook sliding left to right as fish fights left to right.? Hook will come out. Now, if you fight fish with tip of rod straight up, you take the left and right out of the equation. Fish won't spit hook up and down. Keep pressure up on the head of fish as it swings left and right.

[@bernadettecarlson9854]

dont point yer rod at them get it up and control with reel stop them from running at you imo ... man you are so lucky to fish and lose fish . great stuff thanks

[@glennhaupt829]

You need a 10 to 12" loop of line out of reel a held between your index finger and cork then release I at the grab. I think you are short lining them so you re not getting fully postive hook set

[@gordiebrown4878]

A good read is “ The Skeena “, great info on increasing your hook, land ratio , my numbers went way up after that book

[@waynejames8607]

Love the Video!What rod are you using?

[@billpeirce7127]

Need to keep your rod tip up and stay parallel to fish or hv fish above you. 😁😁😁👍👍👍

[@sakanatsuri]

You may be using 4-5 wt. rod instead of 7-8 wt. rod. The rod position is a bit low and the drag setting is too low because you are afraid of breaking the rod or the line.

[@zooski1516]

@Salmon_fisherman_ 98 rod tip is still to low and his body stiff, he’s scared to lose fish that’s why he loses fish. . Keep loose let the rod do the work man.

[@bjornchristiansson2827]

@@zooski1516 I have fish for over 50 year and I did learn on old reels of click and pawl type as Hardy perfect young & son Daiwa 813. And I try do my hookset when the fish have turn out after take the fly. If you hook to early 80% you lose that fish. It says 13,2' 7# fast action rod 400gr commando 12' 132gr rifle tip. He even says 18lbs leader. So I dont see what's wrong ? By keep your rod at side you minimize the fish jumps ! Just some input. Best regards from Scandinavia and Sweden 🇸🇪

[@rid349]

Sick video. 10:00 *the eat* though:)

[@nicholasmagnuson7811]

Beautiful work! Song name?

[@speydan7119]

Way to keep em wet!!! Nicely done.

[@roccochilelli]

I lost many steelhead as well and most of the time it's because I have not set the hook well.

[@samuelbrenner3352]

Your so cool, your method, I'm praying to you, I'm going to name my children after you. I'm in such awe of you, the story is so deep it's like a movie. You need to work on landing your fish, your rickety like an old table chair that needs glue, but oh boy your stories keep me going, they are now my life, thank you for the gift of your step by step walk through of how to accomplish this amazing thing of life

[@tundraoutdoor8903]

You should probably have a loose loop in your hand when the fish takes and more brake on the reel

[@DonohoeDSc]

Question: @ the 8:16 mark in the video...did you whistle the Steeler’s famous song (line: “We are from the town with the great football team - we are the Pittsburgh Steelers”)? Oh, love the few videos you guys put out! The production, sound, and video work are spectacular on a iPad and home theater...really, really nice. Definitely “makes good TV”; all in the time of COVID, great effort. I’m also buying some Commando heads tonight as well, so we’ll done!

[@LarryBlue55]

Location Skeena River?

[@brianamado4366]

Anyone know what reel he is using??

[@jchevrier]

Leland

[@chalillofviso8980]

Anybody knows what reel he's using?..

[@GreatYardSalePicks]

Got to be a Hardy as loud as it is!

[@jchevrier]

Leland lelandfly.com/product/leland-reel-co-classic-swing-spey-reel/

[@thomasgibbons353]

Someone said that calling fly fishing a hobby is like referring to brain surgery as a job.

[@markklis6875]

Keep your tip up higher! You’re pointing the rod at the fish too much. Loosen up your drag if you’re not strong enough to keep your tip up.👍

[@EcouragingGodStories]

The only reason I watch KZbin videos is to look at the ads. (My daddy never took me fishing when I was young so TAKE your kids fishing!)

[@markklis6875]

Move the rod to the side to confuse them one side then the other.

[@hauhine]

OPST hooks could use a bit more offset IMO

[@aklags]

Hey, noob question here... why do I not see a solid hookset, and why not lift the rod tip up more for a better angle when fighting the fish... not experienced in this kind of angling really, so could use a bit of an explanation of the fish fighting technique?

[@joelkruzic7252]

There is some debate over it, but generally speaking when swinging flies for steelhead, most people don’t set the hook as soon as they feel a grab, as they would nymphing or dry fly fishing, but rather let the fish take the fly, turn and set the hook by itself, and then slowly raise rod tip towards downstream bank after it starts pulling line out of reel. It can be very hard to not trout set when you feel a grab. Interestingly, I find shad do benefit from a downstream sweep hook set when I swing flies for them.

[@thomasgibbons353]

@@joelkruzic7252 Hello Joel. If you don't mind my asking, where do you fish for shad?

[@clbarton1986]

You're not pegging the fish. With the drag that loose, it's never getting there on a reel down set.

[@roybenson2961]

I do like your other gear! Steelhead are assholes’ Great Video!

[@nathanielmorphew7855]

Get Out To Fish will help.

[@brendaherzog1453]

Love the grabs!!! Click and pawl is the only way...but barbless hooks, even though the only legal way, are motherf**kers....

[@benbiagioni9906]

Set the hook.

[@flyfisher4life1]

What jacket is that?

[@Moosejuice71]

I think its the Simms G4

[@kimberlyburek8825]

Nope....bulkley

[@simonsmith9363]

"Buck" trout? Do you have hen deer??

[@johnnyskied]

Every steelheader and Salmon fisherman I know call them bucks and hen's 🤦

[@РусланГлушко-я2ж]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@lucasvanschubert9221]

Just get a centerpin and starting catching fish

[@puffin1139]

sounds cheesey

[@christopheribrahim-muhamma8447]

"Facts"

[@fishingukraine6662]

👍

[@billhowe863]

The real therapy is just being there, period.

[@rosysanghera6770]

Try setting the Hook FFS!

[@SultanofSpey]

It's a little thing, but damn I hate noisy reels.

[@zooski1516]

Hold the rod higher, use the rod, your to connected to the line. Too straight like robot.

[@amadeurafael3736]

Pouca técnica....

[@gregb8824]

The reason you're losing all those fish is because you're reeling with your right hand, switch over to the left and you'll up your fish to hand:)

[@ultrawin3689]

lobb

[@tomtaylor9849]

Hes not setting the Hook and his Rod Placement is Terrible

[@rickysimmonds2681]

Tom Taylor LOL ok dude its not a bobber you shouldn’t speak when you don’t know.

[@rickysimmonds2681]

TIP UP TIP UP ? That what grandpa told ya?