Second time is a charm!

Been only out for steelhead once this year and not even one nibble to show for it. Went out yesterday for a few hours and got to the waters edge by 11. Guy leaving said I was way too late and fish only bite in the morning as well as there are no fish in the water right now...first 2.5 hours felt like maybe he was right. Drift after drift and not a bite to show for it. Float goes down then, hook set, tension for a second and then a large spring back and now my 13'6 rod is about 11'6 maybe 12 foot rod thanks to a tree behind me. Great! Move to a different spot and within 30 minutes fish on!!! At this point my reel refuses to spin with tension from the line on its own accord very well so I've been letting a lot of line out with my hands. Too much slack and after a few head shakes fish off. Then comes the rain and it came down heavy. Thought about leaving due to broken rod and reel but stuck out and as I watched the water get murkier and murkier the float started going down more often. Got a fish and finally landed one at around 4lbs and proceeded to lose 3 more all within 40 minutes before the water got really murky and forced me to leave. I blame too much slack line that I was letting out by hand for all those fish lost as id set the hook and within 10 seconds they were off. Ah well. Anyone know a good place I can bring my centerpin reel to? I don't know what I am doing so don't really want to ruin it by messing around with it myself.

Nice fish......your persistence paid off

I feel there's nothing more exciting than catching a rianbow in the river good job

Well done Vlad!! Ive been skunked on all my rainbow excursions this year! Beautiful fish!

Nice fish. Damn trees always geting in the way.

Thank guys! Dale I am sure you will get one before the lakes ice over!

Beauty bow !

Nice fish and a great example of persistence!

Hey VBB nőt Sure What area you are in but in Mississauga there is a guy who has a little shop that fixes minn kotas. I'm pretty sure he also fixes reels bc when iv gone there he had shelves and shelves of reels with people's phone numbers on them...place is called A AIkman sporting goods repair look it up on net give him a call. But you can do it yourself also iv dropped my reel in muddy water before my pin wouldn't move what's so ever. A couple screws take bearings out and clean them...YouTube has plenty of videos. But it's up to you eather way you gonna need your pin back in good shape.

Sorry to here about the rod, happy to here about the fish!

Thanks for the info. Talked to a buddy of mine and we figured out what was wrong with the reel. I decided to use reel lube everywhere including the bearings and that's a big no no I didn't know about. Washed it in mild soap and warm water and she iangood to go!

Nice chromer.

Sorry about the gear, my 11'6" is only 11' now, same reason..

Nice fish and great job..

Nice bow and great story, sorry about the gear.