Fin Feather & Beard Collectors: February 2011

Tim with a good buck Erie Steel 11/2110

With prime Steelhead fishing,just around the corner,my thoughts,drift back to
this past fall & late summer,and a question's that have haunted me for the past few years now. Alaskan Rainbows verses Lake Erie Steelhead,which is the
superior fish ?

Erie Steel ala Jay,right out his front door 11/2110

With my first trip to Alaska,in August 2009,I left The Naknek River Camp with
an education,on the native & very wild "Bows of Bristol Bay ! Being a fairly avid
Erie Steelheader,making the 2 & 1/2 hour drive Mup-Erie,for over 10 years,
I headed to Alaska with Fresh Silver & Sockeye on my mind.

Post Thanksgiving Erie Steel 11/2010

Cole & Denver,early October,Erie Steel 10/2110

My first day on The Naknek River,in August of 2009,left me with a whole new

respect for Wild fish,as we caught & fought,a good number of Bows,right at the

boat dock,on small flesh flies,egg patterns & beads. These hearty Native Bows are hearty bread no doubt about it. The 14'' to 20" fish we caught by the dock

fought like Erie's 24'',Steelhead . I didn't pay much more attention to the rainbows,the rest of my trip in 2009,as I was completely enthralled with the

Coho's & Sockeye,but I had a much different attitude,in 2010,I was going to go

"Big Bow Hunting" & we hit "The Egg Drop",just right our last day in camp.

Tom had us on the fish & we boated 7 Rainbows from 24" to 29",lost maybe 10

more of that size & a few bigger ones.........my mind was made up,no doubt.

Kurt with 32" of Naknek Rainbow 8/2010

Alaskan Bows,nothing like them,IMHO,last day on The Naknek

River,The Naknek River Camp,our host lodge is in the background,

you can fish right out the front door !

Jay with a good Naknek Bow 8/2110

Tim & a Trophy,late September Steelhead 2010

Don't take me wrong,I am a very very happy camper with our Erie Steelhead,and glad we have them now & far into the future,but The Wild Alaskan Bows,got a hold on me..........on another note,we also found out that

Fresh from the Salt Coho's/Silvers,are quite a bit feistier than their Great Lakes

cousins also.