By Michael Bell

Phil Criado’s first steelhead caught on an egg sac.  This fish was 23 inch 4.5 lb. and it was a spawned out female.

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My friend and coworker Phil Criado decided to come steelhead fishing with me and another coworker.  It was one of those days where there was still snow on the ground, and it felt like winter.  Phil and I made our way down to the stream, and within the first 5 minutes of fishing, he fell on all fours into the water filling his chest waders.  The streams in Erie are very slippery and felt soles are almost a must.  To Phil’s credit, he stuck out the whole day (how I don’t know).  All in all, we had a miserable outing and I figured he would never come back up with me.

My next trip up, he said he was in.  Our 2nd trip up together figured to be better weather but the streams were high and muddy.  We found a stream that was fishable, and immediatly Phil hooked up.  He had caught a jack that was borderline legal, so we returned the fish to the stream.  After working that hole with no more luck we walked downstream about 75 yards and found another nice hole.  Phil made a perfect cast along a concrete wall and pow, this fish hammered his egg sack.  After a 5 minute struggle, complete with jumps and a couple hard runs, the fish was in the net.  We caught several fish that day, but I think he will never forget that first steelhead he worked so hard for.