Playing the fish!

If a fish is going to take more than 3 minutes to land you owe it to others to play it out of the way so the others can go back to fishing.

I just think it's funny.  You have guys that know how to fight fish and get them to the net, and guys that think they've just hooked a whale and let the fish whoop their a**.  I understand you're using light line, that's why you're using a long rod!  If they start running give them side pressure to turn their heads around, you'd be surprised how tired they get when they have to turn and can't run.  The best part is...it works for all fish with all types of tackle!  You just have to have some backbone and be the aggressor, don't just stand there with the rod in your hand like a statue!! 

5-8 minutes?  Are you serious?  Most should take less than a minute.  I put a 9lb 29" buck on the bank Saturday in an area with a lot of water to fight in less than 60 seconds.  I use 6 lb Pline floroclear and a 10.5 noodle rod.  Absolutely rediculous the amount of time people spend fighting these fish. 

Joebaker that was an estimate.  Some will obviously take a lot less time than that, like the one you just caught.  I've caught some in the past that only took me a minute or two to get in while I've had other ones take a little longer.  Maybe over 5 minutes was a little to much to predict.  I usually don't look at my watch while I'm bringing them in.

My feelings, if you have the right gear, get the fish in reasonably.

there's a big difference between fighting a fish and having a fish control you.  If you're chasing your fish downstream you've lost the battle. 

Every fish is different. But I can't recall ever needing to fight a steelhead for more than what I would guess is 5 minutes (maybe one when I was younger, and it turned out to just be an average fish that wouldn't give up). 
 
5 real minutes (on the clock, not what seemed like 5 minutes to you) is a long time!!   Obviously the longest battle usually occur in the lake and the lower streams close to the lake where there's lots of water to run. But still, every fish is different, the first fish I caught off shore this year hardly fought at all, maybe water temperature, maybe a fish that was trying to cross the sandbar all night and was just tired, who knows.  On the other hand, the fish at the elk access the other day were absolutely nuts, you guys can wait for more water. I don't care if the water is up in the parking lots, you won't have any more fun/harder battles than what those fish were giving the other day. Still, I'd guess most battles probably lasted 2 to 3 minutes tops.

Stillhead I agree.  I was a little drastic on my estimation.  Sometimes when battling these fish you lose track of time.  Most of my battles have most likely been 2-3 minutes.  There have been a few times where I've been fishing heavy rapids and I know these fish took longer due to the conditions I was facing.  When they start running in that heavy current and can be very difficult to immediately pull them right to shore.  These battles possibly could have went to 5 minutes but that could be stretching it.

Ok so it should take you anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes tops.

It takes Tippy-Toe about 10-15 mins b/c most of his fish are usually hooked in the tail, belly, or back!

ORIGINAL: TB

It takes Tippy-Toe about 10-15 mins b/c most of his fish are usually hooked in the tail, belly, or back!

 
That and he's old duud!

ORIGINAL: dealinsteel

I just think it's funny.  You have guys that know how to fight fish and get them to the net, and guys that think they've just hooked a whale and let the fish whoop their a**.  I understand you're using light line, that's why you're using a long rod!  If they start running give them side pressure to turn their heads around, you'd be surprised how tired they get when they have to turn and can't run.  The best part is...it works for all fish with all types of tackle!  You just have to have some backbone and be the aggressor, don't just stand there with the rod in your hand like a statue!! 

 
I agree, SIDE PRESSURE will stop them.

It really depends on what time of the year you catch the fish.  This time of year, the fish fight 10 times harder and certainly take longer to land.  In the winter, a minute or so is usually all you need.  However, even with 8lb. test and in the fall, it gets tough to land the fish in a couple of minutes.  Last weekend, I had one fight like crazy and peeling drag.  It took 3 or 4 violent runs that I had absolutley NO control over.  What do you really expect a guy to do?  I also agree with stillhead, have someone stand beside you while you fight a fish and time it...you will find that 5 minutes feels more like 15 when fighting a fish.  Its so funny everytime people see some of the muskies I have caught and ask "Wow, that thing must have took an hour to reel in huh?"  I just laugh and say, not quite, you'd be surprised at how quickly we get those fish in and released.  So 5 "real time minutes" are pretty much legitimate this time of year when it comes to steelhead fishing if using 8b test or less.  But 5 minutes is about max,  much more than that, is going to KILL the fish.  AND quite simply why most of your 30 fish days come in the winter, less time to land. 

ORIGINAL: dealinsteel

If you're chasing your fish downstream you've lost the battle. 

That's not always true, especially early season. After the water cools off, yes.
But with current conditions, a 10lber may make you move your feet.

ORIGINAL: FlashDance

ORIGINAL: dealinsteel

If you're chasing your fish downstream you've lost the battle. 

That's not always true, especially early season. After the water cools off, yes.
But with current conditions, a 10lber may make you move your feet.

 
 
you were waaaay too slow flashpantz!!! must be gettin' old duud