While fishing the Deschutes with guide Bob Toman, ODFW NW Regional Manager Chris Wheaton landed a double, a summer steelhead and smallmouth bass, while casting a single FAT Fish plug in the half ounce size. Although not unheard of, it's rare to catch a steelhead and smallmouth bass on the same lure and cast. Bob and client were fishing about 3 miles upstream from the mouth of where the Deschutes River enters the Columbia.

Never seen that before. Both great specimens!

Smallmouth and steelie arguing over small crankbait....

"Less filling..."

"Tastes great...."

OK you mf'r, I'll show you.

I bet that was a heck of a fight. I have seen a smallie double a few times, and White Bass, but this is interesting.


mc

I'll bet it's rare...probably unheard of in Wa...We've seen several doubles, but normally 1 fish 2 plugs (or baits) in it's mouth...
P.S. Welcome aboard...

Cool stuff.Good luck,
SZ

Welcome aboard, Buzz!

Pretty cool to see a double with a steelie and a ditch pickle.

i heard of a steelhead and a big smallmouth on the same stringer at blue creek many years ago.

Nice,
Had a similar double this summer. A 18-20lbs. king ate a whole herring and somehow a silver got the leader line wrapped around its head/gills. Already had a limit of kings in the box so we bonked the silver and released the king.

The person who caught this pair should buy a lotto ticket.

Cool pic and story but I hate to see smallmouth taking hold in the Big D. I guess it is not new to have them there but it just seems like they are getting more widespread each new year.

Haha, that is so sick! I have heard of LMB doubles on cranks, and had salmon hit multiples lures in one set before, but never 2 species on the same hook, let alone a steelie too.

Very cool.

I wonder which one hit the plug first?

One of those have to see it to believe it. I would have had to have a video of them fighting in the water or no one would have believed me.

Its likely that the steelie hit it first, smallmouth are known to get into feeding frenzies. As uncommon as this type of double is, its very common for a two on one lure double to involve at least one smallmouth.

-mc

Did you kill the ditch pickle?

I'm sorry but this pic looks bogus! i can see how the steelhead is on a hook. but that stupid bass is in noway on a hook laying the way it is. if this was true the steelhead and bass would be nearly kissing. i call B.S. on this post and pic.

plus i highly doudt the OP is actually really buzz.

I know Toman, and the pic is legit. The steelie came first, then as it neared the bank, the smallie tried to take the plug away from it. Both got bbq'd that night

Bob has some more pics on his site I believe...

Here is a small in the water shot...

wow! rarely am i wrong. the crow tastes great!

sweeeeeet