I caught and released two steelhead on worms up fall creek about 3 miles before bedrock. that was about two years ago. Thats the only time I have caught one on em.
I was fishing the hatchery side though. Guys on Dexter Dam side are catching a lot of salmon on the bottom and with bobber and roe. I watched a guy on saturday morning hook into 8 Salmon and hand em all off to other people. Also in the flat there are guys catching SteelHead on Jig and Bobber...
My buddy caught a 3 to 4 pound smallie in the willy by the old brings recyclin plant by MT.Pisgah. No joke it was crazy it was at the mouth of where one of the ponds flows into the river in the wildish ponds. I think i have a pic somewhere i will post it as soon as i find it. thats the only...
I never have. I would think it would destroy the action like you said. Although when we run K-15 KwikFish we will put Anchovies on the under belly with stretchy string.