The Steelhead Angler

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So you just purchased your steelhead gear and now you‘re wanting to go and try your luck on the river. But you’re not sure of where to fish once you reach the river I will describe some of the basic spots in a river that may be holding some steelhead. The following are some examples of what I look for when I am fishing new water and I’m not sure where the fish are laying.

I thought that I would talk about where you might find Steelhead holding water and or travel troughs, Yes just like cattle or sheep follow the same trails, fish too seem to use the same troughs and these are what you look for when looking at a body of water.

Steelheads like to rest in the slower moving section of a river but usually do not stay in total slack water. Knowing this you look for spots where the heaviest part of the current is broken down and slowed either but a rock or maybe the bend in a river or even the river cannel itself.

In the following example I have outline four prime spots where a steelhead may be found.

A. You notice how on the lower side of this out line the water is what I call slack water very minimal current as a general rule steelhead do not like to lay in this type of water. However drifting inside of the outlined area would be a good place to find a steelhead as they like to stay right along side of the seam between the heavier current and the slack water.
B. Again you want to fish the seam that is formed by the rock, try hitting the upper most part of this seam when casting and not directly behind the rock in the slack water.

C. While this is not as obvious to the eye the rock slows the current by acting as a dam and the current is slowed making another go place for you to find a steelhead laying, this type of spot is excellent if there is a large run of swift water below the rock.

D. There are two rocks in the river at this point one exposed and the other has water running over the top of it. You want to concentrate your efforts in the seam created by the submerge rock as this is where a majority of the steelhead will lay.

The four locations mentioned above are the prim location drift through these location and concentrating on them should produce a steelhead, that not to say that the occasional drift through the slack water won’t as a mater of fact it is probably a good idea but concentrate on the seams when you can.

I this picture there are two seams where the steelhead like to travel.

The upper seam you will notice goes right tight against the bank and then comes out into the river cannel and follows the main current down stream.
The reason for this while not real clear in the photo is that there is a back eddy where the water swirls in a circle and steelhead do not like to fight this type of current they stay out where the water if flowing in one direction.

The lower seam is a typical river cannel seam caused by two factors the 1st is a bend in the river and the 2nd is a depression in the river bottom. These two conditions make for an excellent steelhead hole.

This is the type of hole that a lot of steelhead fisherman look for and spend much of their time fishing. It is a sure bet that if you find a hole like this and no one is fishing there you will catch a fish but enjoy it while you can because these type of holes more often then not become quite crowded with fisherman as the season heats up.

This nice Steelhead was caught in the river directly below this fisherman’s left foot just inside of the white water along the seam. Take note of the river conditions down stream and see how swift the river is that fact contributes to making this hole well worth fishing. The steelhead have fought the current for sometime to get it a place where they can rest and once there they will hold in places like this making them prime locations.

This is another type of hole to look for and I call this type a slick. You will notice that inside of the outlined area the river seems to be smooth with a couple of submerged rocks causing a faint ripple on the surface. These you will want to drift making sure that at the end of you drift your line and lure cut across just in front of the ripple as steelhead like to lay in front of these rock right on the bottom of the river.

Well I guess that that’s enough for now next time I’ll talk about how to tell if your bouncing on the river bottom or if you are having a steelhead striking your lure.

I hope you will come back to check and see my next article.

Good Luck and Good Fishing
RR Smith

http://www.steelhead-gear.com

With today’s economy saving a few dollars is becoming America’s way of life. Higher fuel prices have affected everything we do and while you can’t do much about the higher prices of fuel you can save some money by purchasing used fishing equipment.

There are a number of place you can find used fishing gear local pawn shops normally have a large selection to choose from. Some of the local sporting goods stores will have returned and used Items at a reduced price as well as discontinued items. You can check out the classified ads in your local paper to see what deals are out there. The Internet is a good place to find some great deals on used fishing gear as well.

Buying used equipment doesn’t mean that you have to settle for fishing gear that has been expended or that is obsolete. Many people buy equipment try using it once or twice and then decide that they need something different for a lot of reasons. I recently purchased a used fly reel through Steelhead Gear.com that the previous owner never took out of the box. The previous owner said he bought two when he made the purchase and just never used the first one enough to warrant opening the second. I saved $50.00 on the purchase and got myself a new fly reel! I have found deals on tackle as well, where fisherman have purchased new lures, jigs, and flies and maybe used them once if at all and decided they wanted to sell them.

With the way the economy is saving a few dollars here and there may mean you save enough money to pay for your next fishing trip. So look around find some deals on used fishing gear and you to maybe able to save enough to go on an extra fishing trip or two.

So you made the investment in a Bamboo Fly Rod and with the proper care and maintenance your Bamboo Fly Rod will give you years of enjoyment and service. Taking the time to follow these maintenance tips will ensure that your Bamboo Fly Rod will endure the demands that fly fishing puts on the fly rod. These tips will ensure your purchase of a bamboo fly rod was an excellent choice, after all you have moved up to Bamboo and I’m sure that you don’t want to have to switch back to some other type of Fly fishing Rod!

Cleaning the metal ferrules
I like to use Vaseline petroleum jelly putting a small amount on the male ferrule and putting it in and out of the female ferrule a few times the petroleum jelly loosens the build up and protects the metal from oxidation. Use a small cotton swap or Q-tip to remove any excess Vaseline in the female section and a clean dry cloth on the male section and out side part of the female ferrule. For stubborn stains and dirt build up you can use denatured alcohol just be sure not to get this on the varnish. If you happened to purchase a used Bamboo Fly Rod and the ferrules have oxidized you can use a very fine grit sand paper to remove the oxidation. Use caution not to remove to much metal as this will affect the way the ferrules fit together. 

Polishing bamboo fly rods
The Bamboo Fly Rod is more then just a fishing rod it is a piece of art. You should wipe them clean with a clean dry cloth, this is a must if you want to keep it looking great and protected from the effect of the elements like rain, water, and dust. Use a paste type furniture polish and a soft cloth to help protect the bamboo and bring out the shine and gleam of your Bamboo Fly Rod

How to clean cork grips
You can use toothpaste, dish soap, or a mild bleach cleaner what ever you use make sure that you have removed all of the cleaner by wiping it well with a damp cloth. You don’t want to leave the cleaner on the Cork as it will dry the cork out excessively and make it start cracking. If the cork grip has a large amount of build up, you can use fine grit (200 or so) sandpaper to remove this build-up just use caution so you don’t damage the cork.

Storing bamboo fly rods
Be sure you wipe your Bamboo Fly Rod with a clean soft cloth to make sure it is clean and dry. If the rod is going to be store for an extended time it would be a good time to wax the rod. Separate the pieces and put them in a soft rod sack and then slip this into a protective tube. Avoid storing your Bamboo fly Rod in extreme conditions like excessive heat or moisture. Laying the tube flat is the best way to store the rod.

Used bamboo fly rods
Used Bamboo Fly Rods can be found at flea market and garage sales some of which are true bargains just make sure you look them over carefully. Check out the Bamboo and make sure that there are no cracks and that the seams are not starting to separate, check the grip for missing pieces insure the cork is not dried and cracking or the section are starting to separate. Put the fly rod together and check the fit of the ferrules they should be snug but not excessively tight, check the guides and windings making sure they are in good condition. If you find a Bamboo Fly Rod that passes these then you have found a true treasure.

By following these few tips I’m sure that your Bamboo Fly Rod will give you a life time of enjoyment and use. Thank you for taking the time to read this article and may you enjoy your Bamboo Fly Rod for years to come.

Steelhead Gear. Com