The Steelhead Angler

By Edward Linton 

Salmon – The fish that have hunted in the sea, some for just one winter, some for as long as five years, return to the rivers where they were born. Some salmon, including the sockeye, die after spawning. These fish make their ascent to the spawning grounds once only. Others, including the Atlantic salmon, do not necessarily die at the spawning grounds but may live to migrate three or four times in their lives.

For many years mankind has marveled at how, after journeying far across the ocean, a salmon can return to the river in which it was hatched. Does this remarkable power of orientation have something to do with magnetic fields, the sense of smell, an instinct, or something else as yet a mystery?

In the Yukon River of Alaska and Canada, king salmon that were tagged and tracked travelled 3,200km (2,000 miles) in 60 days. A leap performed by Altlantic Salmon at Orrin Falls, Scotland, measured 4m (12ft).

From entering the rivers, salmon cease to feed and live on the fat built up when feasting in the ocean. Others benefit from this stored energy – bears, eagles, mink, otters, martens, wolves, and many more hunters await the salmon’s arrival with all the enthusiasm of human anglers.

One of the many wonderful things about salmon is the different number of ways in which you can catch them, despite the fact that they are supposed not to eat anything once they have left the sea!

However to many an angler there is little to beat the excitement of seeing a salmon turning in the water as it takes a fly fished in the surface layers and the quick tightening of lightweight line is an electrifying sensation.

So let us agree that salmon fishing with the fly represents the art in its purest form, even if we never lose sight of the other strategies for catching this magnificent fish.

For more on fly fishing, equipment and strategies visit Fly Fishing
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_Linton
Posted By: RR Smith 
Steelhead Gear.Com

 By Lee Dobbins

There is no other feeling that equals the sheer excitement of hooking into and landing or releasing a steelhead trout. If you are looking to increase your chances of hooking into a steelhead, below are a few techniques that might work for you:

1: Some steelhead fishermen will say that the best way to fish for them is to drift the tail-out of pools. This is where steelies like to be located because the water is a little more shallow and they can intercept anything that comes their way. When drifting, bounce your lure or fly along the bottom and be sure to set the hook at the slightest change in the speed or feel of the line. Using this technique will cause you to sometimes snag something like a rock or log but if you are persistent and patient, your efforts will be rewarded with a hook-up with many call the ultimate fresh water gamefish!

2: Sometimes a lure that is moving or brightly colored is enough to entice the strike of a steelhead. When fishing from a drift boat, many fishermen prefer to use spin and glow lures which have both movement and bright color. Don’t be afraid to change things up if a certain color or lure isn’t producing.

3: If you are lucky enough to find a pool or spot that produces a hookup with a steelhead, and you have released it, don’t give up on the spot just yet. Many times a steelie will strike again if you rest the spot for about 15 minutes or so. Steelhead are at times very aggressive and will not let anything go by them.

4: Any successful angler will tell you that when you have hooked a fresh steelhead, it will do anything in it’s power to get un-hooked. They will most certainly leap out of the water twisting and turning to get free. An experienced steelheader will know when the steelhead is about to jump so they can be ready to “bow to the fish” with the tip of their rod so the line doesn’t break. If you forget to do this, you might lose the one steelie of the day.

5: Study the water you are going to fish and try to pick out the likely holding areas where steelhead will be. Fishing every piece of water that looks good is going to very tiring and probably a waste of valuable time. Once you have located a holding area, study it well and look for other spots on the water that look similar. Once you have found a good location, fish it as much as you can during the steelhead season as the winter water levels, ice and current can dramatically change the bottom of the river thus removing a steelheads favorite holding area.

6: Even if you are an experienced steelheader, know how to read the water and have all your own flys and lures, hiring a local guide could be the best thing you ever do. He or she will have intimate knowledge of the river, the holding areas and also what lures or flys to use to maybe contribute to the best steelhead fishing adventure you have ever had!

Posted By; RR Smith

Steelhead, Salmon and Trout Fishing has been a passion of mine since I was a young boy. Most of my free time was spent on lakes and streams here in the northwest, and I have picked up on some interesting facts about fishing for these species over the last 45 years. I would like to share them with you through articles and at my websites I hope you find them helpful and enjoyable. So please stop by check out some information or just stock up on your fishing gear. Hope to see you on the river!

 Steelhead Gear.com for all your fishing Tackle and Gear

By Tommy Thompson 

Fundamental Principles

There is a right way and a wrong way to cast a fly and there is little use in taking up space or time with the wrong methods. In order to become a proficient fly caster there are certain fundamental principles and rules to follow and maintain at all times.

1. Proper balance of equipment.
2. Proper grip of the rod to insure free wrist action.
3. Freedom from all tension and strain.
4. A smooth stroke.
5. Proper timing on both the backcast and forward cast.
6. Proper position of the rod at all times.
7. Proper position or plane of the line at all times.
8. Patience and practice.

Fly casting is a close coordination of the mind, objective, muscle, and operation of the mechanical equipment. It is very important to remember that you are going to cast a line, leader, and fly-which are lightweight objects-with a lightweight rod which is somewhat heavier than the line, leader, and fly. if you have developed or have a tendency to develop a choppy or jerky stroke, then you may expect to have some difficulties. A smooth, snappy stroke is required but not as snappy as when snapping a whip. This type of stroke will cause the loss of many flies.

Another important factor to remember: it is not necessary to cast great distances in order to enjoy the pleasures of fly casting, whether casting for pleasure or to catch fish. Accuracy is far more important than distance. In the majority of cases, casts from twenty-five to thirty-five feet are sufficient distances for any fisherman to catch fish. Distance casting has its place when necessary, but first you should master the short casts to know where your fly will be cast.

Another very essential thing to know is that it is the line that is cast, not the fly. The fly is but a passenger which is attached to the leader. Both are propelled forward, following the line, by the momentum from the power of the caster added to the natural power of the rod. The fly itself is very delicate and of little or no weight and cannot of itself be cast. The same is true of the leaders. Of course there are larger flies which are somewhat heavier; however, this added weight does not make them easier to cast but more difficult because of the wind resistance of the heavier or bulkier lures.
Tommy Thompson is an avid fisherman who loves to share his Fly Fishing Secrets with other Fisherman. He has also wrote and published many of his stories on http://flyfishingguy.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tommy_Thompson 

Posted By: RR Smith