The Steelhead Angler

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By: William Long

 When I started fishing for winter Steelhead a few years ago, I had nothing. Until then, I was a “fair-weather” fisherman who didn’t really know what cold was. Boy did I find out fast.

I will never forget my first time out. I had just hooked up with a longtime friend of mine who I had not seen since grade school. Steve was going to teach me all about Steelhead & Salmon fishing. It was mid December, the 16th of 1999 I think. We met at Steve’s house at about 5 am. All I was wearing was my jeans, T-shirt, baseball cap, regular shoes and a warm weather jacket in the car.

Steve just looked at me. “Are you nuts?” He said. “You’re going to freeze.” Well, I replied this is about all I have. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll make it. Let’s go” No sooner did we get to the river I was just that, freezing. But hey, I’m stoked because I’m going to catch me a long over-due Steelhead. I remember looking at him as I was just about numb to the core and noticing he was warm as could be. It didn’t take long to ask “Ok, how much is all that and where can I get it”. I wasn’t going to go through that kind of day ever again. By God’s grace, I did catch my first ever Steelhead that day but not without paying a heavy price.

By my next trip out I managed to up my gear with a pair of waders, along with a breathable raincoat. The only thing missing was head wear. “I knew I was forgetting something.” It was another cold day. It was uncomfortable, but at least not unbearable like my first time out. I had a stocking cap, so it ended up being ok.

I tell you my friends, there is nothing like the comfort of being warm. When the temperature is in the 30’s with rain, snow, and sleet. (Yes, I have had all 3!). You will be glad you have the gear. Also, being warm gives you so much more of a good time.

Here is my suggested checklist when going out for a day on the river.

1. Waders. You can find these just about everywhere. Just like anything else, you get what you pay for. I recommend the breathable Simms brand G3’s or G4’s being the top of the line. They do run a bit high, in the price range from about $350 to $699. You can get the Rivertek Stockingfoots for $299. Rivertek is about as low as I would go for winter. You can also go with the long time stand by in Neoprene 3.5 mm. You can get into a pair of these in the price range of $80 to $200.

2. Rain coat. Another must have. Rain coats really come down to your own comfort. Personally, I need to feel loose, and agile. Therefore, I use a tighter, lighter style in Columbia. The bottom line is dry.

3. Your hat. I like the Henschel. A great, quality oil skin hat that will keep your head dry. A dry head is a warm head. I believe these run in the ballpark of $50

4. Underclothing. There are all kinds of things out there now. I use anything that is designed to keep the moisture out and the heat in. Over that I usually wear something of wool, over that my waders. This all depends on how warm or cold blooded you are. Some people like me need 3-4 layers, while others just 1 or 2. Check your local REI or Sporting goods store for these.

One last tip, get yourself a dry bag. You will not regret having an extra set of clothes for the sake of emergency. You never know when you will slip on a rock, or get plain soaked due to heavy weather. Just put your dry bag in the truck or boat. Dry bags can be purchased through Sporting goods store also. Price will depend on size, costing on average $40.

Bill Long has been a long time avid Steelhead fisherman. He enjoys the sport, and spending time getting others involved too. For more information, see his site on Steelhead fishing.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Don’t forget to pick-up your fishing Gear

I had been planning this fishing trip for a week and thought I would let you know just how it went I’m sure you will all enjoy this. I woke up at 6:00 AM had a  cup of coffee and went out to start my truck it was snowing and the road had about 8″ of snow on it but since I had my heart set on doing some steel-head fishing I decided to go ahead with my plans.

After I loaded my fishing gear and filled my thermos I headed out the door to find the snow plow coming down the street it pushed a berm of snow right up to my bumper. Went back to the garage and got a shovel I spent the next hour digging out the drive way so I could get out. I then back out of the drive way and went to far and got stuck in the berm of snow on the other side of the street. Spent the next 20 minutes digging the d_ _ _  truck out. Still determined that I was going fishing I head out to the Salmon River in Riggins, Idaho this is normally about a 30 minute drive however do to the snow and all it took me well over a hour to get there.

I finally made it to the River only to find the wind blowing and gusting upwards of 30 miles an hour and the temperature was only in the thirties. I was able to find a spot where I could stand up with out having to hold onto something to be kept from being blown away. I grab my gear and start down to the river and I stepped onto a rock along the edge of the road which rolls out from under my foot, down the hill I go my gear flying all over the place as I try to keep from going clear into the river. Spent the next twenty minutes gathering up my gear never did find my damn bait shrimp. I realized somewhere along the way I had cut my leg and blood was now flowing down my leg into my boot. Well I go back to the truck to get out the first aid kit and wrap up my leg. The cut was not that bad but because it was so cold it just would not clot and stop bleeding. I did finally get the thing to quit bleeding and headed back down to the river.

I decide I would have a cup of coffee and relax a little since my day really was not going quit as I had planed. Set up my pole and went to make the first cast of the day yep you guessed it, I now have a birds nest like none other I just stand their and look at it for some time, this was starting to get quit humorus must have spent another thirty minutes untangling it oh how I love winter steel-head fishing. The next couple of hours are uneventful. Sure wish I could have found my bait shrimp but oh well I have caught them before with out it.

After fishing another hour or so I finally have a strike and hook into a nice Steel-head which for the time of year is putting up quit a fight I get him up to where I can see him It may go ten pounds Just then he makes another run and strips out about 20 yards of line before he turns and swims straight for me I’m reeling like a wind mill in a squall and about the time I start to get some tension back on him he slips out the hook and swims off.

Its starting to snow now and between the snow and wind I had to surrender to the elements and I pack up my stuff and headed for the truck. Once I get back to the truck I realize that when I was up here bandaging my leg earlier I had lock the keys in the truck spent an hour trying to unlock the door before I finally get it unlock by now my fingers are so cold I can hardly feel them good thing it didn’t take any longer to get the truck opened.

The drive home proves uneventful although it does take over an hour and a half because of the blowing and drifting snow. When I start to pull into the drive way I realize that the wind has drifted it full of snow and it takes another hour to clean it out before I can finally pull in and park the truck.

You Know next week may be a whole lot better Steel-head fishing maybe I’ll let you know when I get back. You just have to love this winter steel-head fishing.