The Steelhead Angler

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Fishing is a fun and tranquil sport that lets you spend quiet time with your friends, family and with Mother Nature.

Fresh water fishing is a sport involving the catching of fish in lakes, rivers and streams. It involves a lot of patience, challenge and a lot of acquired skill over time. Anyone can participate in this fun activity, including the kids.

To start, you have to check your State’s fishing requirements and make sure if a license is needed for you to fish. If it is required, you must acquire one by checking with a sporting goods store. They will help you how to get it, and some will even provide it for you.

During the time that you are in your favorite sporting goods store, you can look around and buy the right fishing equipment that you will be need for your trip. Considering that you are a beginner, make sure that you budget well the cost and your spending on the equipment, not deciding on expensive equipments; buy only the basic things you will need.

When in doubt as to what is needed, ask the help of the store keeper, but do keep in mind that you need to stick to a budget. Take your time and don’t hesitate to ask how to use each piece of equipment that is offered to you. Artificial lures for bait can be used or you can simply look for worms from your back yard.

An inexpensive fishing rod and reel will be enough along with a fishing line, hooks, weights, a bobber (this keeps your line afloat), fishing lures and net. A polarized sunglass is also essential, as it will help to see clearly through the water and lessen the glare.

Then if you don’t know the good locations to fish, ask about local “hot” spots, or check your State’s fishing regulations for information about fishing locations around your State.

The time will surely come when you will be a better fisherman; then you may decide on upgrading your equipment. In the meantime, keep things simple.

It is always advised that you avoid fishing alone. Always be with a friend, as when emergency strikes, there can be someone who can call for help.

It is wise to start fishing in shallow waters. Aim your cast in shady or rocky areas where the water is deep, as this is where the fish is expected to be found. Keep in mind that this is all practice first.

As your skill level develops and increases, you can then attempt into deeper waters. But before going, take the time to practice casting to familiarize yourself with your rod and your reel.

What better place to practice than your back yard. To do so, mark off an area using a rope and use this as your guide in aiming your cast. Rehearse and study your movements to discover a method that will work for you. Bear in mind, cast with your wrist, and not with your arm.

Fishing hooks are very sharp and needed to be handled with care to avoid injury. Before casting, it is important that you should look around you and stay unobstructed to avoid hurting other people with your hook.

When the right time has come and you go fishing for real, keep in mind to cast your line always ahead of the fish, making your bait land slowly, with as little splash as possible. The fish will see well at a close point, but cannot see behind.

If your casts are going in a disorganized manner, move closer to the water so you can gain better accuracy.

Watch the bobber closely for any movement. If and when a fish grabs the bait, the bobber will be pulled under water. This signals that you got a fish on the line. Don’t get too excited. Remain calm.

Keeping your line tight, slowly reel in your catch. Place the net near and use it to bring the fish out. Remove the hook from the fish with great care.

If you got an undersized fish (as noted in the state’s regulation book), quickly return it to the water. Likewise, if you have no intention in eating your catch, do not waste it and return it to the water. Releasing the fish will supply the water with more fish, giving future fishermen the thrill to experience a catch.

Lastly, look around you and feel the calm, restful and serene view of the river.

You will find some super deals on all you fishing needs at Steelhead Gear.com we even have some used fishing gear for you and you can save even mare.

 

As I mentioned yesterday that with the rivers running high and muddy salmon fishing is very tough. I also mentioned that you may want to try and do some plunking for salmon with these conditions. I received several emails asking just how you would set up to do some plunking for salmon. This technique has been around for years and I thought that every one knew what I was talking about for those of you who didn’t let me explain a little about it.

 

Plunking is used a lot while fishing for catfish, sturgeon and such, and is basically setting up a rig that you throw out into the river channel with a heavy enough wait to hold it in the current. The Idea behind this is that with the bait located in one spot and the scent come from the bait fish will be able to locate it and take your offering. Unlike drift fishing where your bait is always moving plunking hold your bait in one spot and allows the fish to go to the bait instead of the bait going to the fish.

 

Below is an example of a plunking set-up you can vary just how you tie these, use different lures and bait combinations but it should give you the general idea.

 

One thing to keep in mind when fishing in muddy water is you want to use scents, sound and vibrations to attract the salmon. Tuna fish which has been pack in oil and anchovies are some of the more common baits used. Some fisherman will mix tuna and roe in an egg sack we’ve been calling this a salmon cocktail just so we know what each of us are using for bait if some one is getting more hits then every one else it’s nice to know what they are using.

 

Try to find a spot with slow moving current throw one of these rigs out and sit back and relax while keeping and eye on your rod. Don’t worry about what a bite will look like trust me you will know when a salmon takes this. Good luck and give it a try, it works and under the current river conditions it is probably your best bet on hooking into a nice fresh Chinook salmon.

 

RR Smith

Salmon Fishing Gear

Much of the time you will need to go wading if you plan on having success at steelhead fishing. You do not have to be a fearless wader but you do need to be comfortable with your wadding skills. Even you veterans out there with many years under your wading belt will need to use extra caution during the spring where the flows are extreme. If you are new to the sport of fly fishing I would recommend not wading out in water over your knees until to become familiar with wading in the current and just how much force the water can generate and how to keep a stable footing. For those who do not wish to wade, casting from the boat is also an option.There will be times where you need to casts well over 100 feet so practice when ever you have a chance. It is also import to be able to read the water or at least have some one that is capable of reading water. It is important that you are on the best casting side of the river before you start.

Fishing is done with rods from 6-8 wt, sinking lines, and a reel with a good drag system. The North Central Idaho Clearwater native steelhead are notorious for their size and power, testing the anglers ability and tackle on every blistering run. Steelhead are resting fish when they have returned to their home river to spawn so you must present your fly immediately in front of a fish if you are going to entice him into striking. The Main Clearwater River is large and having the ability to wade deep heavy current over very slippery ledge rocks as well as the ability to cast 90′ feet are among the reasons for this rivers difficulty. The upper section is much more fly fisher friendlily and the South Fork of the Clearwater is among my favorite rivers to fly fish for steelhead these B-Run fish are known for their size and often weigh in at over 20 pounds.

Get a good night’s rest you will need it if you are going to be wading most of the day, and put your wet waders on your boot dryers so when you wake up the next day you have nice warm waders to put on. I don’t believe there is any thing worst then to roll out of bed and have to stick your foot into a wet soggy boot and it will drain your energy much faster also.

It is always a good idea to check the flows for your favorite river; you can check the flows of most river systems by taking advantage of information available on the Internet. The United States Geological Survey, USGS, is the agency responsible for posting real time data related to the affects that weather plays on our river systems (you and find them at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis).

By: RR Smith
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