The Steelhead Angler

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Just thought I would Share the Photos I took of the few times I was able to go fishing this year.

Hope you enjoy them.

While on a trip back from turkey hunting Monday morning I stopped along the Little Salmon River and noticed quit a few stack into a pole just below a small falls. Steelheads are known to stack up in this spot and I like to check it when I am fish, it is usually a good indicator as to how the fish are moving and if they are in the river.

When I noticed so many fish stacked in there I decided to give Steelhead fishing a try for a while. This turned out to be the best decision of the day as the only turkey I saw I managed to spook of before I got him to respond to my calling. Anyway There is a small seem just down from the falls I was talking about that I decided to give a try and on the first cast I hooked into a nice buck that may have weighed 10 lbs. this fish had been in the river for quit some time and was close to spawning. But he did but up a pretty good fight for this time of year. Two casts latter I hooked another fish at the very tail end of this drift and this fish came out of the water shook it’s tail at me and headed down the river like it was being pushed by a freight train it was not long before it came off but it got me wondering what put such a fire under his tail.

After fishing for less then twenty minutes more I hooked into another nice steelhead and this fish was acting like an early fall fish it jumped four times and gave me a very good tussle before I was finally able to tail her and get a good look at her. She was a nice silver colored spring steelhead and was in excellent shape and a nice firm body. Now I do not know where these fish have come from and usually this time of year they are spawning and pretty well beat down but this one well I just could not believe the shape she was in.

I guess that may be I gave up on Steelhead fishing to early as it appears that there are quit a few fish in the river most are tired and spawning or nearly ready to spawn. There are however some of these fish that appear to be fresher and you while know as soon as you hook one if it is fresh by the way they want to take off.

I fished this hole for the rest of the day and while I never kept a good count I know I caught over 12 and probably closer to 15 fish some of them really gave me a good fight and a couple I’m sure are still headed back to the ocean just from the way they blew out of the hole.

So if you’re looking for something to do the next couple of weeks you might want to give it a try the Steelhead are still there and some of them are in very good shape for this time of year.

By: RR Smith
Looking to save on your next purchase of Fishing Gear Please visit my Store at Steelhead Gear.Com I’m sure you will find some of the best prices available anywhere for your Salmon, Steelhead, and Trout Fishing Gear wants and needs.
http://www.steelhead-gear.com

I don’t know what to tell you this year the weather still is not cooperating for us. Steelhead fishing in one hole will be great foe a while and then nothing for hours and then you may pick up one or two fish for the next several hours. Or like yesterday we fished all day and only caught two fish.Their were a couple of fishermen down stream from us that caught 10 fish in a little over an hours time and then they to did not catch anymore fish the rest of the day. This year has been very frustrating for most of us and I truly believe that it is all do to the weather. Meadows Valley still has about two feet of snow lying on the valley floor; normally the snow would be gone by this time of year. The Little Salmon river flow is what you would expect is see in February not the second week in May.

Every time I think the weather is going to change it hasn’t it is still getting down into the single digits at night and what snow has melted off seems to be going into the ground not running down the river. The upper reaches of the river are still covered with a blanket of snow and getting down to some of them has proven quite challenging at times.

I whish I could tell you with some certainty that fishing will pick up soon but I have been telling you this for over a month now. Steelhead fishing remains steelhead fishing here now if you hit the right hole at the right time it is great but hit a hole at the wrong time and you will be in for a disappointment.

As we wait for the fish to really start moving the best that I can tell you is that you will have some good fishing if you are one of the luck few that hit a hole with some fishing laying in it if not you will have to fish hard to get on of those crazy steelheads on your line. Until next time good luck and good fishing.

By: RR Smith
Looking to save on your next purchase of Steelhead Gear Please visit my Store at Steelhead Gear.Com I’m sure you will find some of the best prices available anywhere on the internet. http://www.steelhead-gear.com

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
Looking to save on your next purchase of Steelhead Gear Please visit my Store at Steelhead Gear.Com I’m sure you will find some of the best prices available anywhere on the internet. http://www.steelhead-gear.com

One of the most important things a steelhead angler needs to learn is the run timing of the rivers they fish. Some good ways to do this is watching for concentrations of other anglers, contacting local hatcheries for return information, reading fishing articles, and check several Websites for updated information on Steelhead returns. Also, successful steelhead angling depends primarily on river levels or flow rates, and water clarity water temperature does play a part also however I do not believe this is as important as water color. You can find this information on the USGS website for almost all rivers and this information is kept current as to flows and anticipated flows.If you head out after a heavy rain, with a few exceptions you will be wasting your time. Clear water is good, green or slightly colored water is even better, so call someone if you can and find out how the rivers and fishing are; most of your locale tackle shops will be able to provide you some information.

Over the years I have learned that line size, hook size and weight affect the drift angle and your presentation of the bait which plays a big role in increasing the percentage of strikes. You could write a book about each one of these items but if you remember to decrease the size of each of the above mentioned items you will be on the right tract. I have learned that when drift fishing from a boat, different styles of boats react differently in the current, this has a direct affect on the way the angler is able to drift the bait along the bottom.

Small spinners, drifted yarn flies, and float-fished roe bags, or shrimp are deadly on most steelhead rivers, so are black or brown nymph imitations. Sometimes under the right conditions (I wish I could tell you what these conditions are but I never know when they prefer these) steelhead will go crazy for medium-sized spoons and/or spinners. You cast them quartering upstream, let them sink almost to the bottom, and start a slow retrieve when the current starts to swings it towards the bank.

During the later steelhead season fly fishers that are skilled at nymph fishing can do very well in many of the runs. You can fly fish with less knowledge about bugs as it is more about presentation with the steelhead the which fly you should be using. You should be ready for cold water fishing as the water temps can be in the mid 30 degree range but for those who enjoy this type of fishing it can be extremely satisfying. Try swinging streamers made of rabbit or marabou if a steelhead is out there they should produce a strike and for what ever reason they seem to hit this type of fly pretty hard.

By: RR Smith
Looking to save on your next purchase of Steelhead Gear Please visit my Store at Steelhead Gear.Com I’m sure you will find some of the best prices available anywhere on the internet. http://www.steelhead-gear.com

Weekly Steelhead Fishing Report

Well according to the state wide fishing report I’m not the only one who was having trouble hooking into a steelhead over the weekend. The numbers were down state wide and I really did not expect anything different with the weather being the way it has been. When I left New Meadows Saturday morning it was -10 degrees and I fought ice in my guides for most of the morning.

I did go back down yesterday (Monday 3/31/2008) and was able to hook four fish on the Little Salmon I was fishing the lower end though near Rapid River. The fish were hitting so light that it was almost impossible to feel the strike. Once I realized what was going on I stated to hook into some fish. I’m still wondering just how many hits I missed yesterday but then that is pretty common as you all know the these fish will some times take your lure with out you ever knowing and then there are time when they nearly rip the pole from your hands.

I will not be making another trip for a few days as when I was fishing yesterday I slipped on a rock and I can hardly move this morning hope this heals up fast because I think that this week is the one we have been waiting for.

I have a good fishing partner who will be on the River today and he will be checking in so I’ll let you know how he does I’m thinking that he will hook into quite a few fish as the river was rising yesterday. I’ll try to keep you updated.

By: RR Smith

Looking to save on your next purchase of Steelhead Gear Please visit my Store at Steelhead Gear.Com I’m sure you will find some of the best prices available anywhere on the internet. http://www.steelhead-gear.com

Ok well now as Paul Harvey would say for “the rest of the Story.”I need to tie up again; now maybe it is because I’m cold or maybe it’s because the gremlins decided to come fishing with me but I have not been able to tie a knot on the first try all day finally on the third try I have my hook tied on. I go to slip on a piece of lead and someone has stolen my rubber tubing I say stolen because I would not have forgotten to put this on I’m an experienced fisherman. I cut the hook off and slip on the rubber and corky and then tie on the hook guess what for the first time today tied on the first try.

I thought about building a fire to warm up a little but that thought quickly passes when I go to light-up a cigarette and realize that I have lost my lighter some where along the way. Now just to be safe I look around to see if I can’t see one of those pesky gremlins hiding in the trees, or some where among the rocks, I’m convinced that they are the ones messing with me today.

Well for the next hour every thing goes pretty smooth but still I have not had a hit yet, the wind is still blowing and I’m starting to really feel its bite. I decide that today just is not the day for me to be fishing and after reeling in for the last time I go to pick up my tackle box and head back to the truck. About half way back to the truck the handle on my tackle box decides that it would be a great time to break off and when the box hits the only rock in the trail for fifty yard in any direction it explodes open and it looks like the 4th of July with corkies, yarn, hooks, and beads flying every where. I must have spent the next twenty minutes gathering up my equipment and chasing down the yarn that was dancing in the wind down the trail.

I finally make it back to the truck and put what’s left of my tackle box, gear, and rod in the back and go to get the keys out of my pocket, keys in my pocket? Man I must have lost them when I took the tumble earlier so I go to where I fell and start searching after looking for what seemed like days I decide to go to the truck and get out of the wind for awhile. You know that just getting out of the wind feels much warmer and I’m starting to feel a little better. I must have sat there for twenty or thirty minutes when I look down at the steering wheel and do you know what is hanging from the ignition yep the keys. Okay I should have looked earlier but I never leave my keys in the truck.

When I arrive home my wife asks if I had any luck. Well I gave her a strange look and was to telling her about my day she just smiled and said well maybe tomorrow will be a better day. Seems like I have been saying that more and more often lately but I can now say that it was a better day. The fish are in and they are starting to hit pretty good if you can keep out of trouble.

Have you ever had one of those days while fishing where every thing just seems to go wrong? Well yesterday was one of those days for me. I decided to run down on the river for a couple hours of steelhead fishing and I should have stayed home with a good book or just took a nap.It started with the trip down when I had a choice of running over a rock that rolled down into the highway or taking on a semi that was coming the other way attempting to do the same, needless to say I decided the rock was much smaller and was not charging at me at 60 MPH, while I tried to keep from hitting it with the tires I some how managed to do so with the front but the back tire hit it square and there went a $95.00 tire. Changing the tire gave me some time to think about all those steelhead that should be in the river now and I once again feel that rush of excitement and anticipation of hooking into one of these fish.

Ok so I go on down to my fishing hole only to find that instead of being full of steelhead it is full of steelhead fishermen. Well there is another hole down stream about a half mile so I grab my rod and gear and take off. When I stepped of the edge of the road way and started down the bank my feet go out from under me like someone just pulled the Rock out from under me and of course when I look up there are six other fishermen starring at me wondering what and the h___ I was doing. Well now I’m covered in mud and my back side feels like I just stood under Niagara Falls but I keep thinking about those steelhead laying in wait just down stream so I pick up my gear and continue down to the hole.

Now I have been fishing and tying knots for well over forty years now but today for what ever reason it takes me forever to get a knot tied that does not break with the first tug. The river is still running a little lower then normal so I cut a small chunk of lead and slip it on and my first cast end up catching a branch that is sticking out over the river I swear some one tied it to the branch because it will not come off and I end up breaking it off and starting over.

While tying up for the second time the wind starts to blow and of course being soaked makes it that much more enjoyable. I make my second cast now and I can feel it bouncing along the bottom when it suddenly stops and I set the hook and have tied into one of the biggest rocks in the river and that is where my second rig stays.

I have to go Now so Check back tomorrow for the rest of the story my luck did not get any better.

 Steelhead fly fishing is like playing the lottery: the more casts you make in the rivers, the better chances you have of hitting the right combinations. Steelhead fly fishing is a true sportsman’s game it will encompass the full range of emotions from joy and excitement to confusion and despair. Steelhead fly fishing is only for those fishermen that are totally committed to this sport; if you are looking to catch a steelhead on a regular basis fly fishing may not be the sport for you. On the other hand if you are looking for a sport that will challenge your very being and give you the thrill of a life time when everything comes together then fly fishing for Steelhead maybe your winning ticket.

Very few of us will actually catch steelhead with flies on a semi-regular basis, when fly fishing for these great fish there is no such thing as a regular basis. When fly fishing for steelhead you need to know about the species you’re after, where they’re found, when they’re in the rivers, what techniques will work, how to read the river, which flies to use, casting techniques, and then if everything flows into place you may land a fish or two and yes I did say may.

Fly fishing with nymphs is probably the most productive technique used on these often temperamental fish. Flies that have proven effective for me are the Egg Sucking Leech (purple/orange) and (orange/black) the Silver Tear is another that has worked well along with the green butt skunk patterns. Fly fishermen consider winter steelhead fly fishing to be hardcore fly fishing and involves enduring hours of casting in cold and freezing waters, hoping for that little tug that lets you know a steelhead has finally picked up your fly. Early fall and late spring are my favorite times to fly fish for steelhead the fish are active the weather is bearable as long as the river conditions are not out of wack from heavy rains and run off.

Steelhead are mystical creatures; irreplaceable fishes, and are a true sportsmen’s fish. Fly fishing for steelhead is one technique that I’ve yet to solve. It is however one that has given me years of enjoyment, excitement, and anticipation of the years head think of what I might be able to try on these truly magnificent fish.  

By: RR Smith
Looking to save on your next purchase of Steelhead Gear Please visit my Store at Steelhead Gear.Com I’m sure you will find some of the best prices available anywhere on the internet. http://www.steelhead-gear.com

I just thought I would put in a quick update on the steelhead fishing at Riggins Idaho and the little Salmon River to the south.

While the river has not come up to its normal spring time flows it has come up over the last week and the steelhead are stating to move on up the river. Saturday March 22 2008 I Stopped and fished a couple of holes on my way to Riggins From New Meadows I did Hook and land two steelhead in the Bolder Creek area but fishing was still fairly slow there.

When I went on down to just above Rapid River I did do quite well and hooked another five fish in a little over two hours. With the low water condition it is still a little tough  fishing but the fish are there. They were very easy to spook as I notice several fish swim by and they were definitely  spooked either by my presentation or the fact they were able to see me moving around.

The deeper holes were still better for this reason although I did get one that was lying behind a rock in the tail of a hole. This does tell me that they are moving since they seldom stay in these types of spots when they are in a holding pattern.

So get your steelhead rod and head out fishing is only going to get better for the next couple of weeks.

By: RR Smith
Looking to save on your next purchase of Steelhead Gear Please visit my Store at Steelhead Gear.Com I’m sure you will find some of the best prices available anywhere on the internet. http://www.steelhead-gear.com