fishingbimmer
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2012
- Messages
- 126
If you’re like me, your father and friends seem to think that live bait is only the way to go. I’ve been watching fishing shows for many years and have definitely proven that theory wrong after trying out the same lures as many pros for bass. Many Steelhead fishermen are die hard fanatics of the roe bag, and think that you are wasting your time with any other baits.
In the last few of weeks I’ve been fishing a local tributary in search of Steelhead. The trib is well known for large numbers of Chinook Salmon and a following Steelhead run in the fall. I fished the trib last fall and had caught a few Chinook but no Steel at this location yet. This spring the trib has been fairly low and clear with very few "deep" pools in the spots that I’ve searched.
After having drifted some roe bags on my first couple of days out with no success I decided I would try to switch it up on the next attempt. I noticed that in one particular pool that there were some fish moving around so I tied on a small pink egg fly pattern to the bottom of my float fishing set up (13’6 IM6 Rod and Float Reel, 8lb test main, 6lb test leader). I have a number of fly patterns that I’ve bought over the winter but have only really tried fishing them here and there when all else failed. (by the way I only started steelheading in the fall - AND LOVE IT) The trouble with doing that is that you really don’t have much confidence in the fly and therefore you don’t fish it the same way that you would your trusted baits – rather you fish it lazy and without any hope…..therefore no fish. The solution to get out of that habit for me was to have as few options in my bag as possible in order to force me to fish with the previously untrusted flies for the whole outing. So, after moving around to a number of spots and sending numerous drifts I finally got a good hit on the creek……not the bow I was looking for but a lot of fun nonetheless. Sucker 1 was a bit of a smaller guy caught on the pink roe fly. Sucker 2 was a good size and strong fighting sucker caught on a black wooly bugger.
After this outing I definitely have a lot more confidence with using the flies on this creek. I’ve also tried using them on a fly reel set up here and have had success with catching a good number of smaller fish (not even sure what they are but they resemble a gigantic minnow). Again, still fun but I will keep searching for that beautiful bow.
I've also posted a picture of a steelie I got on another small trib with a K9 Kwikfish. I estimate he's about 30".
In the last few of weeks I’ve been fishing a local tributary in search of Steelhead. The trib is well known for large numbers of Chinook Salmon and a following Steelhead run in the fall. I fished the trib last fall and had caught a few Chinook but no Steel at this location yet. This spring the trib has been fairly low and clear with very few "deep" pools in the spots that I’ve searched.
After having drifted some roe bags on my first couple of days out with no success I decided I would try to switch it up on the next attempt. I noticed that in one particular pool that there were some fish moving around so I tied on a small pink egg fly pattern to the bottom of my float fishing set up (13’6 IM6 Rod and Float Reel, 8lb test main, 6lb test leader). I have a number of fly patterns that I’ve bought over the winter but have only really tried fishing them here and there when all else failed. (by the way I only started steelheading in the fall - AND LOVE IT) The trouble with doing that is that you really don’t have much confidence in the fly and therefore you don’t fish it the same way that you would your trusted baits – rather you fish it lazy and without any hope…..therefore no fish. The solution to get out of that habit for me was to have as few options in my bag as possible in order to force me to fish with the previously untrusted flies for the whole outing. So, after moving around to a number of spots and sending numerous drifts I finally got a good hit on the creek……not the bow I was looking for but a lot of fun nonetheless. Sucker 1 was a bit of a smaller guy caught on the pink roe fly. Sucker 2 was a good size and strong fighting sucker caught on a black wooly bugger.
After this outing I definitely have a lot more confidence with using the flies on this creek. I’ve also tried using them on a fly reel set up here and have had success with catching a good number of smaller fish (not even sure what they are but they resemble a gigantic minnow). Again, still fun but I will keep searching for that beautiful bow.
I've also posted a picture of a steelie I got on another small trib with a K9 Kwikfish. I estimate he's about 30".
I hope this report inspires you to try new things out there. It's much easier and accessible to keep artificial baits, and your choices and methods of fishing with them are almost endless.
Certainly a proud moment when I beached him.
