What do you prefer to fish...Salmon or Steelhead?

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Thanks for sharing that AK - great story!

As for me, to be completely honest, I'm not a huge fan of either here in ON during their peak seasons. I don't enjoy combat fishing, and so if I can get a nice lonesome stretch of water, I'm happy regardless of the species.

My all-time favourite is still-water fishing on back lakes for various species of trout.

However, to answer the question posed in this thread, I guess given ideal conditions, I prefer chasing rainbows.
 
I prefer steal head for this reason!!! Salmon start there run late aug and are done late November to early December and you have 150,000(eg) fish in that time and the steal typically start late sept and continue to come in through to early April with a count similar to the salmon runs.. With the longer period of time for them to come in it is more of a hunt to find the fish especially through the winter months because there is no guarantee there even is fish in your section of the river and to find them and what they want to eat is the part I like !! I would rather hunt all day and catch 2 fish that I worked for and out smarted than catch 40 that take any thing you put in front of them in the spring !! That's just me though !! The fight doesn't mean much to me if I want drag pullers I go for carp
 
w_ boughner said:
I prefer steal head for this reason!!! Salmon start there run late aug and are done late November to early December and you have 150,000(eg) fish in that time and the steal typically start late sept and continue to come in through to early April with a count similar to the salmon runs.. With the longer period of time for them to come in it is more of a hunt to find the fish especially through the winter months because there is no guarantee there even is fish in your section of the river and to find them and what they want to eat is the part I like !! I would rather hunt all day and catch 2 fish that I worked for and out smarted than catch 40 that take any thing you put in front of them in the spring !! That's just me though !! The fight doesn't mean much to me if I want drag pullers I go for carp
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carp = reels singing the sweet sounds of line being stripped off, epic fights when they get bigger!
 
I really don't think this thread was started to get the argument on which is better to catch(it has been beaten like a dead horse already) but as an inquiry about personal preference by every member. Some like chinny's, I preferably love my browns more than the 2. and majority for sure are steelhead-first.

but i don't really like rainbows because...You'll just be sitting there, minding your own business, and they'll come marching in, and crawl up your leg, and start biting the inside of your @$$, and you'll be all like, "Hey. Get out of my @$$ you stupid rainbows."
- Eric Cartman
 
awesome story AK the second one reminds me of my 2nd steelhead, when i thought i was a salmon it took off downstream, all i could see was tree's flying past me as i tried to keep this thing on but after 2 S bends i stepped into a deep pool and lost my balance and used my rod to help me but in doing so i snapped it off but not without getting a glimpse of it and it definatly would have been the biggest steelhead even till now. You sure are living the dream AK
 
FisherGirl said:
What I mean is - bushwhacking, looking for holes, determining depth, underwater structures, figure out what they want to eat that day, drift, hook, land, repeat.
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Since you like to debate (and I do too to some extent)...

If that is what you enjoy, why does it matter if it is salmon or steelhead? Do you not go through the same process while salmon fishing as well? Or IS IT because salmon in the river tend not to bite and you cannot enjoy that "drift, hook, land, repeat"...so, to be completely honest with yourself, you really just enjoy that "drift, hook, land, repeat" and less about the rest? ;-)

BTW, doesn't "bushwhacking, looking for holes, determining depth, underwater structures, figure out what they want to eat that day" apply to all types of fishing anyways?
 
steelies, browns and lakers in the fall/winter. love the colours on the fish this time of year. salmon on the great lakes in summer for sure, but the steelhead fights are amazing as well. they barely stay in water. I am fortunate enough to fish them year round.
 
MuskieBait said:
Since you like to debate (and I do too to some extent)...

If that is what you enjoy, why does it matter if it is salmon or steelhead? Do you not go through the same process while salmon fishing as well? Or IS IT because salmon in the river tend not to bite and you cannot enjoy that "drift, hook, land, repeat"...so, to be completely honest with yourself, you really just enjoy that "drift, hook, land, repeat" and less about the rest? ;-)

BTW, doesn't "bushwhacking, looking for holes, determining depth, underwater structures, figure out what they want to eat that day" apply to all types of fishing anyways?
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Not all fish are created equal. To me, steelhead are smarter, harder to hook and very difficult to land. My opinion is that they are more of a challenge. This is especially true during the winter months. It takes a dedicated fishermen to be steelheader and I dont think the same argument can be made for slaying salmon in september.

I think the discussion of catching salmon over steelhead is similar to the never ending debate between fly guys and centerpiners; everyone has a preference. It seems to me that a lot of fly guys are elitists.....and....maybe I am too ;)


Disclaimer: this msg was not intended to insult anyone so chillax and share your opinion too
 
I suppose because salmon are so strong that they are difficult to land too lol......more fuel for you salmon folk....
 
FisherGirl said:
Not all fish are created equal. To me, steelhead are smarter, harder to hook and very difficult to land. My opinion is that they are more of a challenge. This is especially true during the winter months. It takes a dedicated fishermen to be steelheader and I dont think the same argument can be made for slaying salmon in september.

I think the discussion of catching salmon over steelhead is similar to the never ending debate between fly guys and centerpiners; everyone has a preference. It seems to me that a lot of fly guys are elitists.....and....maybe I am too ;)


Disclaimer: this msg was not intended to insult anyone so chillax and share your opinion too
Click to expand...

hehe you've yet to fish the spring steel......its not that they are 'smarter' or harder to catch than any other fish, since you've only experienced the fall run, the cold water shuts them down, same with any cold blooded animal, all fish species shut down in cold water, they just become lazy and only strike if something bumps them on the nose. in the spring, they become like deer in the rut, they'll eat anything, aren't very skittish, only 2 things on theyir mind, spawn and get out, any food they find on the way is as good as eaten lol

i love fishing steel as much as the next guy/girl, but the lure of having a 25lb+ fish on the end of your line is too much. my ultimate goal is to go south and fly fish for tarpon....make 12wt rods look like limp noodles
 
Some of my most fond fishing memories are pier fishing salmon fishing with friends, but I enjoy the chase of steelhead much more. I feel like steelheading can be done alone as well as with a group where salmon only seems fun with friends. Steelhead are also a prettier fish IMO ( of course)
 
IR4J said:
Some of my most fond fishing memories are pier fishing salmon fishing with friends, but I enjoy the chase of steelhead much more. I feel like steelheading can be done alone as well as with a group where salmon only seems fun with friends. Steelhead are also a prettier fish IMO ( of course)
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I would like to go for salmon from the pier too this year.. and ya, you couldnt be more right about the prettier fish part :D
 
JMatt1983 said:
hehe you've yet to fish the spring steel......its not that they are 'smarter' or harder to catch than any other fish, since you've only experienced the fall run, the cold water shuts them down, same with any cold blooded animal, all fish species shut down in cold water, they just become lazy and only strike if something bumps them on the nose. in the spring, they become like deer in the rut, they'll eat anything, aren't very skittish, only 2 things on theyir mind, spawn and get out, any food they find on the way is as good as eaten lol

i love fishing steel as much as the next guy/girl, but the lure of having a 25lb+ fish on the end of your line is too much. my ultimate goal is to go south and fly fish for tarpon....make 12wt rods look like limp noodles
Click to expand...
Yes this is true. Sometimes I forget that I wasnt always steelheading and I've only just begun...lot to learn ;)

You know for some reason I have no desire to fish saltwater yet....but I bet that'd be awesome :D
 

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