Winter Thaw Steelhead Strategies

[rich_ace_G]

i find the advantage of cranks, spinners & spoons on cold weather is that you won't be retying much that is if you're actually catching fish...but it could be costly if you're fishing waters with lot's of snags. seen a guy drift a pink crank (really small) catching chrome on alternate casts in 1 pool and another guy catching chrome with roes...guy with the crankbait was putting back his lure in the water faster so he's catching more. but both worked on the same water & the same weather. The guy with the crankbait was drifting it downstream. let's it dive and then slacks it. He gave me hope on using plugs in small creeks can work.

 

[Rain-Bow]

^Yup, lots of stuff can be done with hardware, but hardly anyone uses it for steelhead. Its true potential is not often seen.

 

[miles]

^Yup, lots of stuff can be done with hardware, but hardly anyone uses it for steelhead. Its true potential is not often seen.

I think you are 100% correct. Oddly enough In some of the areas I fish the guys using hardware out number the people float fishing. These areas are not the most popular, I think its jokes when guys have been throwing spoons all day and I show up with the pin and hit a fish on the first drift :lol: .
I will sometimes bring my spinning rod along just for the hell of it. I found a very slow drift of cleos in blue and silver or gold and orange can be killer!
Seem to work good some days and not at all others.

I caught my first steelhead on a blue and silver cleo!

 

[Rain-Bow]

^You're right, taking both can end up being fun. Open up my backpack while I'm throwing hardware and you'll find a centerpin

 

[Dewy]

I've found that I need to focus on deep very slowly moving pools. I had success with worms last Saturday with a bead. When using roe I like a little bigger bags than normal.

 

[rich_ace_G]

^You're right, taking both can end up being fun. Open up my backpack while I'm throwing hardware and you'll find a centerpin

Lol...it is fun when you're able to switch your technique. more options and more 'weapons'.
No time for Steelie to change minds.
Steelie: "that's a fake fish. i've had that before. oh wait what's this nice pink stuff...yum"

 

[Klik]

I generally just take two rods. one spinning one CP. use a snap swivel on the spinning rod if i want to change lures. it is good to turn the fish on since you make the move. but super cold temperature slower baits would do better.

 

[Dewy]

I generally just take two rods. one spinning one CP. use a snap swivel on the spinning rod if i want to change lures. it is good to turn the fish on since you make the move. but super cold temperature slower baits would do better.

I too take a spinning and click. When using lures the main thing that I've learned is to fish the lure very slowly. I lost many spoons on bottom but that seems to be the place where the fish are
PLUS it is a tonne of fun catching beasts on hardware

 

[hightechdecks]

goood thread here sportsfans, i would like to add that going with heavier shot and bulking the weight down towards the hook will punch the bait through the slush similar to flipping jigs orr bullets for bass

 

[weemalky]

Did ya check the lunar charts this morning??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfGvvz7HbAw

I love that, laugh every time I watch it

 

[weemalky]

My first ever steel was on a lure, a wee flatfish letting the current work it slowly.No mistaking the hit. Sometimes I take the spin rod with the pin sometimes the fly rod, success rate a bit lower with the fly as I'm less experienced with it. The more tricks in your bag the better. No rhyme or reason to why they hit what they hit IMO. I find my biggest learning curve with the pin besides casting is shotting, how much,where, found just holding the float in place after it hit the water so the bait gets ahead seemed to help. Adapting to different current speeds. Once you catch make a mental note of your setup for that particular condition. With a lure you know exactly where it is for the most part, unless you let it drop to the bottom, which can work well with a spoon.I haven't been out as much in the deeper freeze so can't offer too much advice. Can't beat time on the water.

 

[Consummate Sportsman]

I just watch the flow data. If it spikes, catch it on the fall. Game on. :mrgreen:

 

[strik9]

I rely on the following:

1. Hydrometric data, past baseline and forecasted trend.
2. Weather conditions (temps, wind, barometric, recent and forecasted rain)
3. Sun and lunar positions.

If all 3 line up, than you should be killing it on the river.

Learning to read hydrometic data (levels and discharge) helps you understand which rivers clears up quicker while other tribs takes longer.

Do you have a link for the fishing lunar and sun chart?

 

[azppp]

very nice tip, i subscribed to your channel consummate!

 

[Steel_ED]

Do you have a link for the fishing lunar and sun chart?

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Post #7

FYI don't pay too much attention to the sun-lunar positions. Only use it as a guide.

Pay more attention to weather conditions and hydrometric data and your experiences with your local steelheading trib.

 

[joey dolby]

i just enjoy the rivers catching or not catching takes the crazzy out of me resets me to human again. cant wait for the thaw in a few weeks and we will be back at it again ...