Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: DRP79 on November 09, 2011, 11:34:31 AM

Title: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: DRP79 on November 09, 2011, 11:34:31 AM
I am just trying to get prepared for my first steelhead season and am wondering, what are the must haves for steelhead fishing?. I know that warm clothes/longjohns are at the top of the list but what about gear or other odd and ends that go a long way but wouldnt be a first thought for someone new?
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: cutthroat22 on November 09, 2011, 12:15:40 PM
I like a thermos full of very hot coffee.
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: Easywater on November 09, 2011, 12:27:47 PM
Toque, scarf, decent rain jacket, gloves.

I started using a snowboarding jacket but it wouldn't keep me dry through a full day's rain.
Got a good jacket from Wholesale Sports for under $100.

Maybe some pocket warmers to warm up you hands between runs.
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: brysonk on November 09, 2011, 12:28:46 PM
Patience...
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: holmes on November 09, 2011, 12:32:59 PM
agree with patience,lol, and a TON of energy and will power...hot soup and hot coffee, help as well.....holmes*
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: DionJL on November 09, 2011, 12:49:36 PM
Lots of gas money.
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: bigblue on November 09, 2011, 12:50:36 PM
Patience...

X3. ;D
Winter steelheading is nothing like salmon fishing.
You might go for many trips without a single bite under freezing rain.
Only hard core steelheaders remain by the end of the season. ;D
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: joska on November 09, 2011, 01:29:32 PM
pick up the book " West Coast Steelheader" a bunch of good rods put it together. i have read it twice in the last month...  another good book is "Float Fishing for Steelhead by Dave Vedder.  also Barry Thorton has a book "Steelhead". i also found the search function to be a huge help as wel...many threads about the past seasons....
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: chris gadsden on November 09, 2011, 01:35:31 PM
Lots of gas money.
Yes, stay home my boy so more for me. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: adecadelost on November 09, 2011, 01:52:57 PM
My two must haves
1)cleats on my boots.
2)hip flask of whisky
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: bkk on November 09, 2011, 05:30:09 PM
I am just trying to get prepared for my first steelhead season and am wondering, what are the must haves for steelhead fishing?.

Steelhead because with out them your just out walking your rod :D
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: Fish Assassin on November 09, 2011, 05:43:53 PM
Change of clothing, just in case
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: bcguy on November 09, 2011, 07:09:24 PM
Fireball  ;D and warm, waterproof outer wear, as well as anything that will lend you good mobility.
Dont bog yourself down with a bunch of crap, stay streamline, pretie, and able to quickly switch up your presentation to match the conditions.
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: mikeyman on November 09, 2011, 07:14:27 PM
Fishing ethics
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: brysonk on November 09, 2011, 07:17:46 PM
Also buy a bunch of worms, eggs and clusters from GLX in the buy sell forum, they are the best for winter steelhead ;)
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: Blackgivesway2blue on November 09, 2011, 07:18:26 PM
Fishing ethics

and proper catch and release methods for those wilds.
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: TheChumWhisperer on November 09, 2011, 09:54:32 PM
Anti depression meds, when you go 6 trips without touching a fish..
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: Steel_Mo_Head on November 09, 2011, 10:59:19 PM
Don't forget that camera, cuz your gonna want a pic on your first one!
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: HOOK on November 09, 2011, 11:11:10 PM
what you really need is to just stay home and and save yourself the money, time and frustration  ;)
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: kingpin on November 09, 2011, 11:33:25 PM
your own rock to stand on in the vedder..
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: bigblue on November 10, 2011, 07:23:45 AM
your own rock to stand on in the vedder..

LOL.... That's a good one!
If you stand on one long enough, you might have one named after you. ;D
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: DRP79 on November 10, 2011, 09:02:59 AM
your own rock to stand on in the vedder..

I thought that the cold weather and harder fishing thinned out the crowds? I guess not, LOL.

I will likely pick up some of that stuff in the buy and sell section as well.

Is the fishing better up river or in the lower part. Or does that even matter?
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: milo on November 10, 2011, 10:21:02 AM
your own rock to stand on in the vedder..

Only if the weather is balmy and there's a large push of fresh fish. It may happen once or twice in the season and it lasts a week or so.
Then the conditions pretty much return to normal (you have to work hard in harsh conditions to find a fish), so opportunists and bottom feeders leave the river and crawl back into their holes.
Then you can have any rock on the river you want to yourself.

Don't make the mistake of standing in one place all day.
MOVE.
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: bigblue on November 10, 2011, 10:21:19 AM
IIs the fishing better up river or in the lower part. Or does that even matter?

Fish normally come up the river in a series of small pushes spread throughout the season, so depending on where they are moving up the river sometimes lower is better and sometimes mid or upper. If not sure, just drive all the way up to the slab and check where cars are parked and you will get a general idea of where the action is for that day. As already posted, it is a gas intensive hobby as you need to be on the move a lot compared to salmon fishing. :)
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: adecadelost on November 10, 2011, 11:56:06 AM

Don't make the mistake of standing in one place all day.
MOVE.

Best advice so far.  

Unlike Salmon, Steelhead move throughout the system.  They don't just push on through to a final resting spot.
Steelhead spend a lot of time in the river and cover it fairly thoroughly.

One steelhead tagging study I read would find fish up near the top of the system and then a day or two later some of those same fish would be back down at the bottom.  These fish won't always stay in the same spot and neither should you.

This is a fishery that takes some work and dedication.
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: Matt on November 10, 2011, 04:01:40 PM
I thought that the cold weather and harder fishing thinned out the crowds? I guess not, LOL.

I will likely pick up some of that stuff in the buy and sell section as well.

Is the fishing better up river or in the lower part. Or does that even matter?

No way, the start of the season on the Vedder is often very busy.  Unlike salmon season where people will often stay close to their vehicles, steelhead fishermen will walk a long distance so that its busy everywhere by first  light.   Doesn't matter whether its a weekend or a week day, the cold weather and difficult fishing doesn't thin the crowds out much.
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: naka21 on November 11, 2011, 04:51:16 PM
id also suggest a pair of polarized glasses, u can pick up a pair of berkleys at walmart for 11 bucks! there work great and its not a huge loss if they break
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: TheChumWhisperer on November 11, 2011, 05:03:16 PM
Jigs, Jigs, Jigs, and more jigs..
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: awurban@msn.com on November 12, 2011, 01:28:43 AM
agree with patience,lol, and a TON of energy and will power...hot soup and hot coffee, help as well.....holmes*

I find if you just go fishing with Holmes* he gets you into fish for sure

thanks again man
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: DRP79 on November 12, 2011, 09:38:33 AM
I find if you just go fishing with Holmes* he gets you into fish for sure

thanks again man

Paging Holmes, LOL.
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: scouterjames on November 13, 2011, 12:17:25 PM
My two must haves
1)cleats on my boots.
2)hip flask of whisky

3) someone to drive after that hip flask of whisky!
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: fyrslyer on November 13, 2011, 01:23:17 PM
3) someone to drive after that hip flask of whisky!

Not necessarily, some of us walk to the river and back
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: BigFisher on November 13, 2011, 04:59:07 PM
Not necessarily, some of us walk to the river and back

And live on the River.... ;)
Title: Re: Necessities for steelhead season
Post by: holmes on November 13, 2011, 08:48:45 PM
I find if you just go fishing with Holmes* he gets you into fish for sure

thanks again man

hahahaha, no problem, anytime, glad i could show u and the wife around my neck of the woods a little bit, my pleasure, have a couple comin tomorrow, not sure what were gonna get, if anything, as we are in a transitional period for a bit here, but still some fish around.. :)...holmes*