Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Funeral Of Hearts]

Well I am on spring break (from work anyway) for two weeks. So I decided to take advantage of a day mid week with a distinct lack of precipitation. The river was up from the last time I fished it, and not as clear. I decided to only take my single hand 8 wt. I am determined to get a steelhead on the fly. I went to my first destination, walked into the run to find no one there. Perfect. I began fishing it only to have someone move in right below me. Hooray! I continue to work the run, making a few casts then stepping down stream. The guy down stream takes a hint and does the same.... until two more guys go just below the both of us... Ok now I have had enough so I move on.
My second destination led me to a side channel that looked fairly fishy. Three casts in and I hook a fish... unfortunately not a steelhead but a nice bull trout. Better than nothing, and a fun little fight.
At my third destination I start at the head of the run. Looking up stream I see a nice little pocket across a braid. I said to myself "I'm sure there's a steelhead in there, but how do I get there?". A few casts later I look up again and I see a few guys walk into the spot I had just identified. Next thing I know, wham... float down and they land a nice looking hatchery. Damn, if I only knew how to get to that spot. Oh well.
Anyway, long story short. No love for me, other than the bull trout. I seem to be getting good at finding bulls. Anyone know if they are in similar water as steelhead? Or am I hitting the wrong spots?

A frame taken from some video I took of landing the bull trout.


Random picture...

[milo]

I seem to be getting good at finding bulls. Anyone know if they are in similar water as steelhead? Or am I hitting the wrong spots?

No, you are not. If you are catching bull trout, you will eventually catch a steelhead.
They share the same spots, except that bull trout stick around whereas steelhead move on.
The upper and mid river produce more bull trout than the lower, so if you are tired of bull trout, fish the lower river. The farther downstream you fish from the crossing, the fewer the chances of catching bull trout.

[Noahs Arc]

I beg to differ Milo. I've caught plenty of bulls below the crossing. Often bulls will sit tight to shore so you may find you're picking them up right at the end of your swing or even on the strip. I also spend 75% of my time on the vedder downriver from Thompson park.
Now that I think of it I hit quite a few in Dec. Jan. so maybe the Chum spawn plays a factor to where they are.

[milo]

I beg to differ Milo. I've caught plenty of bulls below the crossing. Often bulls will sit tight to shore so you may find you're picking them up right at the end of your swing or even on the strip. I also spend 75% of my time on the vedder downriver from Thompson park.
Now that I think of it I hit quite a few in Dec. Jan. so maybe the Chum spawn plays a factor to where they are.

Makes sense...

[Sandman]

I beg to differ Milo. I've caught plenty of bulls below the crossing. Often bulls will sit tight to shore so you may find you're picking them up right at the end of your swing or even on the strip. I also spend 75% of my time on the vedder downriver from Thompson park.
Now that I think of it I hit quite a few in Dec. Jan. so maybe the Chum spawn plays a factor to where they are.

Ditto, I picked up another nice bull below the crossing this morning, absolutely inhaled  the small alevin pattern I was stripping.

[Funeral Of Hearts]

I've had one bull above the crossing and one below. Both were on dark flies I created with steelhead in mind....