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Be there at first light

9 (12.7%)

Use the best baits

13 (18.3%)

Use the best lures

6 (8.5%)

Reading water & adapt

20 (28.2%)

Be a river walker

23 (32.4%)

Total Members Voted: 30

Voting closed: December 05, 2004, 06:22:05 PM

[Steelhawk]

Hi guys, just to stir up the steelhead bloods within your freezing bodies, and to be pumped up for the steelhead season, why not let every one on this board see what the most favoured steelheading strategies are for you?  There are many new steelheaders who will appreciate the info.  You can vote first, then list your strategies in order of importance to you (and add new ones if you like). Add a little comment if you want.
  Starting with me first:

1. Reading water & adapt to changing conditions - no hot spots stay hot
    forever, must always analyse current condition and adapt.
 
2. Be willing to walk the river - no one spot can produce every time.  Be
    persistent and try many good spots to get one bite. Don't give up easily

3. Use the best lures - since I fish in afternoon, a lure usually works better
    than baits.  Use something no one around you is using.

4. Use the best baits - nothing beat the scent at the right time particularly
    the morning. But when the river is high, fishing slow edges and slow side
    channels with good baits will work better than most things any time.

5.  Be there at first light - sorry I am a night hawk, no chance for me to do
     that, so I rate it the last.  However, when I was younger and still a hot-
     blood, first light was easily my choice as you can try for fresh fish that has
     never seen anything yet.

[chris gadsden]

Very good points, all 5 and ones for new anglers to study and use.

As I could only vote for 2 even though getting there early is a good idea.When I look back in my 30 year records I catch the majority of my fish after first light. Last year for example I got my first one around noon and of the 17 or 18 I hooked only one was at first light.

On the Boxing Day Derby I hooked 3, they were all hooked 2 hours or so after day break.

I had to vote first for number 1 as learning to read the water is so important to were the little devils like to hold. The 3 mentioned above were hooked in places most people would walk by.

Also rising and lowering waters overnight can change a spot that quickly. Learn to use and study the river gauges that may be on the river you fish.

For vote number 2

Being a bait fisherman 99% of the time I try to use the best roe I have with a little bit of pink wool. The last few years I have turned to roe bags that work well. Ghost shrimp I find are deadly and I use them in the later part of the season.

The bottom line to become a successful steelheader is to get out on the river as much as possible, watch what the successful anglers are doing to catch their fish and adapt to their methods of angling.

Of course read FWR, the best site on the web to learn about fishing.

Donot be disappointed if it takes time to hook your first steelhead for after alll my years of angling I am still learning, that is what makes fishing such a challenging and interesting sport.

Just reading and writing this post is making me excited about my first trip to the Vedder in a few days. Thanks funfish.

[Randog]

I have to add one thing about Chris' angling stratagy. When ever I've had the pleasure to fish with Chris, he always seems to have his line in the water. Unlike me I'm always gabbin' away to someone about something and penelize myself by not having my line in the water.

[chris gadsden]

I have to add one thing about Chris' angling stratagy. When ever I've had the pleasure to fish with Chris, he always seems to have his line in the water. Unlike me I'm always gabbin' away to someone about something and penelize myself by not having my line in the water.

Or leaving the Peach Road area to watch a Canuck game with a buddy.

No fear of that this year Randy. Good to hear from you.

[Steelhawk]

Great read, Chris. Thanks for the input.  What about all the top rods in this forum?  Come on guys.  The top rods are supposed to be a confident bunch, so letting out a little knowledge to help our newer fishing members wouldn't hurt.  No one has to name a specific spot or lure.  Just general stuff.  Only 4 inputs for a rainy saturday are not enough participation. Time to help educate the newbies so they don't all end up at the gong-show spots which many of you guys complained about.

[Fish Assassin]

 - When on the river, FISH ! Don't spend your time rigging. Pre tie your lures before you go

 - Don't be afraid to experiment

 - Don't grow roots when you're on the river. Make 6 cast and move. COVER WATER

 - Watch what other fishermen are doing. If you see a steelhead caught, note the location and lure used. Under similar water conditions steelheads will hold there again.

 - Fished the slicks and flat water sections

 

[Oliver]

There used to be some good info here 

[keithr]

My usual method:  rely on dumb luck

[Sterling C]

Most important thing, find fish that haven't seen a wool tie or roe bag yet.

This means:

Get out on the river at first light before the fish get pounded.

Fish the day after the river comes down from high water.

Stay away from meat holes. Even if there are fish there you really think they're going to bite your spawn sack after they've had a plethora drift past them already. Go find spots where no one else is. You'll have to look harder for the fish but at least you'll find biters.

[Randog]

The works omelette at the Pointa Vista and an afternoon seista at the Tamahi.

[Oliver]

There used to be some info here 

[2:40]

Presentation is #1 and next maybe something a bit different than what the fish have been seeing all day.

[chris gadsden]

-
 -  - Don't grow roots when you're on the river. Make 6 cast and move. COVER WATER

 

A very very good point FA.  A lot of time when you fish a spot and are the first one to fish the run you hit steelhead quite soon, not always but a good percentage of the time. I would say in the 50 to 75 percent range of the time this happens to me.

But remember steelhead do move some up river during the day and if you are fishing a certain area with a number of good holding runs fish one, move on, then to the next one etc. and so on but then work through them again later. I call it working the circuit

Of course make sure you fish all parts of the run, do not keep casting to the same spot.This can be easy to do and I am guilty of it also if I do not concentrate, old age?

In the old days the edict way of fishing was you started at the top of the run and then fished through it. When you got to the tailout and you wanted to fish through the same run again, back to the top you went.

You would never cut in front of anyone.

Of course now a days the above is almost impossible to do  because of the crowded fishing area's, in most cases we seem to grow roots and anchor ourselves into the gravel.

Although in some places even on the Vedder I can practice the old time method and I know Rodney witnessed it last year when I hooked and lost a steelhead at Stella's Rock when we had  the opportunity to fish together.

But now a days if you want to practice this method in a run and someone below you is anchored in, not moving and you reach him you pretty well have to walk around him. When I do this I try go a fair distance below him before I again start casting.

Lets go get them as the time is close for the first one to be caught by someone from this great forum.

 Will it be you or me? 

[TROY B]

ya i have caught way more steelhead in the afternoon then i have first light...

[sassyboy]

Hey! Troy, I am the same,
Most of my steelies were hooked between 11.30 am and 12.30pm and that is fishing from first light.
Move around as Chris says and hit the same spots two or even three times a day.
Reading of water + good presentation = fish.