Fly Fishing

jeremy · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:29 am Post subject: Steelhead, HELP ME PLEASE!

albertom sent this in via email - though it would be best served as a forum post - see below
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Hi, well for starters im 20 and live in South Lake Tahoe, CA. I have been fly fishing for a little while now and have never caught a steelhead. Anyways getting to the point there are some great steelhead waters out here, and I was wondering what kind of set up you guys use. I''ll be fishing the American River mostly so if any of you guys have info can so i can have an attempt at catching a steelhead that would be sincerly appreciated.

On another what are good conditions for steelhead and what type of flies and line should I try for.

albertom

colehatch · Newbie Joined: Jan 08, 2007 Posts: 32

I was just reading Mist on the River this morning by Michael Checchio which is centered around fishing the the NW region, northern Cal and S. OR....love to get up to that region someday. (Great read btw). I fish the great lakes which is different than some of the water you're looking at but alot of the techniques are similiar. Most of the fishing I do is on 2 different rigs refered to as; chuck-n-duck and floats (all with flies). I am by no means an expert but there is no way to describe in a few sentences steelhead fishing. There are so many different styles, techniques, weather situations and water flows that change the way these fish act. For me the best way to learn is being on the water. I know that's really general but you can't beat on the job training. Get out, observe what others are doing, water they are fishing, techniques they are using...I think it's the best way to actually figure it out. Steelheaders are usually pretty friendly people. Other than that pound the internet for information....there's tons of stuff out there like this site that are really valuable. Here's a decent resource for some information... http://steelheadbasics.com/

Good Luck

NWflyFisher · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject:

Hi, I hope I can help with fly selection for the PNW. Below is a list of my favorite flies for swinging.

Popsicle
Green butt skunk
Intruder
Signal light
Polar Shrimp

I hope this helps.

Clint

flyfishmich · Newbie Joined: Oct 01, 2006 Posts: 10

You may want to try standard "indicator nymphing" techniques with a floating fly line, utilizing small yarn egg flies ("glo-bugs") and nymphs, such as black stones. Although I have not fished in CA, there is enough literature out there to also help you get started. I have also found that a few dollars spent at a local fly shop once you get near the river is money well spent. For fall/winter fish, try and plan your trip when the water is falling and clearing, as that the higher water will draw fish up the rivers. Best of luck...and if its within your driving range, you may want to try the Trinity River. It is medium size water well known for both stream trout and a good run of steelhead, particularly "half-pounders" (one salt steelhead). I have read some very good reports from there this fall. Good luck!

AlbertoM · Newbie Joined: May 03, 2006 Posts: 2 Location: California

thanks a bunch for the advice guys i really appreciate it, i went down to the local fly shop and talked to the owner who is a fly fishing extrodanair. he told me some good fly recipes that steelhead love in the american, so i started tying today and will be going down fri to spend some time on the water. thanks for the fly selection NWflyFisher the first three on the list are supposed to be killers on the lower american.

well hopefully i wont be skunked to badly, ill let you guys no how it goes and try and take some pics.

Steelie · Newbie Joined: Sep 24, 2006 Posts: 81 Location: Erie, PA

Hey sorry I didnt post sonner...i had a little emergency.

Well to begin one of your main goals will be to get your fly in the fish's face and the fish are on or near the bottom, so as an answer to you question about the split shot you will need enought shot to get your fly to the bottom. You should be able to feel the "tic" of your fly on the bottom. Now that being said if your river is too large than you would say go to a sinkingtip line or some other form of sinking line, althought it is rare to nedd a sinking line when steelheading.

As far as flies go I really think that egg patterns are the ticket. Glo bugs, sucker spawn, crystal meth...and the list goes on and on. I also use a tandem or two fly rig where one fly is tied about 10-16 inches from another on the bend of the hook. Also try combinations with nymphs, egg patterns and streamers.

Rods...for where i fish we use primarily a 6 wt but for most water a 7 or 8 wt is ideal. I fish in pennsylvania and all of the creeks are small, and there are no rivers. Flex is not too important, and generally a mid or med-fast action will be great.

Leader...2x,3x,4x will usually do it. 2x being for high, muddier water, and 4x being for water on the clearer side. Here in pennsylvania i fish down to a 5x and never use a 2x.

Line...floating wt forward or some sort of steelhead/salmon taper is great..and like i said before mabey a sinking but i doubt it.

That pretty much covers it. Let me know if you have any other questions. Also once you start catching steelhead it'll really all start to fall into place.

Mike

AlbertoM · Newbie Joined: May 03, 2006 Posts: 2 Location: California

well i greatly appreciate your advice steelie, no worries on the late reply lol. hope all worked out well with the emergency. im usining a 7wt floating set up and have been tying a number of different flies that some guys down at the fly shop told me worked wonders on steelhead so much so that the bait casters get jelous over the lucky fly fisherman on the river. I have been reading alot about technique, character and habits of the fish, two more days till im on the river.

i'll let you know how it turns out and if anyone wants good reports and northern california waters check theflyshop.com and americanfly.com they have up to date river flows and good advice for whats hot and not.