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I was planning on fishing the whole day friday. So thursday night I get my best jigs tied for low and clear water. The weather forecast showed some warmer weather up to mid fourties which will help the bite. The action I got last tuesday got me excited to go again on friday anticipating another good day. I couldn't help but to visualize every single take down I've had this season, recollecting where and what I was using to help me plan where exactly I was going to go first thing friday morning with the conditions changing again. Experience paid off...we get to the river at light and I was surprised that there weren't that many guys out. I figured that there was no need to get to the river too early since it would be better that the fish thaw out a bit from the cold weather at night. After about an hour of multiple drifts I drift my bobber extra long during a run as far as I could see it. I've drifted this run similarily before and was rewarded with fish. From a far distance I see the silhoette of my bobber and atlast I see it dissapear hoping that a steelhead took my jig. Felt some heavy headshakes as I set the hook hard. I am literally fighting a steelhead from almost a hundred yards out. After several minutes of bringing the fish back up river it surfaces and I see that it is a larger than average hatchery hen. At the last moments of the fight my hook pops out. I look at my hook and I see I had no chance as my hook was flattened out from the initial hook set. The fish was only on by the barb of the hook. I had no chance given the size of the fish but was thankful that I atleast got to see it and had it close to the bank from being so far out.
I suck it up and start fishing again. I cover some more water and cast further out towards the middle of the river. It didn't take very long to get my second take down. The steely took it hard and there was no question it was another large steely. This time I play it alot more careful because I am sure that my hook is nearly bent straight from the hook set so hard. As it surfaced it was a very large buck in the teens. It was man handling me for most of the fight. I finally get it close and carefully bring the head of the fish pointing towards the bank and into the net. The last second my hook pops out but i'm relieved that my buddy just netted my fish the slit second that my hook popped out. My heart could beat again. I look at my hook and sure enough it was also flattened out and only by the barb of the hook the fish was on. It was a monster buck. I look for an adipose fin and sure enough it was there. Wild fish. I've been wanting to catch a native anyway so no problem releasing it. It had it's red war color on and looked like a bruiser, it had some battle wounds, probably from protecting it's spawning grounds. Admired the beautiful fish and gave it time to revive as it gave a life draining fight. Back fishing again and very shortly I get another fish on in the same area, this time I am barely putting pressure on since I have no confidence in my hooks. I was almost relieved that this fish felt like a smaller one. I had the eagle hook jigs which work fine for 5-6 pound lethargic hatchery fish lol. I was looking for the gamagatsu hooks which are way stronger but they were all out of them in the stores. So luckily this fish was lethargic enough to give me a little fight and it was no problem netting the fish and my hook was still in it's original position. The action was definatley good for me within that thirty minute window. I was very happy that I tied that particular jig for low and clear conditions. It paid off. All three were on that same jig. It's been a killer all season in this low and clear water it's a combination of orange, white and peach. I spent the remainder of the day fishing till about sun down without another take down and no other fish taken. It was great action for that short period of time. Very few fish caught throught out the day. The water is low and clear so cover lot's of water and fish hard.
As soon as I have a bad day fishing and get skunked I will definatley report it. I haven't had a bay day fishing yet for a very long time. I feel like I have been "that guy" out there.
One great tip I could give is to read an article done by terry wiest from the northwest sportsman mag. He has it pegged exactly right "the hatchery steelhead enigma". Great read and gives valuable information about understanding hatchery steelhead more. Which will help you catch more fish;)
I write these reports for those guys out there who have a serious passion for steelheading like I do. I know you are out there and will enjoy this read. Maybe i'll start a blog.
-posted below are some of my pics during the winter season for the proof;)

natetreat

1/14/2012 8:51:00 AM

To solves the problem of the bent hooks, I reccomend using either the Matzuo hooks or gamis. They sell 'em in bulk at Ted's in Lynnwood and they are beefy enough to handle the fish, and way sharper than some of the other pot metal jigs that you'll find. Owner makes the best jig hooks, but you gotta get 'em from their website. You shouldn't be able to straighten out a jig on a teener steel.

joechiro30

1/14/2012 10:14:00 AM

natetreat-thanks for the info on the hooks...a frustrating problem when I am trying to land steelhead greater than 8 pounds...only recently have a tried the pot metal jigs because the gamis have been out of stock at ted's...I may try to order the owner jig hooks online...great info thanks nate

mikep

1/14/2012 11:59:00 AM

About a week ago I purchased some Owner hooks at The Avid Angler Fly Shop 17171 Bothell Way NE #A130 which is located in the Lake Forest Towne Centre in Lake Forest Park, WA. Thanks joechiro30 for the great detailed report on your steelhead fishing trip and your description of your orange, white and peach jig. What size hook are you using for your jigs when the water is low and clear?

tele_maniac

1/14/2012 4:07:00 PM

Great report Joechiro! Appreciate the details. I've been river fishing for Salmon for seven years now and usually do pretty well. This is my first year fishing for Steelhead. I have yet to hookup, but I'm looking forward to that first fight!

snofish

1/14/2012 7:01:00 PM

where in the sky river????

woody_george

1/14/2012 11:34:00 PM

Awesome story and pics Joe - thanks.

joechiro30

1/14/2012 11:57:00 PM

check me out on facebook and join my group at northwest salmon and steelhead fishing where I'll be posting blogs, pictures, tips and more fishing stuff there...

Jungle Jim

1/16/2012 8:05:00 AM

If there is one thing I have learned while steelheading, it's that as soon as you start thinking your "the man", the river will put you back in your place.

joechiro30

1/16/2012 10:54:00 PM

Jungle jim- this is a true fact over 19 years of steelheading..steelhead seem to be an elusive species...ive had a few seasons however when you feel like your rod is possesed and you cant do anything wrong out there. I think this season the low and clear water conditions helped me out the most...less people fishing and fishermen out there not changing their set up for the low and clear...i love fishing in low clear conditions because there are fewer people out there and the bite can still be good if you make some small adjustments...
Steelhead can be so elusive that to even get one bite could be an amazing day...previous seasons I went six trips without even a nibble while watching everyone catch fish....this year i'm not the same fisherman two years ago...knowledge helps bigtime...ive gone 12 times
this year and one day I got skunked and I know exactly why I didnt catch one...i didnt adjust to the higher water and was using low clear water gear which worked for me many times during previous trips

joechiro30

1/16/2012 11:08:00 PM

Telemaniac-with a little bit of research online and some application nowadays you can learn in a few seasons what took people over fifteen years of experience very quickly. Before with no internet it was basically trial and error. But using sites like this and others you can know what holes to go to what to use and when to go, which is what the basics are to slaying steelhead. You will hear this that ten percent of the fishermen are catching ninety percent of the fish. If you are slaying salmon your not far from slaying steelhead. They are similar to catching silvers in that they could be aggressive but they arent as moody as them. Just listen to the people catching fish. They have a totally different look on steelheading...while I was just starting out I watched a steelhead slayer catch all the fish and
basically mimicked everything he did and picked at his brain. Huge reason why I am catching fish this season.

joechiro30

1/16/2012 11:16:00 PM

Snofish- your best chances of hooking a steelhead are the areas near the hatchery...ive fished areas above, below and when its not too busy right at the hatchery creek which gets loaded with guys which I try and aviod....snofish its not a matter of where its a matter of how...these steelhead are notoriosly finicky because of the pressure that they get...show them something different and you may get rewarded with fish

Jungle Jim

1/17/2012 8:31:00 AM

No disrespect intended. I'd just hate to see you ruin your mojo :) It does feel good when you put it all together and start catching fish consistently - And more importantly, knowing WHY you are catching them. Keep up the good reports.

Jim Harris

1/17/2012 8:41:00 AM

Nice!!!!

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