Northwest Fishing Reports

Posted: **Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:43 pm**

Anyone ever catch a steelhead on the fly? Iwas thinking about makeing a stelhead fly fishing rod and buying a reel, will 7 wt line do? I assume I need backing since steelhead like to run alot.

What is your favorite steelhead fly?

Posted: **Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:25 am**

Sorry dude, not much of a Fly Fisher. But Im sure 7 wt line with do. Only time I really used a fly was up in Alaska when the Red/pinks were running thick through the Kenai! Dang that was fun!

Posted: **Fri Nov 09, 2007 7:39 am**

I fly fish alot, but have never caught or even fished for steelhead on a fly. My friends fish the Clearwater and Grand Ronde on flys. A 7-8 would be perfect, the important thing is to get a good reel with a really good drag. My one friend hooked one with a cheap Martin Reel and said it looked like a cartoon with springs and screws flying everywhere. Note to self: Try and catch a steelhead on a fly. I have caught lots trolling in the Snake and Clearwater, What a bruiser species they are, My biggest was 22 lbs. and 38 inches. Good luck, Second note to self Go to the Kenai and fish. I worked in Alaska and was to greedy to take the time to fish. Sometimes when I get tired of shooting myself in the foot I switch to shooting the other foot!:batman:

Posted: **Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:01 am**

Derrick-k wrote:Anyone ever catch a steelhead on the fly? Iwas thinking about makeing a stelhead fly fishing rod and buying a reel, will 7 wt line do? I assume I need backing since steelhead like to run alot.

What is your favorite steelhead fly?

I fly fish for trout almost exclusively, but the other 10% of my time on the water has been devoted to flyfishing for steelhead. I am not an expert in this area, but have been fortunate enough to take a fair number of steelhead from the rivers I have fished. Rod weight and length depends upon a variety of factors (size of rivers, flies, fish targeted, etc.). In general, but the standard single-handed steelhead rod (a lot of guys now are using Spey rods when targeting steelhead, but that is not an interest to me, so I cannot speak about them) is 6-8wt at 9 or 9'6 feet (you can find longer or shorter rods than this). Winter run fish can be larger in size than summer runs, particularly some of the big natives that you will find in the coastal rivers (particularly in the Olympic Peninsula), so guys who fish the winter run may use an 8 wt (some may even choose to go as high as a 9 wt, especially if they are also going to target Kings). For summer runs, you may want to fish only a 6wt (the higher the rod weight the more tiresome it can become to cast over the course of a day). A 7wt is a good choice, and I would go with at least a 9 ft rod (or even a 9'6 if you are going to fish larger rivers where the extra length will help in mending, line control, etc.). If you are first starting out, the best thing to do is go to a fly shop (which specializes in targeting steelhead on the fly) and speak to somebody there about your interests, preferences, etc. so they can help you pick out a rod (which you should cast first before you buy).

The other thing to consider is the type of fishing you are going to be doing. A standard floating line will work if you are going to indicator fish with nymphs, but a lot of guys prefer to "swing" or fish down and across presentations that require some type of sinking line (of which there are many, each geared towards a particular application or situation, some more general while others are more specific, and thus the line would only be useful in limited circumstances). Again, choosing a line (or lines) can be as important (if not more) than the rod itself. Some rods will cast certain types of fly lines better, so its good to have an idea about what you are going to fish before choosing a rod (or ask the shop guy to help you match a rod to a line). You might want to try and cast some different rods lined with various types of sinking lines to see how the rods perform.

As for fly patterns, there are various theories as to effectiveness of different flies and when to use them, but what you fish will depend (to a degree) on how you choose to fish. If you are going to fish with an indicator and floating line, I would stock up on prince nymphs, stones, copper johns, large pheasant tails, rubber legged nymphs, eggs (glo bugs), etc.. Confidence in a fly is key, though theories abound regarding the color, hue, profile, size etc. of various flies in various conditions that can make a difference. I have found in my own experience that egg flies have been the most productive for me (on the East and West side of the State- but again, my experience is limited).

If you are going to target steelhead on the "swing", there are various other types of Spey patterns or wet fly style patterns that are very popular. Doing a simple search online for steelhead patterns should give you what you are looking for. I'd also stop in at a fly shop and ask the guys there what their preferences are in respect to fly patterns for targeting steelhead. Remember, its not like "match the hatch" fishing for trout when a particular imitation or pattern can be the most critical factor in catching fish. Having a basic array of patterns in different colors and sizes to account for various types of water conditions should be sufficient.

Good luck in your pursuit of steelhead on the fly. I can tell you that the most exhilirating fish I have ever caught on a fly rod has been a steelhead. Its a "rush" like no other. Tight lines!

David

Posted: **Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:37 am**

dbk wrote:
Derrick-k wrote:Anyone ever catch a steelhead on the fly? Iwas thinking about makeing a stelhead fly fishing rod and buying a reel, will 7 wt line do? I assume I need backing since steelhead like to run alot.

What is your favorite steelhead fly?
I fly fish for trout almost exclusively, but the other 10% of my time on the water has been devoted to flyfishing for steelhead. I am not an expert in this area, but have been fortunate enough to take a fair number of steelhead from the rivers I have fished. Rod weight and length depends upon a variety of factors (size of rivers, flies, fish targeted, etc.). In general, but the standard single-handed steelhead rod (a lot of guys now are using Spey rods when targeting steelhead, but that is not an interest to me, so I cannot speak about them) is 6-8wt at 9 or 9'6 feet (you can find longer or shorter rods than this). Winter run fish can be larger in size than summer runs, particularly some of the big natives that you will find in the coastal rivers (particularly in the Olympic Peninsula), so guys who fish the winter run may use an 8 wt (some may even choose to go as high as a 9 wt, especially if they are also going to target Kings). For summer runs, you may want to fish only a 6wt (the higher the rod weight the more tiresome it can become to cast over the course of a day). A 7wt is a good choice, and I would go with at least a 9 ft rod (or even a 9'6 if you are going to fish larger rivers where the extra length will help in mending, line control, etc.). If you are first starting out, the best thing to do is go to a fly shop (which specializes in targeting steelhead on the fly) and speak to somebody there about your interests, preferences, etc. so they can help you pick out a rod (which you should cast first before you buy).

The other thing to consider is the type of fishing you are going to be doing. A standard floating line will work if you are going to indicator fish with nymphs, but a lot of guys prefer to "swing" or fish down and across presentations that require some type of sinking line (of which there are many, each geared towards a particular application or situation, some more general while others are more specific, and thus the line would only be useful in limited circumstances). Again, choosing a line (or lines) can be as important (if not more) than the rod itself. Some rods will cast certain types of fly lines better, so its good to have an idea about what you are going to fish before choosing a rod (or ask the shop guy to help you match a rod to a line). You might want to try and cast some different rods lined with various types of sinking lines to see how the rods perform.

As for fly patterns, there are various theories as to effectiveness of different flies and when to use them, but what you fish will depend (to a degree) on how you choose to fish. If you are going to fish with an indicator and floating line, I would stock up on prince nymphs, stones, copper johns, large pheasant tails, rubber legged nymphs, eggs (glo bugs), etc.. Confidence in a fly is key, though theories abound regarding the color, hue, profile, size etc. of various flies in various conditions that can make a difference. I have found in my own experience that egg flies have been the most productive for me (on the East and West side of the State- but again, my experience is limited).

If you are going to target steelhead on the "swing", there are various other types of Spey patterns or wet fly style patterns that are very popular. Doing a simple search online for steelhead patterns should give you what you are looking for. I'd also stop in at a fly shop and ask the guys there what their preferences are in respect to fly patterns for targeting steelhead. Remember, its not like "match the hatch" fishing for trout when a particular imitation or pattern can be the most critical factor in catching fish. Having a basic array of patterns in different colors and sizes to account for various types of water conditions should be sufficient.

Good luck in your pursuit of steelhead on the fly. I can tell you that the most exhilirating fish I have ever caught on a fly rod has been a steelhead. Its a "rush" like no other. Tight lines!

David

Posted: **Fri Nov 30, 2007 6:37 pm**

Every Fly Fisher needs to catch at least one Steelhead on a fly. It is a real kick.

Posted: **Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:35 am**

salmons still on my "yet to be caught" list.... i will someday get one on the fly!

Posted: **Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:03 am**

Speaking of salmon on a fly -- I fished Chico Creek recently for chums and caught several on green corky and green yarn. However, two fly casting anglers really put on a clinic -- catching a chum salmon on almost every cast -- mostly hooked in the mouth. In nearly 70 years of angling, I have never seen anything quite like that.

Posted: **Sat Dec 01, 2007 4:15 pm**

Bass Tracker wrote:Speaking of salmon on a fly -- I fished Chico Creek recently for chums and caught several on green corky and green yarn. However, two fly casting anglers really put on a clinic -- catching a chum salmon on almost every cast -- mostly hooked in the mouth. In nearly 70 years of angling, I have never seen anything quite like that.

They could be flossing em. Really easy to do with fly rods...

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