Choosing Steelhead Fly Fishing GearWritten by Cameron Larsen
Like many things in fly fishing you can ask 10 different fly anglers a single question and you’ll get 10 different answers. Asking what steelhead rod one should use for fly fishing is no different. Every circumstance is different. And answer varies with each situation. However let’s try to get a generic answer so everyone can at least get started in this rewarding aspect of fly fishing. RODS Most steelheaders use at least a seven weight rod. And in fact that is my recommendation. There that would be end of it, except for one thing. We, fly fishermen have a perpetual habit of complicating things. Choosing rods is no different. A seven weight, in my opinion is an ideal all around steelhead rod, that will work for any steelhead conditions. However if one is fishing out west in big water, under windy conditions, fighting bigger than average fish, then you will be cursing your seven weight rod in no time, as being too light. Therefore before you buy, think about fishing you most plan to do. If your favorite river is large and fish are big and current is strong then seven weight will not be big enough, if stream is smaller and fish are in six pound range than seven weight will be plenty. And some thrill seeking fly fisher’s will use six. As for length, absolute shortest rod I would use is 9 foot. With 9 and a half recommended, especially for weights over 7. Again think of conditions and same rules for weight, more or less work for length. Longer rods provide longer casts, and more control. Out west two-handed spey rods are becoming more and more popular for steelhead fishing. With roll casting often required. Two handed rods allow longest casting and can lengthen fishing season, when high waters would force one off river, when using a single handed rod.
| | The Hendrickson Mayfly Written by Cameron Larsen
Mayflies are essential to trout fly fishing. There are still ultra purists who consider casting dry mayfly patterns upstream to rising trout ONLY form of fly fishing. I wasn’t brought up that way and find that way of thinking too limiting. For one thing it would severely limit my time on water, and would force me to get rid of about three-fourths of my beloved fly fishing gear. However, I must admit, there is a certain timeless quality to casting classic dry flies upstream to rising trout. And if that were available to me year round, well I might move to closer to ultra purist status. One of classic mayfly species is commonly called Hendrickson. But it’s Latin name is Ephemerella subvaria, and then there is Light Hendrickson and it’s Latin name Ephemerella invaria. But it doesn’t stop there, there are several species that entomologists have identified. But we as fly fisher’s have simplified that and lumped all these into Light Hendrickson and Dark Hendrickson. How Hendrickson mayfly received it’s common name is a bit of fly fishing lore. As told by Roy Steenrod of Liberty, New York: ‘“One day in 1916, while we were fishing Beaverkill below junction pool at Roscoe, a hatch of flies came on. We had never seen fish rise so freely for any fly as they did for this hatch. I caught one of flies and put it into my fly box, and after lunch that day at Ferdon’s I tied some patterns of fly as nearly as I could. We took fish with fly day in and day out, and for years it proved to be a killer and is so today. One day, while sitting on bank of stream perhaps two years after I had tied first patterns, matter was brought up as to which I would call or name fly. Looking at A.E., best friend a person could ever wish to have, I said, ‘the fly is Hendrickson.’ I saw at once that A.E. was pleased.’ The Dark Hendricskon or Ephemerella subvaria is one of, if not first substantial hatch on many rivers every spring. When water temperature hits 50 degrees fish begin seeing and keying on this mayfly. The males and females look very different, while Dark Hendrickson pattern is a great imitation of male, Light Hendrickson is probably closer to female. However, classic pattern described above is Dark Hendrickson, that worked so well all those years ago. And still does today.
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