Fly Fishing Techniques for SteelheadWritten by Cameron Larsen
There are a few basic steelheading techniques that every steelhead fly fishing angler knows, or should know. Which one you use will depend on several things including water lever, clarity, temperature and speed. Also one must take into account outside temperatures, time of year, and time of day. And finally which fly you are using, which also depends on all of previously mentioned things and more. But we are here to simplify, to present a few basic techniques to give fly angler a foundation on which to experiment.The most popular steelhead fly rodding technique is wet fly swing. This is used traditionally when steelhead are in fairly shallow water (less than seven feet) and water moving at about walking speed. To begin technique, you cast upstream from where you are standing, you should be also be standing upstream from designated target. Once you cast you need to mend your line immediately. And then do nothing else. The mending allows fly to sink without hindrance. The fly then swings down in front of desired target. When swing is done allow fly to dangle for a few seconds. And be alert, often this is when strike occurs. Generally I give same spot a few casts and then move a little and try it again. Another technique is dead drift. During this technique it is crucial that fly drift without tension, and be allowed to drift freely. A strike indicator is mandatory, and a strike indicator that allows you to see whether or not your fly is floating without being impeded is best. Some fly fisherman use macramé yarn, others use a corkie and a toothpick, both indicate whether fly is floating as it should. Traditional indicators also work. The idea is to keep fly directly below indicator, than free floating has been achieved. Dead drifting is used primarily in pools or slower riffles. Dead drifting does not cover as much water as wet swing, but when fishing in smaller streams, or a narrow concentration of where steelhead are lying it is a very precise and effective method. The indicator can be adjusted to vary depth at which your fly is presented.
| | Steelhead OverviewWritten by Cameron Larsen
This article is intended to be a basic education in great game fish Steelhead. Entire volumes have been written on subject, so this article will not go into much specific detail. Those of you wanting hottest tip, will be better off calling your buddy, local guide or fly shop. However, if you are a beginner or thinking of beginning, or a seasoned veteran looking to catch perhaps a new idea or remember a lost one, we hope this series will be of value.Steelhead are nothing more than sea run Rainbow Trout. They are born in fresh water streams (at least wild steelies are) where they imprint everything from water chemistry to natural occurring food sources. The Steelhead life cycle is about as varied and complicated as fish can get. They can spend anywhere from 1 to 4 years in freshwater before going to sea and 1 to 4 years at sea. Steelies are native to Pacific once occurring from Asiatic coast to Southern Alaska and originally down to Tijuana River. Now they are found as far south as Central California. Steelhead have been successfully planted in Great Lakes region, and fly fishing there can be incredible. Great Lakes steelhead live entirely in freshwater, and migrate up tributaries to duplicate spawning behavior of Pacific Steelhead. To further complicate Steelhead life cycle is time they return to spawn. There are generally two runs of steelhead. One enters river in summer and runs through fall, usually spawning in early to mid-winter. This is typically called summer run. And then there is a winter run where fish enter river in early winter to early spring and spawning sometime in that time frame. The Great Lakes Steelhead generally enter river in early fall, especially in Pennsylvania, and fishing can be done in fall, winter and spring.
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