What a grand day!! Sun, 68 degrees and little wind!! A buddy and I headed over to the Little Manistee. Had lunch at “Jackies Place” in Irons, MI. (Good food!!). I was going Steelheading!! Well the fish were there but I learned that beginners luck does not aply to Steelhead!! We almost had the river to ourselves for 2-3 hours!
My fishn’ buddy asked me “what to you want to do now?” My answer. “Have a cold one and sit and just watch the river”!! When we returned to my place we decided that the next time we’ll hook up my popup and stay the weekend!!
Who’s going to join us at “Bear Track” for the Michigan Opener? Ya all come on over! It don’t get no better than that!!
Jack,
My first 2 steelhead hookups were last week. Of course, I lost 'em both, but the bright side is that at least 2 of my drifts were good enough to elicit hits! That in itself was rewarding. This Sunday, I think I’m gonna do some bluegill searching.
Good luck!
Mike
Hey guys 2 year steelheader 1st time landing one this year on the PM over Easter. Now Im really hooked cant wait to try for the Skamanie this year on the St. Joe, in MI.
FIREMAN
you have just join us steelie people on the slippery slope, you have hooked and landed one life well never be the same, you’ll chase the chromer all over the place, go fishless for year at a time just to land one bright fish. Welcome lol now all you got to do is learn the secret hand shake
Ghost
Congrats! you have now jumped out of the pan into the fire. I have had the pleasure of selling lots of folks there first steelhead outfit. (99.9% drift gear in the 60’s) Most are now dead and all are devorced including me!! lol have fun!!
You know Steelhead are the perfect fish for flyshop bs. From mid-October through late-April enter any fly shop in steel country and youll partake/listen to at least one conversation regarding the run(the state of/prime conditions).
Im finding lately that more and more of my friends are becoming amateur meteorologists.
Im originally from CA, Fresno and have fished the Sierra Nevadas all my life. I was just back home for a visit in Oct and fished the Merced right below Yosemite Valley. What a blast that was we actually made it when those big ole Caddis were hatching. Ive been gone for about 3 years now and am trying to move back.
Ok! I liking Steelhead fishin’!! Now how do I rig for it? I was using a 9’ 5wt with a 5X tippet!! My heavest rod is an ole 7wt 8.5’ Ugly stick!! WFF line and then what??!! A 3X leader with a 4X tippet? Maybe a 2X leader with a 3X tippet!!??
I must say that I did’t go for the catchin’, just the fishin’!!
Cactus
[This message has been edited by Jack Hise (edited 16 April 2005).]
The Merced is about two hours drive from where I live (silicon valley area). If you make it back out this way, let me know…maybe you can show me where those steelies live out there.
[This message has been edited by Thwack (edited 17 April 2005).]
After trying once a year for about three years, we hooked and caught our first steelhead on Wisconsin’s Brule this weekend. I did some of the hook and lose variety and my husband did some of that as well as the catching. He’s quite happy today. And nice enough to say during the fight “it’s on your fly honey!”
I did catch a nice brown trout though. Stonefly nymphs and yarn eggs did the trick.
Hi Jack There are a number of ways to go after Steelhead and since I don’t fish your water you will need to pick the best for you. as we are talking about winter fish here are a few of the options that will work. #1 floating line, long leader and weighted flys. this works well in water that is slow or shallow. Depending on depth and speed cast across or up a bit mend your line to let the fly sink before starting the swing. leader lenght 15’ or more I use a 10’ 7 weight or a 2 hander leader weight F-carbon 1X or heaver.
2 (best for winter) Sink tip,(10-15’) sinking belly (20-24) or sinking head (30’) my first choice is a T300 24’ but depending on water depth and speed it may go down to fast. I only use it on the single hand rod. and I use unweighted flys and very short leaders 36 - 48 inch level 12lb. depending on water depth and speed cast 1/4 down to straight across and mend and let swing.
The most important thing in fly fishing of any kind is line control as for rod length longer is better for steelhead (the reason for the 2 handed rods) flys for winter fish are (for me) #2 and #4 heavy wire. and that is why I use heavy leader… takes a fair jerk to set a hook and I snag up a bunch.. I get more flys back with heavy leader.
