Tidewater Steelhead

[Jcolin]

Russians blown so drove north and fished the tidewater of one of the smaller mendo rivers today. Wondering if you guys prefer fishing an incoming or outgoing tide for steelhead? I know the odds arent good but would be awesome to get one so close to the salt. When I worked in southeast Alaska a few summers ago, we’d fish the outgoing tide for steelhead in the tidewater, only hooked 2 in that part of the river but they were definitley memorable fish. Seems like opinions vary from what ive read about the columbia system, so just curious to hear anybody’s take on it more locally.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

In my tide water experience years ago seemed like the fish would get excited, start rolling as the incoming tide got higher then they

would go up stream a ways with the tide. As the tide receded they would come back down to where they originally were holding.

I think they are affected by the full moon and maybe dark of the moon?

I believe February, on average, is the top month for winter SH.

Early and late in the day or fog is good. Low light is good. Use a black fly at this time.

In the daytime use an orange, gold or silver fly.

Seem like they move upstream more and roll more in the morning and evening and probably night time?

[TaylerW]

High slack is always my favorite. When fishing tidewater it seems to create more space around the bar and make it a little safer for the steelhead to cross. When I fished Tillamook I would always try to time my day to hit the afternoon tide. All the boats would put in at first light and be done pretty early. I’d put on later and float farther. By the time I got to the lower end of the beat, the new tide would have a fresh wave of fish in. Not sure if this works on the longer river systems but the river I fished was only about 35 miles till it was a tiny creek.

[avidangler]

In larger streams it is a different ballgame. For small coastal streams, I have found it pays to check it out at all tides and learn it.

[Darian]

Without too many exceptions, on smaller coastal rivers/streams I found that high tide brought in more fish but would allow them to scatter or move straight thru. Going from high to low tide seemed to concentrate the fish in depressions, holes or undercut banks so you could locate where they were and target them. That said, I fished tidewater whenever I had the opportunity regardless of the tides. Didn't catch as many when the tide was high, tho.

[Jcolin]

Very interesting stuff thanks guys, very much appreciate your insight.
Bill i was thinking something similar as far as fly patterns, chose a comet as it seems like anything shrimp like would be appropriate.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Yes, the Comet style fly was what most of the old timers tied for the tide water.

They used long bucktail or squirrel tail fibers to make a long tail to try to keep the fly swimming level.

Some did tie a tide water shrimp as well.


For the really clear water situations coastal anglers like Hal Janssen tied very small, sparse flies to not scare the fish.


**Most of my info here is from listening to veterans like Al Perryman and Walt Bennett who are both in the movie, "Rivers of a Lost Coast". I was very lucky to be able to go with them to the coast in the winter back in the day. I am an information guy.

[avidangler]

PINK flies.

[avidangler]

Also some of us have spent decades learning the tricks to fishing these streams. NOTHING beats time and experience on the rivers. Each system has its own characteristics. Gotta just go.

[DPLee]

Yes, the Comet style fly was what most of the old timers tied for the tide water.

They used long bucktail or squirrel tail fibers to make a long tail to try to keep the fly swimming level.

Some did tie a tide water shrimp as well.


For the really clear water situations coastal anglers like Hal Janssen tied very small, sparse flies to not scare the fish.

Bill is correct. The Comet style fly was very popular from the Russian north to the Eel River on many of California coastal rivers and creeks. And yes, Hal Janssen was one of several successful anglers who fished the estuary and lower slow moving pools of these rivers. In California Winter Steelhead, Life History and Fly Fishing, a picture on one of his sparse pink bodied flies, tied by Hal himself, is included along with other popular comet patterns and shrimp imitations. The history of how and when the comet style and other California winter steelhead fly patterns were created make interesting and entertaining reading in the book.

[Al Baltz]

Dennis, has your new book been published and is it available now?

[DPLee]

Dennis, has your new book been published and is it available now?

Yes, our second book California Winter Steelhead, Life History and Fly Fishing, was announced when we went to print in October. Unfortunately, printing was delayed and we did not receive copies in hand until mid-January. Orders have been very good and already over 1/3 of the 500 copies printed have been mailed out. Like our previous book, The Half-Pounder, A Steelhead Trout, the new book is a hardback limited edition, slightly longer at almost 300 full color pages on 100 pound paper, foil stamped cover, lots of California steelhead fly fishing history, and each copy signed and numbered. Due to high cost of printing and distribution, the book is only available on our website www.dennisplee.com.

Dennis

[DPLee]

Here is a page spread example of some Shrimp, Comet and Grub patterns in the Chapter 13 on Winter Steelhead Flies from California Winter Steelhead, Life History and Fly Fishing. Each page in this chapter has six photographs and recipes of historical and current California winter steelhead flies.

Dennis
www.dennisplee.com

[gitt]

Spent enough time on the Anchor River near Homer to observe the incoming fish. My wife had relatives living in Homer, but the fishing never allowed for visits. These would be silvers and/or steelhead. Tidal changes were remarkable with 24-foot differences along the cook Inlet. The water line would move more than 150 yards between the high and low tide. At times, we would try to fish the salt in two to three foot depths downhill of the river mouth where one could see the fish just milling around waiting for the tide to change and provide access to their natal water. The river flows over the expanse of the beach was barely a trickle during low tide. We were not that successful casting to staging fish. But what stands out in my mind was watching these fish move up the drainage on the incoming flood tides. The lower reach would fill in on the tide and you could see the fish make their way against the current in skinny water. I always enjoyed observing the riffles in the shallow areas of the river as the tide filled in the lower portion of the river. When the incoming fish made their way up within the tidal area, one could spot the wakes created by the fish as they moved upstream. We called them the moving riffles as the discernible V shapes in the water pushed inland.

Both the silvers and steelhead were in the 10-12 lb class averaging 30-32”, so their mass would visibly offset the water column singularly or in pods of fish until they found deeper holding water. The local fishermen posted themselves on the deeper slotted water in the river where the fish coursed their way upriver. A 10’ section of lead core was their mainstay with a short leader to fish the trough. It was the primary bottleneck for the fish until that part of the river filled from bank to bank. To our amazement, the local fishermen would hit this spot like clockwork daily and leave with their limit. Some days we would fill their void out of curiosity as to their success. The trough of that main channel was probably no more than knee-deep, just enough for the fish to make their way to deeper holes and even shallower flats. As the tide hit its high mark the lower end of the river was no longer influenced by the current but rather the cook inlet. This soon became a daily ritual for us to sit on the bank watching and waiting for fresh fish to enter this tiny coastal river as the tidal conditions allowed. This wasn’t always the scenario when we hit the river. With no fish entering the lower river system, the river was more of a casting exercise. If the locals were fishing the river or if we found blood on the gravel bars from harvested fish, we had a higher incidence of catch rates for our time spent on the river.

Patterns of choice ran between polar shrimp and bunnies patterns in orange or chartreuse on the swing.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

We took groups to the Tsiu river south of Cordova, Alaska for Silver salmon in the Fall for many years.

It is a little river that is only 2 to 4 feet deep near the mouth and mostly sand bottom.

We would go to the mouth and watch thousands of new fishing enter the river on the incoming tide.

We used 9' #8 and 9 weight fly rods, reels with a good disc drag and mostly floating lines.

It was a little like Bonefishing because the water was shallow and clear.

When the water was smooth we use hot pink or chartreuse hair bugs on top.



We used Alaskan Wilderness Outfitters

https://www.alaskawilderness.com/TsiuRiver.htm

[gitt]

A group of us did a fly into the Tsiu river for the day one year from Cordova. The Tsiu has to be one of my all-time favorite coastal river destinations for the sheer experience alone. One could easily hit the opposite edge of the winding channeled river in order to get a full swing. The river is completely exposed that close to the salt.

We had floated a trip to Icy Bay further south for its sheer remoteness. The fellow organizing the trip wanted to utilize the Marine Highway shipping route to access the area after fishing the Dalton area for grayling first. The marine travel time alone did not work out for us as a few of us still had jobs and family. Before it came to fruition, the only lodge at Icy Bay went under. The draw was fishing for silvers in the estuary and tidal area with spankers, a large long crystal chenille pattern in chartreuse and orange - a floating pattern that silvers would easily take. A buddy had fished previously fished Icy Bay in the past and was trying to garner interest in order to return.