Bill Kiene semi-retired
09-30-2005, 02:58 PM
It is no doubt that fishing dead drift very deep with an indicator, straight tippet material and a combination of bead head nymphs, egg imitations and split shot is the most productive method of catching steelhead and trout in larger streams and rivers.
This is especially true when the water is very cold (below 50 degrees) or there are salmon spawning in the river or the fish have been pounded a lot or mid-day with lots of sun on the water.
You can swing wet flies very shallow (a few inches) on a floating line when the water is warmer in the Fall like 55-65 degrees and you have fresh run mostly wild Steelhead and the sun is off the water. Overcast days are good too. I would swing flies especially if you see rolling fish.
You have to really target this situation where swinging flies on a floating line for Steelhead is practical.
It is a really wonderful way to fish when you can.
I am headed for the Grand Rhonde with Rick Jorgensen and John Hogg in Mid-October and I am praying for those prefect conditions.
Another good thing is to have the Isonychia mayflies or October Caddis activily hatching too.
This is especially true when the water is very cold (below 50 degrees) or there are salmon spawning in the river or the fish have been pounded a lot or mid-day with lots of sun on the water.
You can swing wet flies very shallow (a few inches) on a floating line when the water is warmer in the Fall like 55-65 degrees and you have fresh run mostly wild Steelhead and the sun is off the water. Overcast days are good too. I would swing flies especially if you see rolling fish.
You have to really target this situation where swinging flies on a floating line for Steelhead is practical.
It is a really wonderful way to fish when you can.
I am headed for the Grand Rhonde with Rick Jorgensen and John Hogg in Mid-October and I am praying for those prefect conditions.
Another good thing is to have the Isonychia mayflies or October Caddis activily hatching too.