Yes... I am a swinger!

[SST Flies]

It has been almost two years since I left the Pacific Northwest and my beloved waters of the Olympic Peninsula. Since I had an extra hour this evening I thought I would sit down and see if I could still tie a steelie pattern. Instead of a big, bulky and colorful pattern that demands 480-plus grains... Here's a little free style on a size 7 Alec Jackson.

The body is a course natural wool and the first collar is muskrat (with guard hairs)
spun in a dubbing loop accented with teal.

Anyone up to showing me "the ropes" on the Trinity?

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Very nice.......I like to swing those classic flies in the Fall form Steelhead.

I like to use a Silver Hilton and another one that has a Peacock body and turkey quill wing called the Governor.

Mine never look that nice though......

[Mark Kranhold]

Oh my!!!! I'll take a dozen.

[John H]

If I knew the ropes up there I would show them to you. I like swinging but the part where the fish grabs the fly and you catch the fish does not happen for me very often.

[koffler]

I [QUOTE=John H;179590]If I knew the ropes up there I would show them to you. I like swinging but the part where the fish grabs the fly and you catch the fish does not happen for m

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I am not an expert at anything but for success in swinging flies you need some help.

In the Northwest I think that Sept/Oct/Nov is a good window of time for swinging wet flies on a floating line.

At this time the water temperature and flows are usually more dependable.

I think that 55 to 65 degrees is a good range for Fall swinging with a floating line and long mono leader.


If you fish in lower light levels you will usually do better like morning, evening, in the shade of canyon walls or overcast from clouds.

I helps if no Fall salmon are spawning in the section of river you are fishing.

Being the first one down the run is a good thing too.

Jim Freeman had a series of books on Fly fishing for Steelhead in Nor Cal.

One on the Trinity and one on the Klamath Rivers with hand drawn maps and suggestions.

One of his suggestions was to keep moving until you find fish on these very long rivers.

I also recommend that you keep moving and look for anglers, drift boats and vehicles parked alone the rivers.


Here is an article I wrote about Swinging or indo-nymphing for Steelhead:

http://www.billkiene.com/fishing/ind...winging-flies/

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Another of my recommendations is to swing the Klamath River and/or the Rogue River in the Fall because they both have high numbers of Half-pounders which are smaller aggressive Steelhead that are mostly 12 to 18 inches long.

Odds of hooking something are much higher in these two rivers due to these Half-pounders.