Alright, I know some of you guys out there fly fish. You know who you are, so go ahead and admit it. I have a fly setup, and it rarely ever gets out of the tube, much less used, but lately I've had thoughts of trying to catch me a steelhead on the long rod. I need guidance in my planning, as I am: 1) A steelhead dummy, and 2) A bigger fly fishing dummy.

Hopefully those things won't combine to cause me to totally strike out.

Anyway, I have a 9 foot 6 wt rod, with matching reel, and a 6 wt weight forward floating line. Is this going to be suitable for steelheading, or is it too light? Also, what type of flies and terminal setups should I be looking at? Nymphs under a strike indicator? Dry flies on top? Egg patterns? What What What???

I know it's a bit late in the season to be thinking about this stuff, but what river would one go to in order to have a pretty decent shot at catching one of these overgrown trout?

Any of you guys possibly going in the near future that wouldn't mind a tag-along?

Call western angler, they are in the know when it comes to fly fishing for steelies.

Rich

Fish fear round tubers and Bass Tech kickboats!!
http://www.bassanglerprofiles.com/richcaro.htm

Hey Travis,

I know we talked a little bit about fly fishing before but here's a couple tips:

- The rod is ok for steelheading but can be a little light depending on where you're fishing. Most guys usually have a 6wt & 8wt depending on rivers and conditions. The Russian, for example, has some big steelhead and averages around 8lbs per fish with some going as large as 17lbs (I witnessed that one!). This size fish would destroy a 6wt the majority of the time. On the other hand, up on the Feather or American River where the fish are typically smaller (up to 12 lbs but most in the 4-6 lb range), a 6wt would work great.

- You should also have both a floating along with sinking line. Another way to get around this (if you only have one spool) is to buy those mulit-tip lines with a floating, intermediate, sinking and fast sinking tips. As infrequently as you go out, this would be my recommendation.

- Flies, now there's the million dollar question. Like bass fishing, it really is condition driven. On some rivers where the fish will hang out and actually feed (like the upper Feather), you can take fish on dries. Most of the time you have to persue them like dredging the bottom with conventional gear. Get the flies down next to the faces of those steelhead! Many different flies will work but if I were you, get some darker patterns then also some bright ones. Glo bugs are also killer but better when you have salmon around. I know I've carried a fair assortment in the past (not to say I'm an expert).

- Rivers, well, I would have to rate the Feather, Trinity and Yuba as my best shots. I would call either Western, The Fly Shop or whatever fly shops you know. They will have the best advice.

Good luck and I'll talk to you later!

BTW - are you fishing with us this Sunday?

Todd

Cool. I'll see what I can figure out and see if I can get bowed up with a steelie before the season is over.

You know I'll be there Sunday. I had a pretty good session out there last Wednesday, so hopefully that will hold up for me. If it doesn't, I'm just going to follow your tube around and cast around you all day.

A six-weight would be fine for smaller rivers and smaller flies. Generally, steelhead rods are between 7-9wts. These heavier rods are needed to cast the larger(4-1/0)size steelhead flies that are normally used. I use a 6wt. for small rivers and 8wt. for large, but use a 7wt. and 9wt. line on them respectively. Floating lines are good for general conditions, but if you get hooked on steelheading(and you will), you will also need to purchase a sink-tip line for the deeper water. For the 6wt, use flies size 8, 6 and 4. And purchase some 9-12 ft. steelhead leaders for the size flies mentioned. These are just general guide lines. Check with a fly shop near you and get some recommendations on flies and tackle for the specific place you plan to fish. Some general flies that work everywhere include, wooly buggers, egg-sucking leech, comets, brindle bug, assassin, egg patterns, bombers and skaters. Steelheading can be very tough. For the first time or two I would go with a experienced steelheader or hire a guide. Steelhead are awesome fish, a harder-fighting fish, you will never find. Good luck.

Trinity is good right now for Steelies. My friend was up about 2 weeks ago Fly Fishing and landed some nice ones like the one below.

Attachment #1, (.jpg file)