Catching Steelhead is ex-streamly easy and I will tell you how!

The Winter Steelhead is one of the most electrifying game fish with which an angler can do battle! There explosive, top-fuel dragster like runs and soaring aerial leaps, keeps the fisher on pins and needles, until the ultimate in freshwater horsepower and speed is landed. Steelhead often becomes an obsession to their pursuers. They are regarded as hard to catch – Wrong!

Each Pacific Coast River has ideal holding and taking lies that a Steelhead will occupy on a consistent basis. These strategic areas will vary, due to the river's flow and hydrodynamic conditions. With two distinct strains of Steelhead being present in the Pacific, (winter and summer runs), each season will see the Steelhead preferring different river lies. Most Winter Steelhead ascends their rivers November through April.

Learn your river! Know your main pools, tailouts, runs, gravel bars but also the productive slots, edges, seams, rocks, and undercut banks. Remember them at low, medium and high water heights. Here is a guide’s secret – the Steelhead are always there, they adjust to water height and clarity. You see very valuable structure information at low water, and you should record it to your memory for higher water levels. I make a living catching fish when shops and anglers are telling everyone “the rivers are not in shape.” Some of our best days are on “off” days! It is possible to catch nothing by fishing where fish are, but you never catch fish by fishing where they aren't!

When a Steelhead takes our offering, we unravel its psyche. We are trying to learn their survival experiences hunting for food, dodging predators, territorial issues, and sexual aggression. With the savage urge for survival and procreation firmly programmed into all Steelhead, this aggressive behaviour to strike allows the fisher to delve into many presentations.

For the Fly fishers, use flies that have lots of “life-like” movement, as this will help to trigger an aggressive take. From bunny fur to marabou material in a full range of colours – blacks, pinks, reds, whites & oranges, single and in combinations. Also good hair wing patterns show a great profile and have a lively action in good flows. You must use proper fly lines for the water you are fishing, to get your offering into their strike zone. I believe fly lines, not flies, catch fish! For day in and day out, you’re better “low & slow.” Invest in proven fly lines and stick to a couple patterns you have faith in, your fish will come. There is never only one “right” fly on a river, no matter what so called experts say. Presentation is more important than your fly pattern!

For gear angling, you would be lost not to have gooey bobs, rubber worms, blades and a mixture of spin/glows & corkies. Standard colours for gooey bobs are BC orange, reds and pinks. For rubber worms “bubble gum” pink and varies pink shades work wonders. Spin/glows and corkies in gold, pink, red, silver, & orange, single and in combinations are the ticket. I would tie wool in your bait loop; this hides your hook and helps to detect strikes, as the wool will get caught in their fine teeth. Throwing silver spoons, spinners, and blades will entice strikes. Marabou jigs will work too.

For clear water generally a smaller presentation is used. As with flyfishing, don’t get locked into one train of thought. Be prepared for any kind of river conditions, as they can change within an hour. Experiment with tackle and sizes of your offerings especially after a strike!

Patience is rarely a virtue in fishing! It pays to be patient when you know the fish are there, and you're going to be forced to work slowly and thoroughly for each one. But that's rarely the case. Most of the time it pays to be impatient! Keep moving, unless you're on fish. Don’t fish in the middle of a river until after you’ve tried the closest bank first. In many rivers, the Steelhead claims the edges, leaving smaller fish to fight the center current. Tons of undisturbed Steelhead are spooked from over anxious waders. Fish before going in the river!

Most fish are caught in 3 to 6 feet deep water. Be very alert and strike at any subtle changes in your drift, it could be bottom, or it could be a silver rocket. Look for the little things overlooked by most guys. Attention to detail is a major difference between the pro and the weekend duffer. Sharp hooks are mandatory. Remember that fish are always where they're supposed to be... fishermen often are not. Keep moving quickly until you find them.

Without question a fresh, chrome Winter Steelhead up from the Pacific Ocean, is the ideal target for a fisher's offering. Since it’s aggressive "search and destroy" instinct is fully intact; this silver missile announces its presence by smashing your fly, often leaving you with a quick glimpse then limp-lined and trembling. Your Hooked!

Life’s Short – Fish Hard

By Scott Blewett www.ex-stream.com

Scott Blewett - full time fishing guide and owner of Ex-Stream Steelhead Guide Service on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He is involved in all aspects of the fishing industry from conservation to tourism and television shows. As a professional guide, Scott leads his worldwide clients on memorable and exciting excursions, always showing his endless passion for fishing, wildlife and nature!

ex-stream