Fly fishermen only catch fish when it's low and clear.

Errrr. Wrong.

Gee,really? Gosh,bet you're fun at parties.

Have to say it does help the confidence to know they can see the offering from a little distance. Is one of the best feelings to feel the tug, no bottom bumps, no bobber watchn. Just my opinion. Beyond the fly, IMO there's nothing better than low water sight, light spin fishn. w/ whatever. I like watching the bait roll next to one laying and moving after it! They have it before you ever feel anything and to set the hook because the offering disappears is so cool! It's been a while.

I figured you were serious avid.

I used to love sight fishing for summer steelhead. Nothing better IMO

I'm always serious YBD

It's true, some clarity in the water does increase my confidence. But I'm amazed at how well fish see in turbid water. I've caught them with only 10" visibility at times. I figured out a few years ago that the main reason I prefer 3 or 4' of clarity is because it's so much easier wading when I can see where I'm putting my feet. Doing the Braille shuffle over and between the stones makes for a laborious day of stream wading. All that said, the best fish of the day came downriver where the water lost a foot or more of visibility than where we began. If I ever figure out this steelhead game, I'll be sure to write a book.

Another thing I learned when I fished lots more. In winter conditions, high turbid water, was to "short line". I fished w/ a fly rod and reel w/ mono, eggs or shrimp for bait. With only 4-8" water visibility, would work a gravel bar top to bottom, w/ only 10-15' line out of the reel, fixed. Didn't need a strip basket w/ such little line to work with. Cast, 2 steps, cast, 2 steps, etc. caught lots of fish when everyone else thought the river was out, sometimes in a foot of water. Fish would be laying in close. Transitioned that philosophy to the swing with little success so far. Wish I was swinging a fly back then, with lots more fish around. I would like to read your book.

I caught a fish on a nightmare jig in 6" vis blown out conditions. They see fine.

I'd rather fish water with some color rather then gin clear.
There are some PNW species that dirty water actually helps increase the bite.
SF

I like fishing all conditions. Makes you a better angler IMO. See how much more fun talking fishing is?

I fish a particular stream where the fish tend to move rather quickly through it's lower stretches after a high water event. Basically it's good to pick a spot that feels good to you and fish the travel lanes. Plunking would be a good option but I never see anyone try it. Hmm.

I've caught fish on Funyuns and cigarette butts.

GOAT.

Lol

I started fishing pink worms down here in California over 15 years ago. None of my friends were willing to try it. The first fish I caught was on a pink 6 inch Berkeley worm with a metallic cerise wobble glo ahead of it. It was in gin clear water late in the season. I got a downer buck that day and a chrome bright hen,near tidewater. I began to try and use them more frequently. People down here are all hung up on the soft beads. They are effective. I love when the latest craze comes out. Gives me another weapon. But I more like going against the grain,or fishing old school. Steelhead everywhere will strike a corkie and yarn,a well presented spoon,yarnies.

I caught my steelhead on a Sammy Special.
Silver with red yard if I recall correctly.

What did everyone else use to catch their first steelhead?
SF

double hook, egg cheater and coon shrimp.

orange corkie with some egg snot, was fishing the Dosewallips in a big deep hole off the side of the road, a bunch of silvers and chum were staged right in front of the chute, was casting behind them and the reel backlashed, pulled the line out and the fish was already hooked...

7 pound nate, my dad used to release wild fish even before they closed it down, so i did as well....

will never forget that...

1st steelhead I caught and landed in a river was on a brass #3 blue fox spinner. But when I was a kid I landed one on a green 5/8 ounce krocodile spoon in the salt.

I started my steelhead career as a kid fishing with the crew of folks who routinely plunked along the bulkhead at the Ballard Locks. Since I lived literally 7 houses up the road, that was my "go to" fishing spot on weekends during the season for years. I spent countless hours plunking there.

I had heard all the wonders about the infamous "Green River" steelhead runs and finally fished on a river 2 years after my first steelhead.

Caught my first steelhead, plunking an L9 Flatfish at the Ballard Locks. I'm guessing 1978-ish. Second one came the next weekend.



And here's a photo of the last steelhead I have landed: