Hello All:

I have been out to witness the beauty that WA has to offer and fortunately I will be moving to WA in May of this year. I had this preconceived notion (not good to do I know) that most people out there would be going after steelies with fly gear but it sounds more like people are spinning for them. Is this right? If so why is that, is it much easier to hook-up spinning? I am a trout fly-fisherman but anticipate chasing the salmon and steelies when I get there and am wondering if I should invest in a heavy fly rod for salmon or steelies or not? Any testimonials would be welcome.

Thanks

JRD

Most people out here in WA use conventional gear consisting of baitcasting and spinning. A lot of plug pullers too. Flyfisherman are not as common but it seems every year more and more people are taking to the fly rod, especially the two-handed ones. Flyfishing for salmon and steelhead is generally not as productive as using bait and lures.

Figure out the fish and there ways with conventional gear. Its much more productive. It gets to the fish better. Especially in winter flows. Just not this winter yet! Then graduate to the fly rod. But always have your conventional gear close!

Steelieblue:
When I started this adventure, my partner & I were working w/ fly gear. We had a lot of fun, but didnt catch fish. So we changed to conventional gear, plugging & bait casting, and started catching fish. We're still learning.
We still carry the fly gear everytime we go. The idea is to catch 1 for meat on conventional tackle, then switch to the fly gear.
I wont bore you with the details of what tackle, or what fly gear to use, because its soooo personal.
When you get here, my first recommendation is to hook up with a good guide, (Bob, maybe?) and let him help with sorting out the wheat from the chaff as far as gear & methods are concerned. The time spent will be worth it.

JR, My advice to anyone who is an angler and is moving to the Northwest is to become acquainted with the writings of Roderick Haig Brown. Brown is the best at laying the ground rules of our traditions out this way and I find it sad that his warnings and advice has been ignored by too many for too long.
Reading Brown is
enjoyable and as you are already a fly fisher you will probably find it inspireing and may even find the conviction to stay the course on your first plan which was to fly fish for the steelhead and salmon when you get here.
I would recomend in no particular order Fishermans Spring, Fishermans Summer, Fishermans Fall, and Return To The River. They are all easy to read and very enjoyable, I still manage to re read them in part annualy or there abouts. What part of Washington are you moving to?

The Pacific Northwest rivers and its evergreen trees are not very casting friendly with fly fishing, especially during the summer time. The Snake and Grande Ronde are the fly fisherman's dream.

Good Luck

Ok, what they all said is true, to a point. Yes, conventional gear is alot more successful in WA, only because it's the most widely used and accepted. I myself fish the majority of the time with my baitcasters. But I've always used my flyrods also. The main thing with using a flyrod here is knowing the conditions. Alot of the times do to heavy rains the water muddies up pretty quick. I've been pretty successful with my flyrods, and I suck as a caster. I just seem to be able to at least get it to the right spot. (hmmm, maybe I should get casting lessons from an FFF instructor).

But anyways, get the right flies and the off green to ginclear conditions and you're ready to go. In the green tinged water I like to use big bright flies, either imitating some sort of bait (shrimp, egg, etc) or just wild color flies (similar to spey flies). I like to use a sink tip flyline with a short leader of say 4-5 feet or so (no tippet, just a single one piece leader, I usually use a 4 foot piece of 12# ultragreen). I use the cortland ultrafast sink tip flyline. I use these setups for salmon and steelhead.

In summer flows, I use a floating or an intermediate sink tip with natural tone flies. Usually muddlers, wooley buggers in browns, blacks, greens, and misc wet flies. I also tie up some dries for summer runs also. Mostly earthtoned there too. Hard to describe the flies, most are my creation, but some are similiar to royal trudes and such.

I should clarify about being successful. I'm not completely successful with a flyrod, I'm alot better off then some though. If you know how to present correctly and know how to fish the slot it is as effective as using bait and plugs. I've personally sat in holes fishing along side 15 different guys and watch two fly rodders taking fish after fish. Just like back east, flyrods are the prefered and the acceptable rod for Atlantics, but slowly I do believe people are using baitrods (I know years ago it was flyfishing).

I'd have to suggest you use an 8/9wt for winter fish. An 8wt is a good all around outfit. With some of the heavy sink tips it's almost better to go to a 9wt. During the summer months I personally use a 7 wt, sometimes down to a 5wt.

Good luck.

Jerry

PS, Ironhead made a good point. It's hard to get a good spot to effectively throw a flyrod. I want to invest in a spey rod once my tax return comes. Makes it alot easier to fish a fly without having to have the backcast range a traditional flyrod needs.

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you haven't lived til you've rowed a cataraft. Friends don't let friends run Outcasts.

[This message has been edited by Steelheader69 (edited 02-03-2001).]

Just net them the indians do Oh thats right you have to be a nation inside a nation working off U.S. tax payers dollars to do that. TM

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"Just say HELL no to sovereign nation!!!!!"
SRBC Boyz

JR,

A skilled drift fisherman with bait will outfish a skilled fly fisherman for winter steelhead every time. The playing field levels up during the summer run steelhead season, due largely to warmer water temperatures and favorable water conditions. But consider what it is you want. Do you simply wish to catch a steelhead, or do you want to catch one in the fashion that yields you the greatest satisfaction?

I know I could probably catch more steelhead by using drift gear and bait. But most of steelheading, regardless of whether you use fly or drift gear, consists of fishing, not catching. I enjoy fly fishing, even if I fish all day without a strike. I found that I got bored using baitcasting or spinning gear to drift fish unless I could get a hook up every 15 or 20 minutes. Well, that kind of fishing does happen, but it's damn rare. So I'm content to fly fish, catching fewer fish than I might otherwise, but catching enough, and really enjoying it when I do, and when I do not.

So if you prefer fly fishing to spin fishing, go ahead and give it a try. You can always change your mind later. Take NS's advice and read Haig-Brown for inspiration. Read Trey Combs and Deke Meyers for technical information. Take a class or attend a workshop. And hiring a guide is a good idea if you want to steepen your learning curve.

Good luck.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.