A search on Amazon revealed about 25 different books on steelhead fishing (nearly 1/2 of those concern catching a steelie on a fly).

I'd appreciate any opinions on what is the best book for for a newly obsessed, non-fly metalhead angler to learn more about these NW fish and how to hunt them.

Many thanks,

Fish on.

G-spot

Herzog's book, Color Guide to Steelhead Drift Fishing is a good beginner's book

[This message has been edited by Rich (edited 12-11-1999).]

Stan Fagerstrom's Beginning Steelhead.
If you can still find it. I lent mine out and the person lost it. Would love to buy another one if I could find one. The Duck

I think I've bought most of the non-fly books in print (and a few of the fly books, too). I agree that the best overall book is Bill Herzog's 'Color Guide to Drift Fishing'

For my second choice (hey, it's Christmas!) I STRONGLY recommend Trey Combs' 'Steelhead Fly Fishing' even if you're a gear guy (like me). In paperback it costs $23 via Amazon and is the best bargain in fishing as it's a large format 500 page book. Combs writes beautifully and there is no way you could read this book (skipping the parts on assembling shooting heads and the like) and not end up a much better fisherman given his analysis of the fish, holding water, presentations, etc. Along the way, you learn about the great steelhead rivers and some of the nutcases who spend their lives fishing them. It's a must-have book.

Third pick is Jed Davis' 'Spinner Fishing for Steelhead, Salmon and Trout'. This is an excellent all round book (even if you don't fish spinners) as it talks in detail about water temperature and color, size of lures and likely steelhead behavior. Changes the way you fish, for the better.

If you're some sort of reading demon another OK book but lacking the focus and detail of the previous three is Jim Bedford's 'Steelhead Saavy'. However, the advantage of Jim Bedford's book is that it addresses every technique -- drift fishing, float fishing, spinners, plugs -- though not in as much detail (and it's aimed at anglers fishing in Great Lakes-type rivers).

I've also got a bunch of specialty books on jigs, plugs, etc, and particularly recommend Dave Vedder's Float Fishing for Steelhead (though to be honest I've yet to really put his advice to work, but his instructions and descriptions are very clear).

I bought all of these through Amazon.

Armed with nothing more than enthusiasm, a bit of general fishing knowledge (trout, bass, panish) and three great books, I learned how to fish for steelhead last winter (and managed to land 4 fish!)...

1. Herzog's "Color Guide to Steelhead Drift Fishing"

2. Keizer's "Western Steelhead Fishing Guide"

3. Vedder's/Harthorns' "Steelhead Jig Fishing"

I'm forever indebted to these authors for sharing their expertise. Good luck to you!

I ditto the last one ... except replace number three with Jed Davis' book ... that's all for how-to ... The Steelhead Trout, by Trey Combs ... 1971 is my all-time favorite.

Lots of neat info about life histories, range, etc ... and a rude awakening as to why many of our runs went sour ... look at some of the harvests off rivers years ago ... in 1954, the Puyallup had more than 16,000 steelhead taken from it ...

FOR THE FLY I THINK DEKE MEYER "ADVANCED FLY FISHING FOR STEELHEAD" IS BETTER THAN ANY OF COMBS BOOKS, ITS ABOUT HOW TO, NOT WHO I FISHED WITH.

My favorite is Milt Keizer's "Western Steelhead Fishing Guide". So much good information.
-Mark.

Thank you very much for all the excellent feedback on steelheading books - my Christmas budget is now officially blown.

The rivers in this area are also blown, so... I'm off skiing today (they got 1 foot of fresh snow at Stevens Pass last night).

Fish on.

G-spot

Another book which should be on every steelheader's shelf is Trey Combs' "Steelhead Fly Fishing". While part of the book relates to fly fishing, the focus of the book is on steelhead behavior and steelhead rivers. It's a big hard cover book, check it out at the library.