Hey guys, I've managed to catch a few steelhead since getting stationed here at Fort Lewis, on eggs, drift gear, etc. Now I want to devote some time this winter to catching some on flygear. I have a 9.5' 7 wt. rod, and a caliper drag reel that holds plenty of backing. My main questions (other than where to go ) have to do with line selection and terminal gear. Do you guys use floating, sink-tip, or full sinking line? Shooting heads (length, weight, etc), and what leader length/configuration do you recommend? Also, what is the most common presentation, the usual cross-current cast and swing, like wet flies for trout? Come on, I need some suggestions!

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Youv'e got a task in front of you, catching a winter steelhead on a flyrod isnt easy.

I fish in the Sauk, Skagit, Nooksack, and Stilly during the winter. The waters normaly really cold causing the fish to be lethargic.
The water is often fast and deep. So going low and slow is normally the only way to get the fish.

I fish with a sink-tip line, using the ultra fast sink tip that came with my Airflo multi-tip line. Its nice because it sinks your fly while the floating line allows you to mend giving you control of drag during the presentation. I normaly use a 3 to 4 foot leader attached to my sinktip because it keeps the fly down and being that the water normaly has color to it doesnt bother the fish.

Some people like to use shooting heads, but Ive never tried it. And couple of my budys prefer to fish a floating line with a long leader and weight.

The most common presentation is casting across the stream, mending the belly out of the 3 or 4 times and then letting the fly swing beneath you, and then stripping it in.

Good luck, and fun fishing,
Josh

My best rig for steelies would be a bunny leech in black, red or orange....a 4' leader of 12 lb test, a 250 grain to 450 grain 12 - 15' sink tip loop spliced to a weight forward floating line (where on the floating line the taper has been cut off and a loop has been added).

I also would concentrate on fishing the bars rather than deep slots of fast moving water. A good bar has a small drop, a definite current seam and has 4 - 7' of depth to it.

On the first pass through (usually early in the morning) don't wade past your knees and let the fly swing down and hold it there. Steelhead will be laying in the shallows. After working through the run thoroughly feel free to wade deeper.

Good Luck!!

Another tip: Glacier Gloves work great in the winter. You can get them at REI in the Kayak section.

A tip on lines. I just bought a RIO VERSITIP line and can't recommend it enough. Its a floater with 3 different weight sink tips that have loop connections. It casts well with no hinging. Its a good deal for the money. Test drove it on a two week trip up in B.C and it covered all situations with ease. On a side note: I wish I would have fished when I was stationed at Ft. Lewis in the 70's but spent all spare time chasing girls. ALSO- once you get that first hook up on the fly your life changes. Everything else seems second best.. Good luck

The above post are all very good advice I would add only that you take up tying your own flies as you will find that a lot of them will be lost and hooks damaged by some contact with the bottom that you will encounter when fishing winter steelhead.
Keep it simple at the start once you stick a fish or two your imagination will take off and you will do just fine.

One thing to remember, is that early on you will be chasing hatchery fish. And in general hatchery fish dont seem to respond to flys as well as wild fish do. Also look for places away from the drift guys (at least in winter). Or try to get to the "good" spots first. And get used to looking for areas that give the fish a secure feeling or hiding place, and where you can get your fly down and slow. good luck.

B-Run Steely is right, catching a steelhead on a flyrod has definately ruined me. I cant geet up early in the morning anymore for anything but a steelhead, nothing that Ive caught can outpull them. Be warned trout just arent as fun after a steelhead

Fun fishing-
Josh

Thanks guys! That is exactly the kind of information I needed. Looks like it's time to find a line, and start stockpiling some flies. Can't wait until the winter run gets here!
Greg Pennell
Fort Lewis, WA

Greg,

Folks have given you some good basic advice. I noticed, however, that you mentioned your 7 wt. rod. While that can work, most anglers, me included, think 7 is a scoosh light for winter. I usually use an 8 or heavier. It's not the size of the fish so much as the generally larger, heavier water, and definitely larger, and therefore heavier, flies. A size two is my most common winter bait, and those larger hooks, with a full streamer pattern dressing, just don't cast as comfortably on my 7 wt. rods.

All the rest is right on the mark. Low and slow is the way to fish. A sink tip is great, although a floater and weighted fly is often a good choice on small streams.

Good luck.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Hoo-a.... army steelhead flyfisherman!!!
wish I would have been stationed near prime steelhead waters. How did you get that lucky? I had to suffer it out in Hawaii!

For winter when the water gets deeper and faster anything smaller than an 8wt. rod is going to be too light for most rivers. There are some smaller rivers south of you to try. Elochoman maybe, or the Grays river or possibly the Wynoochee. But for the bigger rivers a 9wt. is proably the best setup. Any of the "out of the box" multi tip lines these days are good. Rio, or Airflo and of course Scientific Anglers, all make nice lines. Compared to 20 years ago things are much easier now. Fly size is going to depend on water conditions and time of year. Use your drift gear knowledge to help you there. What has been working lately is something with movement. Such as bunny leeches, marabous, wooly buggers, egg sucking leeches etc. Get it down and keep it slow for the most part. And dont pass up those quiet flows just off of the gravel bars, especialy in the early morning. And dont wade in when you first start at a run. Too many people spook fish that are sitting in fairly close to shore. Start shallow and work your way out, slowly. Have fun , thanks .

Guys, I knew when I found this board I had found a gold mine of info! I've been a hard-core fisherman all my life, but learned all my fishing back East (bass, panfish, stripers, etc.) It only took ONE steelhead to convert me, and all my bass tackle has been retired! I will probably keep my 7 weight for now, and get a heavier rod next season. It has worked well on smallmouth bass in the rivers back home (KY, TN, VA). I know, lots of difference in a 4 lb bass and a 10-15 lb steelhead, but I think I can make it work. Thanks again for all the advice, and if you see us on the Cowlitz or Chehalis this winter, say "Howdy"...we fish an older (antique) fiberglass driftboat (blue with white Gamakatsu decals) and are on the water most weekends.

Greg

where are you from. Im originally from Knoxville TN. Just got back from doing some trout fishing up in the Smoky mtns. national park. ( alot of fun)

Steelhead Addict, I'm originally from Pike County, Kentucky (the little corner where KY, TN, VA, and WV come together. Grew up on Cherokee Lake, near Mooresburg,TN, and have family in all the aforementioned states. Uncle Sam transplanted me here a couple of years ago, and I have been thouroghly enjoying the hunting and fishing here since. I'll probably be here for at least two more years, the way things are going. Hopefully, long enough to get in a few more steelhead seasons, and kill an elk with my bow.
Greg Pennell

A note about flies, uglier the better (my opinion). The big bushy dark flys will often outperform the more attractive patterns. This by no means is always true, but I hook far more fish (in the fall-late winter) on patterns like the egg sucking leech. I like 'em tied with schlappen and heavily weighted. 4-1/0 depending on clarity and water speed/depth. Slow presentation is definitely the way to go. Good luck.

Since you are so close to Lacey, there are a couple of great shops in the local area to get info and equipment. One for sure is the FLy Fisher at 5622 Pacific Ave. in Lacey (right next to the fire dept.). Bjorn and his dad run the shop and are always willing to talk about equipment, places to go and "how to". They are open from Tuesday to Friday..you can guess where they are onSaturday through Sunday. By the way, they both give a mean class on tying your own flies. The other place is Streamside Anglers in Tumwater. Both places are a good source of friendly chat and good info on fishing conditions and what to use where. Good luck
Beaner

Thanks for the tips, guys. I'll definitely get to both of those local shops, nothing like hands on experience! I'll probably sign up for a couple of casting lessons, have 20 years of bad habits to break! Besides, I need to pick up some strung maribou for my winter supply of homemade aero-type flies for drifting...pink worked good on searun cutts on the Cowlitz yesterday, and one hookup on something bigger (broke off). That's what I get for fishing light line for salmon, I guess!