steelhead?

[leszek]

hello all,

first i would just like to quickly introduce myself; i am a college student in boston (orginally from CT) who has just taken up fly fishing this fall and is still pretty wide eyed whenever he manages to land just about anything. i did sneak back home and check out the farmington river this fall for the first time, otherwise ive mostly been trying to figure things out for myself on the swift river up in MA. that said i realize this is an extremely basic question and i should head to the library to research on my own, but it seems that there is quite a bit of talk regarding steelhead fishing starting up now. i can prettty much guess why, the pictures seem to speak for themselves.

i was just hoping for some basic info on steelhead fishing. does this pick up as the fall progresses and continue throughout the winter? does it mostly take the place of trout fishing, or can that be followed throughout the winter as well? what kind of tackle is needed? any info would be great. thanks!

[Catch 22]

Here's a good start:

http://www.fishusa.com/fisherie/

http://www.fishusa.com/FishSalmonRiver/

http://sites.state.pa.us/fish/anglerboater/1999/novdec99/steeltec.htm

http://steelheadsite.com/

http://steelheadbasics.com/

Jeff

[Todd K]

I would pick a few books up. A good start is "Steelhead Dreams". I don't agree with all of his tactics but there is a lot of great information in this book. It is based around the Great Lakes instead of the west coast(where Steelehead originate from).

Steelhead were introduced to the Great lakes from Washington State. It is basically a large rainbow trout that runs up in the tribs. What time of year they run is different from one trib to the next because of the different strans of Steelhead. On the Salmon River in NY you will get a fall run that will hold over until Spring to Spawn. There is also an early spring run that come up to spawn. So, you can fish for Steelhead from as early as late September until about the 1st week in May.

Tactics range from swinging streamers to nymph rigs using eggs, caddis, stoneflies. Fresh fish in the lower end of the river will just clobber a streamer. There is no fight that compares to a fresh steelhead...except maybe an Atlantic Salmon.

In the fall you can also catch brown trout just as big.

I may not be spot on on all this info, but Im sure someone will correct me if not.

All answer any queestions you have about Steelhead, so fire away.

[Adam Taylor]

Head to Salmoncrazy.com. It is a site dedicated to the Salmon River in Pulaski New York.

You get all types on that board, but you will see a lot of posting about Steelhead and there are some super members. Look for postings from Flyguy. He is a guide that lives in the area. A traditionalist in his approach. He provides a lot of information. There are others that are fantastic as well. Steelhead Dreams is an excellent recommendation.

You will find a lot of information, some you will agree with in terms of tactics, etc. Others you won't.

The other book I suggest is Steelhead Guide by John Nagy.

Excellent read, focuses on Great Lakes region.

[Todd K]

SalmonCrazy does have a lot of good info. Download the large river map. I compiled that a few years ago for SalmonCrazy by putting all the small maps together. The site has grown like crazy but I don't hang out there to much anymore. To many stringers of fish... not my style...