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Idaho Steelhead Fishing

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Robert

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Steelhead, Idaho steelhead

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General Steelhead fishing information, tips,tricks and anything else I think of.

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Selecting the Right Rod Action in Your Steelhead Rod

Robert

OFFLINE

Rod Action: Rod Action is the term used to describe how much of the rod bends when pressure is put on the tip. A fast action rod will bend in only the top third or less of the rod. A medium or moderate action will bend in the top half A slow action will bend starting in the lower third of the rod. Sometimes slow action rods are termed 'parabolic', meaning the bend of the rod is similar throughout the length. These descriptions are subjected to the type of rod you may be talking about at the time; a fast action fly rod or steelhead rod will bend much lower and more easily than a fast action bass rod or offshore rod. Most bass rod actions are fast to very fast because this action generally provides better sensitivity and faster power for hook setting. By faster power I mean the rod 'shuts off' faster, or the bend ends higher on the blank, which means you don't have to move the rod as far on the hook set to get into the stiffer part of the Rod. Fast action rods are great for most applications where a short to medium casting distance is involved and single hooks are the rule, such as corky and bait fishing. Medium and medium-fast rods will usually provide a little more casting distance and still provide adequate hook setting power. These actions are often used for applications that involve treble hooks, like using a hot shot. The 'strike' of a treble hook is not as deep as a big single hook and it is easier to tear the hook out of a strong fish, plus the slower action will not pull the lure out of the fish's mouth before it fully engulfs it. Yet you still will have the power for a good hook set. Slow action rods will give you a better feel when drift fishing and may help you feel the strike a little easier. Since they are more responsive, you may be able to notice that subtle difference between bouncing over a rock and having a steelhead picking it up. When using a slow action rod you need to remember that setting the hook is going to require you to use more force when jerking. The type of lure you use will usually determine the action of the rod you should use. Taper: Often used as "action", describes not only the thickness of the rod but also the thickness of the wall of the blank and where along the blank less material is used allowing more bend. For the most part taper is the same as action. Power: Is used to describe the strength of the rod or its lifting power. When you hear someone say this rod has a lot of backbone, it means it has a lot of power. Power ratings are usually describes as heavy, medium heavy, medium, etc. Power is closely related to the line strength; heavier power rods will handle heavy line weights and lighter powers will be good for light lines. One important factor to keep in mind when selecting the power of your rod is the test of the line your line. Most all rods will have the line test limits printed on the rod. It is important to follow these recommendations since a heavy power rod will snap light lines too easily and heavy lines can snap a light rod. Power ratings vary by the type of rod described; a heavy Steelhead rod and a heavy offshore rod will definitely not feel the same. A heavy steelhead rod rated for 20lb test line will not perform like a heavy off shore rod rated for 80lb test line. The type of water you are fishing will help determine the power of the rod you should select. Fishing in high, fast moving or murky water will require a strong rod to get the fish out before it can make a long run and throw the hook. Clear, open water will often require thin, hard seeing lines in order to get the steelhead to bite, meaning you should use a lighter power rod. Responsiveness: Related to modulus this is an idea that reflects the ability of the entire rod to flex under load and release the stored energy in the cast. One thing is for sure, the lighter the rod, especially the tip, the more responsive it will be. If you are serious about steelhead fishing, you want a light yet responsive rod. As Gary Loomis puts it, “weight is the deterrent to performance”. Overall, the higher the modulus the more efficiently it will store and release energy, which gives you the ability to make an accurate, cast with a lower arc. Guides: Most of the guides you will find on rods today feature a metal frame and a ceramic ring that the line rest on as it glides through the glides. These rings can vary greatly in price, and one single guide on a spinning rod may cost in excess of $30 or as little as a couple of bucks. Silicon carbide, or SiC, is usually considered the best material today. It offers a super smooth surface for less friction on the line during the cast and the retrieve. Less friction means longer casts and less heat, and heat kills when it comes to fishing lines. As for the brand name or the type of rod weather, it is casting or spinning it comes down more of a personal choice. Your main goal when selecting rod action is finding one the will match the type of fishing you plan on doing.

Find a Steelhead or Salmon Fishing Rod that is right for you

10/08/2008

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Idaho Steelhead Fishing Report 10-8-2008

Robert

OFFLINE

Steeelhead fishing has started to pick up here in Idaho. With the cooler temperatures and some recent rains the steelhead are on the move. The Steelhead are now being caught throughout the entire salmon river. With the larger B-run steelhead showing up also, things are becoming interesting again.

The Clearwater River is probably your best bet if you are looking for the B-run Steelhead although there are a few showing up on the main stream of the Salmon River. I have caught a couple of the larger b-run fish just below Riggins. I am not sure how far up the river they have made it yet. (So much River to fish and so little time.)

Fall is my favorite time to fish for these magnificent fish. The water temperatures are relatively warm and the steelheads metabolism has not slowed do to the colder water. When you are, fortunate enough to hook into one they give you an excellent battle and as any of you know who have hooked one yourself, this time of year the steelhead become aerobatic when hooked. You can expect them to jump five or six times and they normally clear the water by a foot or more. Not to mention the fact that during this time of year the steelhead are excellent to eat. Your biggest dilemma will be which steelhead you are going to keep and which ones to release.

Drifting a medium sized corky with a small piece of shrimp and yarn has proven to be the most successful for me. However many steelhead anglers here locally are using a float and jig setup and are have good success with them as well. Like always we all have are preferred ways of fishing steelhead and right now, the main thing is just get on the river.

Best Priced Steelhead, Salmon and Trout Gear

10/08/2008

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Fishing the Jig for Steelhead

Robert

OFFLINE

One reason jigs have become so popular is their ease of use. You find a place you want to fish. You determine the depth of the hole your fishing. Then adjust your float to that depth and you are fishing.

It is a good idea to use a longer steelhead rod then you may normally. I like rods in the eight to ten foot range. The longer rod allows me to keep the line from my float to my rod tip out of the current and presents a more natural drift. You can use the shorter rods though I use shorter rods in the smaller steams that I fish. They are easier for me to control especially when the bank is grown over with willows and other shrubs. I also like to use a swivel and a lighter leader so if I do hang up I do not lose my float along with my jig.

Say the hole has long seam where fast and slow currents come together. You estimated the water to be five feet deep. Then adjust your float so that your jig is four feet below your float when it hits the bobber stop and you are ready. Cast your line up-steam out where the seam of the faster current mingles with the slower current and simply let the current drift your jig down through the hole. Keep an eye on your float if it is stopping or bouncing as it drifts you will need to reduce the depth at which you are fishing. If you see this happening, you should reel in and make this adjustment before you snag up. Jigs like to find a rock and I am sure that they crawl under them just so you will not be able to cast them back out again. Make sure you adjust them so they do not get a chance to hang or you will be tying on a new jig.

Most of the time when jig fishing you don’t need to be right on the bottom. Steelhead will move up quite a distance to take a jig. If you feel that, you are drifting over the top of the steelhead and not getting strikes. You can lengthen the distance between you float and jig a little with each cast. Once you see your float bouncing and stopping again reel in, shorten the distance between your float, and jig by about a foot.

You are now drift the hole it what I call the strike zone. Once you have, the depth set you can start fishing in earnest. Make sure you cover the entire drift buy make three or four cast in the same location. Then Cast out a foot or two farther for three or four cast. You will want to continue this until you are sure that you have covered all of the fishable water. It is important that you make a cast in the same location for three or four times. Steelhead will often just ignore your jig the first time that it passes them. When it keeps floating by, they are likely to hit it just because it is bothering them.

Steelhead fishing has a complex quantity of rules and you will learn that many of them work. However, you will find that not all of them work all the time. It is a good idea if you are fish a drift that you know has steelhead in it and you have not gotten any strikes that you change things up. You may want to try some type of attractant. Try adding a small spawn sack, maybe a small piece of shrimp, or even one of the many scents that are available today. Change colors and the size of your jigs if your old faithful jig is not working. There will be times where for what ever reason the steelhead are suspend in the river and not hanging on the bottom like normal show do not be afraid of raising your jig off the bottom if you are not having any luck fishing deep.

As with any new technique, it may take you a while to master it. Be persistent and give this technique an honest try it works and works well for many Steelhead anglers. Once you realize how productive fishing a jig is you too will be hooked.

More Steelhead Fishing Techniques

09/18/2008

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Waiting for Steelhead fishing in Idaho

Robert

OFFLINE

It has been great reading post from steelhead fishermen in the Michigan area. While here in Idaho we are still waiting to see what type of run we will have this year as the steelhead that we fish for migrate from the Pacific Ocean Up the Columbia River to the Snake River, and then into Idaho. They have to travel over four hundred miles before we get a chance to fish for them. It is an amazing feat when you consider all the obstacles they cross just to return home.

We are fortunate in the fact that the steelhead that return to the Clearwater River here in Idaho are some of the larges found along the Pacific Northwest coast and average 14 to 16 pounds. Catching fish over twenty pounds is not uncommon either as a good number of these 20 lb plus steelhead are caught each year. I have been fortunate enough to land a few of these beauties myself. I have some photos filed around some where and will try to find them and get them posted soon.

I see that many of you fish the same way in Michigan as we do here in Idaho and we all seem to have some special setups that we prefer over other I plan on sharing my favorite setups with you here as well as time permits me to get them jotted down and posted. I read a couple of things that I have not tried here in Idaho that seems to be a common set there and i am excited about trying them out this year here.

While we are waiting our turn at these great fish I wish you all good luck and good fishing. I will stay in touch this place is a great place to get some new ideas about fishing.

So long for now!

RR Smith

http://steelhead-gear.com/wordpress

http://www.steelhead-gear.com

08/13/2008

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