There’s no question, one of the best, and easiest, tips I could ever give you for hooking steelhead is called the Hang Down. This is how it works – After you cast and swing your fly through the run, your fly will be “hanging down” below you. Make sure to let the fly sit there for 3 or 5 seconds before you pick up for another cast. Many times a steelhead will take your fly on the hang down.
These extra 3 seconds will add big time to the amount of steelhead you hook. I’m not saying that you will catch as many as you will on the swing, but you will catch fish. It’s worth the extra few seconds.
What is the biggest question that fly fisherman have? Better put – what is your biggest struggle? What’s one thing you could learn or resource that would help you most with steelhead fly fishing?
I recently ran a survey and collected data on this very question. Of this question – What is your biggest struggle with fly fishing – 50% said finding the time to go fishing. That’s right, not reading water or presentation…..but finding time. Is this you? I know I struggle with this, especially with a growing family.
Trout is a name for a number of freshwater species belonging to the Salmonidae family, including salmon,trout, chars, freshwater whitefishes, and grayling. This includes Sea Trout . The main species of Trout in the UK are Brown Trout. Fly fishing for trout is a little different in the UK, as Andy from Riverangler.co.uk explains below.
What does it take to be a successful steelhead fly fisherman? The right fly – sure. A good presentation – You bet. Reading water to find the fish – No question.
But, you will not be a successful steelhead fisherman unless you are patient, persistent, passionate and get out and practice. Don’t think you have these characteristics now? Don’t worry, fly fishing for steelhead will help you develop these. Follow along to the bottom for a few tips that will also help you get there.
The traditional steelhead fly patterns are still as effective as ever. In the day in age with tube flies, hobo flies, and many others new designs, I still find good success swinging the traditional steelhead fly. The Stewart is a great example and in this session I demonstrate how to tie a sparsely dressed low water style fly.
You stop by your local fly shop on your way out of the city and they tell you which river is hot this week. The flows and water color is perfect for this time of year.
They give you the fly that hammered the fish yesterday and you are fired up to get on the water. They give you a few additional fly fishing tips on presenting the fly, and you are on your way.
As you finish up the last minute preparations for the gear, you can feel that hot fish on the line. You finally arrive at the river later that day with enough time to get 2 hours of fishing in before dark.
The explosion of the rod and reel in my left hand brought my heart into my throat. It was just the beginning of the greatest fishing experience of my life.
The canyon walls towered above on a typically cool November day on the Deschutes River. It was nearing the Magic-Hour, and I was set to meet a friend down-river for the last fishing of the day. I reluctantly climbed up the banks of and walked to my car.
There are a number of different ways to tie the Egg Sucking Leech. Whether a wooly bugger, bunny leech or other, this pattern is effective in many different situations. I will take you quickly through a sparse bunny leech tying demonstration so you have a feel how to get started.
Take a look at the video below and then check back in with me. I’d love to hear if you found this video helpful.
I’ve had many steelhead guests on the Wet Fly Swing Podcast who have told me that steelhead flies and the fly pattern you select for steelhead is not of critical importance.
More important are likely the presentation of the fly, the line you use, and whether you are getting down to the fish. I have many podcast episodes and blog posts that cover these types of steelhead fly fishing Tips especially if you are focused on the wet fly swing.
I had Adrian Cortes on the podcast in episode 169 to focus on dry line winter steelhead fishing and the flies he loves to fish.
He calls them his irons. There’s a lot of beauty in calling your fly an iron. His two favorite steelhead patterns and 2 that could easily be on this list are the Greased Liner from Harry Lemire and the Steelhead Bee.
I’m going to lay out 6 different types of flies below. All are effective, but all use a different style.
The point I want to hit home on is that there is no one size fits all. I could list 100 different flies from 100 different people and all would be good.
Some are personal preference and experience. Actually, a lot ends up being the fly that has been successful in the past.
This is really just a primer to get you thinking about what’s available to you. I know this will bring up more questions than answers and I’ll try to answer these as we go.
Let’s start with one of the easier flies to tie from the list above. The Egg sucking leech or similar wooly bugger style flies have three very basic parts.
The bunny strip and egg on the head make this fly. Remember, there’s never one way to tie these flies. That’s the beauty, you can experiement a bit.
Follow the video here to see how the fly is tied. Do you have any questions? If you do, send me a message here and I will find time to skype until we can figure it out.
2. The Stewart (Summer/Fall)
The Stewart is from the Max Canyon series and one of my favorite flies of all time.
3. The Glo Bug – winter steelhead
The glo bug fly pattern is as basic as it gets and as effective as it gets.
3. Greased Liner – summer steelhead
4.
Conclusion
Grab the basic tools and materials above from your local fly shop. Watch my step by step video again as you tie the fly. After you feel comfortable with the first fly, work your way through the other steelhead flies in the list.
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