Steelhead-salmon river

[6wt]

Late report 10/20-10/21

Great time fishing for steelhead and browns. Salmon guys are just about gone and lots of open water.
On Tuesday afternoon not sure if it was the right spot or it had to do with my fly Must have fought 20 plus fish but only landed 5. Need to work on that ratio.

[Mark Patenaude]

25% landed is a good ratio, especially on big water...

Sharpen your hooks after drifting an hour or so and after each fish hooked.

Mark

[6wt]

Amazing how they can shake a hook.
Had one who went all the way around me in 6 inches of water before I even realized what was going on.
Salmon are fun but I'd rather hook into an 8lb steel.

[Mark Patenaude]

Remember that when you get them in close, put your feet together and close your legs. Nothing worse then having them swim between them and breaking off.

Its happened to me only once and then I learned.

[FishinCane]

A good net man is very important.... especially on those areas where it's too hard to beach the fish (Bovines). I've found a landing glove works well, if you can get the fish close enough to tail. One like this:
www.questoutdoors.net/gear/preview/michigan-mit/

Should be a great fall/winter/spring for steel this year!

Jim

[jlibs]

Maybe it's me, but I have been up 2x this year (once with FishinCane and once solo) and haven't seen too many fish.

Last week in the upper fly zone, there must have been 50+ guys and I did not see anyone with a fish on. Also, I only saw 2 dark (likely spawned out salmon) fish show their dorsal fins in slow water on the side and there were barely a handful of dead salmon on the sides of the river.

In the upper fly zone by Altmar, I saw 3 guys with fish on out of another 50+ people. Again, I only saw a couple of dorsal fins in slow water on the side and only a few dead salmon.

Clearly some people are catching fish, but I don't think it's too many, or they are just in certain pockets.

By the way, FishinCane, I saw your friend Dave yesterday in GB.

-JLIBS

[bartman]

Thanks for the report. We may be going up in a few weeks.

How were the leaves? They're usually pretty nasty right about now.

FC is right on with the net man. I've been lucky to have some real scuba divers as friends over the years and they've had some great net moments for me up there.

We've been bopping all over the place around my vacinity with streamers but having been comimg up empty most times. I did get a 22" incher the other day on a conehead kiwi muddler.

Again, thanks for the post. 5 is a very good day.

[6wt]

The leaves were a problem at times but I would guess soon it won't be.

On that Tuesday I fished an area which was nearly impossible to fish. I was in thigh-deep water up against a bank with over-hanging trees. Most of the areas above and below me, 40 feet each way, had numerous fisherman and only a few having any luck.

[bartman]

Oct 27, 2008 15:37:10 GMT -5 6wt said:

The leaves were a problem at times but I would guess soon it won't be.

On that Tuesday I fished an area which was nearly impossible to fish. I was in thigh-deep water up against a bank with over-hanging trees. Most of the areas above and below me, 40 feet each way, had numerous fisherman and only a few having any luck.

Then I'd say you chose your location wisely. I'm surprised you weren't encroached upon.

[hsweren]

Sounds like a great time.

I have had many great fishing trips to the Salmon River for steelhead.
I prefer to go in January and February on weekdays preferably Tues thru Thursday. It still gets pretty crowded on the Weekends.
I stay at Malinda's Fly shop and lodge which is right across the street from the Fly Fishing Only Section.
I have fished pretty much all the stretches from the town of Pulaski to the entrance of the fish hatchery and The Duglaston Run.

Get up around 7am to the smell of coffee and muffins.
Check the outside temp which is usually between 15 and 30 degrees.
Start putting on the gear which takes about half an hour with the thermals, fleece, outside Gortex in case of rain or snow, 4mm neoprene waders, fold back fingerless gloves, a mask, korkers, a few snickers bars and a flask of blackberry brandy.
Head out to the river around 9am and stay out there until you can't bear the cold any more. Usually by 3pm at the latest. The water temp. is around 34-37 degrees and you have to keep checking your guides so they don't freeze up, but when you get that first bite and you hear the ZZZZZZZZZZZZ of your reel and see the line flying off of it suddenly your not that cold any more.

After 3pm walk back to the lodge and sip on a nice glass of port to warm up while talking about the day and taking all the gear back off. Discussing what fly's worked and what to tie that night.

Then it's off to the Ponderosa buffet for a quick dinner all you can eat.

Back to the lodge to start tying those #18 stone fly nymphs and egg patterns along with another small glass of port.

Wake up and do it all over again the next day.

What a life!!!!!!!!

[6wt]

Sounds like my retirement.

[6wt]

Going back Monday and Tuesday for a quick trip. The river is loaded according to what I'm hearing.
I'll post on Wednesday.