Jump to content


Photo

NEW STEELHEAD ANGLERS


  • Please log in to reply
18 replies to this topic

#1 TRINIBOY

TRINIBOY

    Crappie

  • Active Members
  • 380 posts

Posted 12 November 2012 - 05:30 PM

Found this neat article on the net figured I’d share especially for the new steelhead anglers... Season anglers please feel free to weigh in and add to the topic.



Steelhead Behavior

Understanding steelhead behavior while they are in the tributaries is important if the angler wants to be successful in pursuing this species. This behavior changes with water conditions, weather conditions, the season and the length of time the fish has been in the stream. Just when you think you have the fish figured out, they will surprise you by doing something new. However, all steelhead seem to have a few traits in common which have been observed and recorded by many dedicated anglers pursuing them. Below are listed some of the most important ones:

· Steelhead prefer to hold in areas with a moderate to fast flow and of medium depth (3' - 4').

· Areas where two currents come together to form a "seam" are prime holding lies.

· Pocket water formed by boulders in fast current is another area which will hold fish.

· Steelhead will often hold above or below structure such as large boulders or logs which buffer the current and provide security.

· In a large pool, steelhead will usually hold in the head and also in the tail out.

· Unless faced with low water conditions, low water temperatures or heavy angling pressure, steelhead do not prefer the bottoms of deep holes like Chinook salmon do.

· Optimum stream temperatures for steelhead (when they will be most active) are 45 to 58 F. or (7.2-14.4 Celsius)

· Steelhead tend to move upstream on rising and falling water and hold steady in low flows or flooding conditions.

· Steelhead have an aversion to bright light, so on sunny days fishing is best at first light and again during the last hour of daylight.

· On overcast, rainy days steelhead will remain active and moving all day.

· Fish that have only been in the river a few days and those lower in the river are usually the most aggressive and easiest to catch.

· The longer the steelhead has been in the river, the darker in color it will become. A fish with a mint silver color or "chromer" is a fresh run fish that recently left the lake.






  • 3

#2 RUSTY420

RUSTY420

    Perch

  • Active Members
  • 670 posts

Posted 12 November 2012 - 06:05 PM

Thanks that's a lot of great tips
  • 0

#3 Odoyle

Odoyle

    Sunfish

  • Members
  • 177 posts

Posted 12 November 2012 - 06:07 PM

Nice !!!
  • 0

#4 buck

buck

    Perch

  • Active Members
  • 867 posts

Posted 12 November 2012 - 06:16 PM

.


  • 0

#5 TRINIBOY

TRINIBOY

    Crappie

  • Active Members
  • 380 posts

Posted 12 November 2012 - 06:28 PM

Nice !!!


So now you have no excuse hahahaa
  • 0

#6 grubman

grubman

    Largemouth Bass

  • Active Members
  • 1,529 posts

Posted 12 November 2012 - 07:12 PM

Thanks Trini

Lots of good info. Everyone's always looking for that magic bait that the steelies can't resist when there are so many factors that will change their mood........lol.

Here is an article about how trout see. So don't be seen....lol.

http://www.flyfishin...h-a-fly02.shtml
  • 0

#7 Knuguy

Knuguy

    Smallmouth Bass

  • Active Members
  • 996 posts

Posted 12 November 2012 - 07:14 PM

Very good. Thx for posting. But I wonder what Notta would say about this one? ":Fish that have only been in the river a few days and those lower in the river are usually the most aggressive and easiest to catch."
  • 0

#8 GoodenTight

GoodenTight

    Steelhead Master

  • Active Members
  • 995 posts

Posted 12 November 2012 - 10:18 PM

always rewarding to go back and read the helpful hints! Its amazing how quickly our brain becomes clouded after a few skunky days. back-to-basics
  • 0

#9 Luke

Luke

    Sunfish

  • Members
  • 169 posts

Posted 13 November 2012 - 12:18 AM

Nice post my friend. Took me a while to learn all those tips through experience. Its raining tonight so ill be on the river at first light. Hehe

Grub, good article, that's exactly what I was talking about on the stream that day.
  • 0

#10 Spinninreel

Spinninreel

    Piscicapturist

  • Active Members
  • 1,281 posts

Posted 13 November 2012 - 12:26 AM

Those are pretty general statements that are not always the case. An example would be that you can find steelhead in 1.5 ft of water next to the bank if the water is running dirty. So as river conditions change, the fish will favour different places on the river.
  • 0

#11 salmotrutta

salmotrutta

    Largemouth Bass

  • Active Members
  • 1,747 posts

Posted 13 November 2012 - 03:04 AM

· On overcast, rainy days steelhead will remain active and moving all day.

· Fish that have only been in the river a few days and those lower in the river are usually the most aggressive and easiest to catch.


Two very important points. especially #1.

#2 translates to: If you love having steelhead smash your lures, go get 'em in and around rivermouths when they're fresh run. They're still in the bait fish smashing mode.
  • 0

#12 Bug_Slinger

Bug_Slinger

    Sunfish

  • Members
  • 114 posts

Posted 13 November 2012 - 06:28 AM

great article!!! Thanks for the post
  • 0

#13 DILLIGAF?!

DILLIGAF?!

    Rainbow Trout

  • Active Members
  • 2,707 posts

Posted 13 November 2012 - 12:29 PM

this is very helpful.
  • 0

#14 Float down

Float down

    Perch

  • Active Members
  • 567 posts

Posted 13 November 2012 - 06:24 PM

Two very important points. especially #1.

#2 translates to: If you love having steelhead smash your lures, go get 'em in and around rivermouths when they're fresh run. They're still in the bait fish smashing mode.



Thats another thing i slightly disagree on, when the water drops to 45, the sun can help the fishing big time, warming up the water a few degrees makes them move around just as much.

And notta made a good point the other day, when the water is stained, a bit of sun light can enhance the fishes field of vision.
  • 0

#15 Luke

Luke

    Sunfish

  • Members
  • 169 posts

Posted 14 November 2012 - 10:54 AM

Agreed with the rare exceptions. There are always exceptions to rules. However what as posted are good general rules of thumb to stick with. The finer points get learned through experience.
  • 0

#16 TRINIBOY

TRINIBOY

    Crappie

  • Active Members
  • 380 posts

Posted 14 November 2012 - 07:47 PM

Agreed this post was meant as a general guideline to help new anglers and is not intended to cover every single aspeck. I've heard veterans express that they learned something new after years of fishing for steelhead. Not from the post but in general, thing is what might work today might not tomorrow and theres where the experience is gained through trail and error. I totally agree during stained water you can find them hugging to the bank and also bright colors can work amazing on brief sunny speels. That's where the learning curve and experience comes into play. keep the thoughts coming as there always something to be learnt.
  • 0

#17 Spinninreel

Spinninreel

    Piscicapturist

  • Active Members
  • 1,281 posts

Posted 15 November 2012 - 12:22 PM

yes, I would agree with that. I was just making the point that those are general thoughts that at times may not be the case. Those suggestions are a good starting point.
  • 0

#18 Fishheads

Fishheads

    Float Fishing Superstore

  • Active Members
  • 754 posts

Posted 17 November 2012 - 10:20 AM

Great Info Triniboy, All very true and important. :grin:
  • 0

#19 FishingNoob

FishingNoob

    Rainbow Trout

  • Active Members
  • 3,358 posts

Posted 17 November 2012 - 05:56 PM

Thanks for sharing the links Triniboy and Grubman. Great source for noobs! Cheers.
  • 0