laszlo

Clearly I'm not an accomplished Steelheader but one thing I have learned over the last couple months is that big water is way harder then narrow rivers where the deeper pools are well defined. The area to cast at just screams at you. Also when these smaller rivers are surrounded by beautiful forest it makes for a better experience then standing at a dam with 20 other fisherman. I know the Grand very well since I grew up in Caledonia and still fish there all summer for walleye and smallies. As a beginner myself in the Steelhead department, I will only hit the Grand once I've figured out and had success on smaller rivers that are well known for big Steelhead runs. I guess the only advantage there right now is that it hasn't rained for a while and the Grand is huge!

GEAR UPDATE: #12 Hooks Micro Swivels 5.6 lb Flourocarbon Leaders Up to this point I've been using larger hooks tied straight on to 8lb Flourocarbon main line. Going fishing Monday morning for a few hours. We'll see if this improvement in gear leads to more fish. It is going to be tough though with clear low water conditions.

Anyone notice the egg trail falling out of this fish??? How common are the fall spawners?

After catching my first Steelhead yesterday, I share in your excitement BIG TIME! Way to go.

Please tell me this is what to expect in my near future. Well Done!

Now the bigger ones await me. Nice fish Dave! I'm thinking a trip up there soon. Feeling more confident with the gear.

And it goes a little somethin' like this...HIT IT! FIRST STEELHEAD Seriously though guys. Thanks for all the help and info. After 5 failed attempts this is maybe the most rewarding fish I've ever caught. Now for some more!

First cast and my float went down, I set the hook, 'thought' I had a fish on to realize it was just a snag. Couldn't get it off and ended up braking my line but right at the hook so I just had to re-tie a new one. Next cast and...float goes down again, set the hook and...fish on!!! One nice jump and brought her to the bank. Beauty 3.5 pound female with great colours. Picked her up for a couple pics to see eggs were coming out of her. Let her go. 15 minutes later Fidel (Highdrifter) hooks a fish. Very little fight. Once we got her to the bank Fidel says "is this the same fish you just caught?" Looked exactly the same, didn't have much energy and eggs dropping out of her. Let her go again. This was around 7am and I stayed until 8:20. Off to work. Fidel will be sending me pics this evening.

SUCCESS!!! 1 FOR 1 Pics to follow. Special thanks to Highdrifter.

roe bags tied. thanks for the heads up.

Going to give it another shot Saturday early, early morning before work.

This confirms that I will continue taking your advice. Nice job.

Sorry guys. I wish I had good news but I got SKUNKED today. Moral is slightly low but still lots of fight left in me. Others on the river were having a tuff day. Clear low water played a factor. Did solve the float issue though.

So it's a few games into the season now and I'm wondering what some of you basketball fans think of the Raps so far. With all the new players, I would be satisfied if they went 10 wins 10 loses for the first 20 games of the season knowing they are only going to improve. I predict they'll make the playoffs but lose again in the first round. Finish the season 7th or 8th in the east. Thoughts please...

Tied my own roe bags for the first time this evening and am heading out to give them a shot tomorrow. For some reason I have a good feeling. Going to hit a river with a little slower water with the right floats and what I think are the right shot patterns. Report to follow...

I guess I'm pinching my shots way too tight. Once I pinched them there was no way they would move. I was also looking at the shot patterns Bill linked on here earlier and it seems I was using a pattern for slower moving water in 9 feet of insane rapids. Looking forward to another attempt and hoping this info hooks me my first fish. Stay tuned...

I'm glad you guys brought this up. I've been using the Raven pack of multi size split shots. I realize once they're pinched you can't remove them. Scenario: Fishing 9 feet of fast moving water and bulk shotting my rig. Then I decide to move slightly down river where the water changes to 5 feet and slowing down a bit. Question: Do I have to re-rig everything for the change in conditions??? Thanks

It's not fishing I'm having trouble with. Pike, Bass, Walleye, Resident Trout = NO PROBLEMS! Steelheading is an entire different situation. No worries though. I'll put in the time which will eventually pay off.

Nice meeting you as well Dave. Thanks for all the info and help with the set up. Your patience was really appreciated. I'm not sure what was off exactly. I know my floats were way too small and light. The current was making it sink and tilt on weird angles all day. I'm going to get some longer, heavier ones for bigger, faster water. I've never fished rapids that intense before so it was kind of new to me.

Went 0 for 0 on Sunday but did learn a lot in the way of set up. What I was doing before was way off. Also learned that having a variety of floats is a must. The ones I brought were way too small for the fast water. So the progression continues along at a slow pace but it continues...

reminds me of when i can't find my pen and it's in my hand.

I'm giving Florocarbon one last shot as my main line but fear it may be a big mistake. If so...back to Mono for sure with a Floro leader. I hope this doesn't make this weekend an up hill battle.

13' Raven IM-8 bought today and ready for use. Sunday can't come soon enough!

Looks like I may have found a 13'er in stock which means this weekend will be the first time using a rod longer then 6.5'. I imagine it will feel kind of weird at first. Even weirder when I match it up with a center pin next spring. Let's bow our heads for a moment to the fishing gods praying that I catch my first Steelhead this weekend.

After some research and recommendations, it's looking like I will be going with the Raven 13' or 14' IM-8. Wish I could find it in stock though. Would love to fish this weekend but I may have to wait until next week.