solopaddler

Brady, just for you bud some more: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value=" name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value=" name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Ahhh to be young and full of p!$$ and vinegar. You're a good lad.

True steelhead are anadromous, spending their lives in the salt and ascending the rivers to spawn. Our steelhead here in the great lakes are mistakenly called anadromous. To be really anal about it they are in fact potamodromous, meaning they live there lives in large freshwater lakes and migrate up our tributary streams to spawn. Anadromous or potamodromous the common element is these fish we call steelhead live their lives in large bodies of water and migrate into streams and rivers to spawn. A much different animal than a river fish born and bred. Trout that live there entire lives in a river key on whatever food source is readily available. In most cases insect life of some type...Obviously this makes them easy to catch on dry flies. Migratory fish on the other hand have lived most of their lives roaming the wide open depths chasing baitfish. Yes, you can catch them on flies quite readily, BUT most of the best fly patterns represent eggs or minnows. Subsurface nymph patterns are also a deadly and subtle bait. For whatever reason steelhead are just not predisposed to hit insects on the surface... I believe the ones that do hit dry flies have had that feeding instinct imprinted on them as smolts in the river before they migrated out to the big water to become "steelhead" and frankly it's just not that common a thing...

A simple hook file is all I've ever used. Both sides and the front of the hook point are sharpened to a kind of triangular shape.

With rare exceptions I sharpen every single hook out of the package LOL! Makes all the difference in the world lad.

Now that's cool, and on a fly you tied yourself no less .

That's 10 seconds longer than I've ever managed, that's awesome!

I never claimed to be a purist. Whatever it takes bud LOL!

Gord Deval is someone I admired for years. Probably caught enough big brook trout for 10 lifetimes. Did you know Gord? As far as the casting goes you probably can double haul further than me. My mechanics are horrible, but I can put my fly where I want it to go . One day we'll have to find out for sure, but on a river not a field .

I don't know bud, I've encountered that scenario countless times over the years. Those fish tend to be incredibly skittish, fly line will usually put the fish down. Best way I've found to catch fish like that is with a small worm threaded onto your hook, light line and no weight of any kind. Stay low, lob it out into the pool and wait, twitching/fluttering the worm every once in a while. Sooner or later you'll get one to hit.

Do it soon please, I'm gonna need a place to crash.

Nice chromy fish!

Betcha can't!

It is ingrained in their pea brains from smolt stage and they do hit dry flies. I've seen it done, just not by me . It is very hard to do though, for some reason they rarely rise to a fly. To increase your chances I'd concentrate your efforts on larger systems and specifically on dropback fish in May when there's lots of hatches. The lower Grand is a place where a small group of hardcore dry fly fishermen are doing it on a regular basis here in Ontario.

As a flyfisherman and a steelheader this video blew me away. For a lot of flyfishermen catching steelhead on dry flies is like the quest for the grail. Many have tried but few have succeeded. These guys prove that it can be done! (Seems a trip to northern BC is in order ) <object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value=" name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>

That's pure genius.

As others have mentioned I've had fish pull rods down the hole and later snagged line and recovered rod/reel and fish. That happened 3 times. The most amazing example occurred a few years back up on Temagami. I drilled a hole at least 1/2km away from where my buddy had his rod pulled down the hole, dropped my jig down and recovered everything including a 9lb laker . I've lost cel phones (2), a single burner stove, sunglasses, prescription glasses, chisels, ice scoops, a box of lures (that hurt ), a whole bunch of rods and tip ups, once a $50 cuban cigar just as I was circumcising it and countless sundry items like lighters and such. (I'm like a bull in a china shop in the tight confines of a hut )

I agree with the sentiments expressed. I still think my idea which I asked about awhile back is a good one though . A "Best of OFC" archive section for the very best trip reports. There's been many, many outstanding reports posted over the years that get lost in the shuffle....

My God that's horrible. I'm not normally the praying sort but you've got mine now.

Nice job bud, that first laker of yours is pretty decent!

Nice troutlets! Was thinking of hitting Rosseau myself (used to live in Port Carling ).

Very sorry to read this Steve, my heart goes out to you and your family.

I bought them last year for ice fishing and they really are incredible, best boots I've ever owned by far. Very warm, comfortable to walk in and 100% waterproof. My buddy up at my lake in N/W QC has had a pair for several years now and I bought mine on his recomendation.

I just bought these boots, they're unreal. Super warm and totally waterproof: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...&id=0020833 Also MEC has a great deal on this parka, plus free shipping which I also bought. Fantasticly warm coat! http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail....D=1231186816057

Locally for me it's Mountain Equipment Co-op hands down which you already mentioned. Beyond that I'd be looking online at Cabelas.