MarcusDiGiovanni Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 When does a rainbow become a steelhead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakewalk Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 I'd love to see them rise like that on the Grand; but still, I wouldn't bet on a dry fly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solopaddler Posted January 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 OK...I give...I would have thought that rainbow could be caught this way so why is this such a special thing? what is the difference between the rainbows and other river fish? Forrest 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forrest Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 When does a rainbow become a steelhead? steelhead are rainbow that are not permanent residents of the river.......its kind of a grey area. For around here the steelhead would be those rainbow that hang out in Lake Ontario. They have more fight due to all the exercise they get in the lake. From what I read people debate about steelhead vs rainbow forrest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirlo06 Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 great video!!! going fly fish'n tomorrow for sure!!!! supposed to be a little warmer maybe a little rain, sounds like a perfect day!!!! thanks again for that video!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tibbs Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 Cool video! I'd sure would like to see that one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMASSE Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 I had the privledge to dry fly fish for steelies in early winter with RICK WORWOOD (FFF MAster) and BILL SPICER (FFF MASTER) and we ALL got some good hits on WHITE MILLERS. They hatch when the temps are starting to drop but not freezing. Penn. rivers and with good colour water. I even say a guy get a chromer on a hopper-dropper , but i think it was taken when the hopper was being dragged under the water... Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trapshooter Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 I heard a lot about Smithers last winter in BC. A girl I talked to had spent the entire fall there chasing steel everyday. She said they had 5 fish in the 30 lb class........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kemper Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 I have watched this 5 times today now. Just unreal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solopaddler Posted January 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 I have watched this 5 times today now. Just unreal. 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> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 Mike, that's a wicked video man. What do you think those fish rising on the Elk were doing? Seemed to be quite a few of them breaking the surface... I'm getting the itch again, lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdmls Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 I heard a lot about Smithers last winter in BC. A girl I talked to had spent the entire fall there chasing steel everyday. She said they had 5 fish in the 30 lb class........ Can I have her name and # ..... BOX and STEEL are a combo that weaken me at the knees Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennyman Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 Great video. Now about Gord Deval. His book Fishing for Brookies, Browns and Bows : The Old Guy's Complete Guide to Catching Trout was great. Anyone interested in this thread should read this book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 I watched a guy get one on a dry fly on the Grand once.. thought it was cool, didn't know it was a rarity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulus Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) 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 ) Thanks for that bud. I think I've watched it about 20 times now. And I don't even fly fish!!! lol! p.- Edited January 13, 2009 by Paulus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snag Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 I give up (and I haven't even started!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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