Locating steelhead in rivers

[shimano19]

Hello everyone. Today I went to the credit river north of brittania rd for the first time to do some float fishing. I've never fished a river so wide, it was pretty intimidating, I couldn't find any spots that stood out to me to fish. It all looked farly similar and when I did find something it was shallow. I usually fish the east tribs like duffins, bowmanville and the ganny. I do we'll there as I find it easier to locate the steelhead and find holding spots like channels, tailouts and seams. How can I break down the credit to help me locate these steelies.

[FloatnFly]

To fish a larger river system, you HAVE to learn to read the water, an best way to do that is go to a smaller trib and look at the way the current moves around obstacles that you can visibly see, rocks will have a little dip behind them with a small eddy or swirl, deep pools will look smoother shallow areas little quicker moving water.

 

heres a video to watch to help you

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9hg0DoSdt0 is part 1

 

part 2 is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1gIB9rzwiM

Edited October 27, 2013 by FloatnFly

[ChasinTails]

i fish all the tribs you mentioned if you go out let me know i could help you out and vice versa

[Salmonidstalker]

First off, fishing anything east of the Humber is pretty much as easy as steelheading goes. Second, avoid using specific spots in your posts.

 

To answer your question, it takes a long time to learn how big systems fish. When fish run and where they are in the river at certain times of the year are extremely important to know. The best thing to do is fish the river when it is clear. Dissect and identify the pools and runs and walk as much of the open sections as possible. You'll be well prepared next time you go.

Edited October 27, 2013 by VXP

[Musky or Specks]

Break it down. When I first walked down to the Ashuanipi River in Labrador I almost kerplotzed

 

Pic of said river

 

 

 

Where the hell do I find brook trout in this monster????

 

I simply broke the river down into more managable sizes

 

Look at it as pieces of a river your use to fishing. Don't try to take it all in at once.

[FloatnFly]

Break it down. When I first walked down to the Ashuanipi River in Labrador I almost kerplotzed

 

Pic of said river

 

 

 

Where the hell do I find brook trout in this monster????

 

I simply broke the river down into more managable sizes

 

Look at it as pieces of a river your use to fishing. Don't try to take it all in at once.

 

 

from the pic, i would start at the boulders in the top right....

[Guest ThisPlaceSucks]

learn to identify major features of the river.. riffle, pool, tailout, thalweg, etc...

when approaching a stretch of river, fish likely looking water in a grid, starting nearest your feet and working out, and downstream.

learn to read your float. if you're fishing productive water with an ineffective set up, you won't even know fish are there...and your float can tell you how deep it is, and where your bait is in relation to the float as you're fishing.

 

and yeah, don't give away where you're fishing. it's not really necessary info, and steelheaders are a grumpy bunch.

Edited October 27, 2013 by Dr. Salvelinus

[Musky or Specks]

 

 

from the pic, i would start at the boulders in the top right....

Which might be a good plan except the water is four feet deep right at shore so they were out of flycasting range. But boulders were the right call in front of and behind seemed to always hold fish. The fact that there was a giant caddis hatch didn't hurt. Brook trout, whitefish and landlocked Atlantics were practically shouting were they were.

[BillM]

Investing in a guiding service is never a bad idea. Along with putting you on fish, he'll definitely teach you what to look for. Biggest thing I was shown (Thanks Mike!) was how to read water properly and break it down. Once you can do that, the river itself really doesn't matter.

[kemper]

Nothing you can do but learn by putting time in.

 

Eventually it becomes second nature, hard to explain.

 

Even on monster systems like St.Marys or Niagara the same principles apply

[Christopheraaron]

 

 

from the pic, i would start at the boulders in the top right....

I'd start at the two giant boulders called bridge pillars

[Musky or Specks]

I'd start at the two giant boulders called bridge pillars

Surprisingly very hard to get too and no fish when we got to them. That water was pushing through there. Not quite the power of the Niagara but you didn't want to lose your feet.

[Christopheraaron]

Stange, would have thought that would be a great spot. The boulders to the left near the shore look good too.

[Canuck2fan]

It is never a waste of time to walk a river you are going to fish regularly when the water is about as LOW as it gets... Lots of people only go to a system when they think it will be high and the fishing will be great. If you go when it is low remember to mark spots using shore features, hand held gps or even your cellphone camera.

 

I can't count the number of times we have a bit of a chuckle watching newbies on a trib fishing in all the wrong places because the water is murky as heck and flowing about a foot higher than usual. They come because of high water but they don't know why or what to do... that is a waste of time to me.

 

As mentioned if you can afford a guide use one, or hook up with someone who is familiar with the system. The second one usually requires going a few times to meet up with someone a couple times so they start to show you things even if it isn't intentional.

[shimano19]

Thanks everyone! Yea I was looking into some guiding services, I found one I like that I may go with. Anyone have any recommendations?

[BillM]

Depends on what river you want to fish.

[Christopheraaron]

Graham Bristow I think he does just about all the dour been ontario rivers and he really knows his stuff!

[Paulus]

Investing in a guiding service is never a bad idea. Along with putting you on fish, he'll definitely teach you what to look for. Biggest thing I was shown (Thanks Mike!) was how to read water properly and break it down. Once you can do that, the river itself really doesn't matter.

Ditto (and Ditto!)

 

- in fact, learning to fish the bigger river will help you read the smaller ones; but once you've achieved success on a good-sized river, going back to a smaller river feels like the kiddie rides at the EX, after you just got off "Drop Zone." lol!

[shimano19]

Haha so true Paulus. I'd like a guide maybe for the credit or a river the same width and challenge

[BillM]

Find someone who does your local river (I know Graham guides the Credit).. No point in driving 3hrs and get guided on a river you'll never fish.