By Kevin Raffle
Swinging flys while chasing Winter Run Steelhead arguably is
the one of the ultimate angling challenges our British
Columbia Rivers can offer. Curious readers beware! If it's
numbers you're after then this is definitely not your game.
In fact this is a game where even the best and most
experience fly fishers can go for what seems like an
eternity ( especially in drift fishing standards ) before
they may encounter what they've been walking and stalking
the banks of a chosen river with a fly rod in hand for so
long. They're after that magic tug and tightening on the fly
line as it straightens out culminating with pure chaos
potentially exploding on the other end. It's as close to
hunting as you can get. The most common fly set ups used for
Winter Steelhead are either 8-9 weight single handed rods
from 9-10 feet in length, or two handed outfits (known as
Spey rods) in the 12-14 foot range. Both of these options
are best paired with a large arbor reel big enough to hold a
couple of hundred yards of backing and a matching multi tip
fly line system complete with an assortment of different
sink tips ranging anywhere from a type 3 to a type 8. In
some cases heavier tips such as T14 can be used. Tips can
range anywhere between 6-15 in length depending on where one
may fish and what is preferred. It would be recommended to
consult your local tackle or fly shop to get proper set up
options according to what you may be interested in.
In the dead of winter Steelhead can be a fish of a thousand
casts if you're lucky. In the harshest conditions it can
seem like much more. This can be especially true when you
witness terminal methods producing in the frigid conditions
time and time again. Here there is no room for impatience.
There shouldn't be any room for cutting corners or over
looking details such as weakened knots, frayed leaders and
dull hooks. It's a game where you need to put every odd in
your favor every time out. By over looking one small detail
such as that dull hook can end in a lost battle and a missed
opportunity at success. You want to maximize your time and
every opportunity you have. For those willing to stick it
out, put in the time, and stay committed while learning
along the way, will be rewarded with an experience I
personally find is unlike any other when it comes to
fishing.
As the long cold of winter gives way to a warmer spring and
longer days, the odds can start to turn in favor of the
angler. Especially to those who have logged in a lot of time
through the winter months. Warmer water temperatures with a
difference of just a few degrees higher in can turn a
somewhat docile fish into a frisky fish. The need to get
down and stay into that "winter zone" of a foot or two off
the bottom isn't as big of a factor. Heavy sink tips and
heavier weighted flies are put away. While lighter tips, and
un weighted flies start to become the preferred recipes for
success, and quiet periods between hook ups can potentially
become shorter and shorter. Fish now will start to move and
follow a fly before a strike. Sometimes the surprise can
happen only feet from the shoreline, so take care in where
you may wade into the water. This may make the difference in
weather you get interest from below or walk away from a run
getting blanked.
While reading water the same as drift fishers do, we learn
these trout if possible will prefer to hold in certain areas
of a chosen run. Tail outs, current seams, and shoreline
holds or riffles are good areas to concentrate on in over
cast or colored water visibility conditions that are on the
higher side. On the flip side of the coin, under sunny,
lower, clear water days do not over look the heavily
oxygenated shallower head waters of a run. It’s at this time
these areas can make great hiding spots and give excellent
cover to a holding Steelhead while shielding it from the
elements and potential predators above. Mid runs can offer
up some great holding spots as well. Be sure to take note of
areas out in front, beside and behind submerged large
boulders. These spots offer good refuge and break up the
rivers currents creating seams and feeding lanes for holding
fish. The trick here is to choose runs that offer these
different characteristics, but at a slower speed suitable
for a fly to pass through. This type of water is usually
flowing at a walking pace or slower. Don't be afraid to go
through a run a second time if you have that "fishy
feeling". By doing so it could pay off on the second go
around with a new offering. Remember that covering water
properly in some areas can take longer fishing the fly than
with terminal methods.
Perhaps the most common form of presentation used to present
a fly would be using a dead drift method. Once a good
location is found, try to work your way through the run
quartering your offering down stream and presenting the fly
first using a cast, swing and step routine. In laymen's
terms by casting and dropping your fly at a 2 o'clock
position. More times than not this will give a fish the
longest and best look at what is coming down towards it, and
also ensures your fly will be the first thing going down
stream and not the fly line. Mending is important as it
helps slow down the fly as it travels through the water
column. However be sure not to over or excessively mend. The
goal in a dead drift is to present the most natural
presentation as possible. This will allow the current to
move the fibers of a fly, bringing it to life, in turn
giving it some irresistible action that may tempt a near by
fish. Often a single up stream mend, or at most mending
twice in tricky currents will be sufficient. Be firm in your
mend, but on the same token don't over power it. By doing so
the fly can potentially be yanked off course and away from
your targeted drift. Most strikes will occur near the end of
your drift on the swing or hang down so it is important to
pay attention. Indications of a strike can include a subtle
stop of the fly line, a small tap or a pull, and sometimes a
complete and sudden straightening of the fly line.
Regardless of the indication, it’ll always get the heart
pumping!
Fly selection more times than not is less of a factor and
everyone has their personal preferences. However that’s not
to say there isn’t a method to the madness in my choices. I
personally prefer to use bigger darker flies in low
visibility conditions. A great example would be an intruder
style pattern. The reason being, by going with the darker
shades such as blacks, blues and purples, I believe they can
give off a silhouette which is obviously darker than the
clarity of the water making it more visible to fish. In
clear water conditions, I tend to favor brighter offerings
with a good color contrast. Such as Chartreuse and red
mixes, or various pink, and orange combos. Smaller brighter
Spey style flies such as an Orange Heron is a time tested
option that can produce, and is a favorite among long time
Spey casters.
Personally for me it’s about the quality of the over all
experience, rather than the quantity. As long as one keeps
the perspective of the challenge that comes along with this
chosen method of chasing Winter Run Steelhead, then the time
spent in between the results will be well worth it when
success is achieved. Tight Lines
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