[Leyland]

Hey all!

This is my first year steelheading and I know that the Vedder is the place to be, but unfortunatly the 6 or 7 times I have gone have been unsuccessful. I have gotten three out of my local river but am unformiliar with good holding water in the Vedder. Just wondering if somebody could point me in the right direction.

Thanks a bunch

P.S I'm not a huge fan of crowds

 

[Britguy]

Just trial and trial
spend a litle time walking the river and think, if you were a fish wanting not to be seen by preditors but not in fast tiring water where would you be :wink:
then it is just a case of working those areas with everything bait wise
If you see others out there watch where they go what they use how they use it
I now you say you dont like crowds but two or three is not a crowd
Have fun and good luck
if you still struggle take a guided trip

 

[kaitlyn]

wait for some rain!!! when the water is this low, there are fewer obvious places for the fish to hold. these places are well known to locals, and if you do not like crowds, now is not the time to fish, as even if there are fewer anglers working the river, they are working way smaller areas. there are some fish holding in less than obvious places, in faster water where they can find some cover, where you would not normally find them. sometimes behind boulders, but often right in the middle of a run that you would normally not consider, due to it's speed. when the river comes up, you'll find fish all through the river, at least, that's the sense that I get.

 

[Bent Rod]

Keep at it and you will slowly begin to realize success. The vedder is a very difficult river to consistently catch steelhead on, mostly due to all the pressure it gets. This pressure makes the fish wary and sub par presentations are not met with success.Be happy knowing that if you can consisitently get hookups on this river than you will have a much easier time elsewhere.
Also try throwing something unique at these fish, or get yourself some fresh GHOST SHRIMP, and you might just get lucky. Also remember that March is a very good month, do not give up yet, good luck.

 

[dinsdale piranha]

The Fickle Vedder

1. Catching three steelhead in your first year puts you in, probably, the 95th percentile for newbies.

2. Why is the Vedder the place to be if you are catching fish in other streams?

3. The Vedder is subject to hot and cold streaks just like any other river. One day this year I got an even dozen fish. One week later, I fished the exact same water, day-break to last light, and got blanked.

4. It is so easy to avoid crowds on the Vedder. All you have to do is find a spot that is more than a 100 yard walk from the road, and you will have clear sailing. Last week I fished from the clay banks above Slesse Park to Tamahi rapids and saw exactly one person - and he was on the other side of the river! In fact, I was starting to get worried that if I had an accident, no one would find me.

5. The kind of water you caught fish in in those other streams is the same kind to look for on the Vedder. For winter runs that would be slow, somewhat laminar water that you cannot (or at least have a hard time) seeing the bottom. The water can be slowed by either structure or flatter gradient.

6. Make sure you choose the right bait.

Dinsdale

 

[markinhope]

:shock: WOW 12 Steelhead in one day ! On bait or fly ...? What a day you had, One day between me and bergler on the fly we hooked 6 or 8 cant remember now ! But 12 ... That is somthing ....

 

[dinsdale piranha]

:shock: On bait or fly ...?

Bait. That was a career day for me on the Vedder (by a mile).

DP