It’s early February and steelhead season on California’s north coast is without a doubt in full swing.  The charge of chrome bright steelhead are now entering the rivers to spawn and steelheaders are looking to pick a fight with one of freshwaters prized fighter’s.  Steelheading is a rite of passage that can be enjoyed by all anglers. 

     There are many levels of angling, and this column will offer some helpful pointers for the experienced steelheader.  It is very easy to become complacent or “set in your ways” and there is no doubt that some steelheaders experience better days of fishing than others.  Others do really well most of the time because they do the right things at the right times.  With this said picture this; you’re on one of our coastal river and it’s been raining all day long. The river is certain to rise and color up.  You’re having a great trip hooking a handful of steelhead all week long in what most steelheaders would call perfect river conditions.  But what will later this afternoon look like?  Or even tomorrow morning after all this rain?  Well Mother Nature has dealt you some high water with some not so great color.  Don’t worry, the steelhead didn’t just disappear and relocate to the moon, they’re right where most fish will be, along the river’s edges in slow slack currents.

     It has been my experience that while many anglers may have stayed in their room waiting for the water to clear and drop, other anglers will be out fishing.  Some may plunk, some will fish the edges and moving lanes and others will do what worked yesterday.  Conditions have changed and so does your game plan and presentation.  Should I stay or should I go now?  Picking the right presentation for today’s given conditions is the key to give yourself the best chance to hook into fish today.  Steelhead are going to take the route of least resistance, and you need to know if the steelhead you’re fishing for is a moving fish or holding fish.  This is a very important question to ask in order to know what today’s game plan should be. In this column I will focus on a moving steelhead situation.  Steelhead will make their move in low, medium and high water flows.  For example, in low, clear water conditions, steelhead may hold in deep holes where they feel more secure and chose to hole hop and move upstream in low light conditions like at night.  

     In high colored water conditions follow these simple rules when fishing for moving fish.   Position yourself in the river system where you know there are spots where steelhead are going to funnel through.  For example, a seam on an inside bend would be a classic moving lane, or a willow line where there is plenty of depth and slow current for steelhead to rest momentarily or move through.  In high, colored water this one of my favorite spots to fish.  You can literally cast and fish right on top of steelhead that don’t even have a clue you are there.  Many steelheaders make the mistake of overlooking willow lines with slow currents just for that reason, slow to nonexistent current to work with.  Try what I learned many years ago: short, precise upriver casts close to the bank or willow edges and then back reel keeping the bait slowly moving all the way to your rod.  I have hooked and landed steelhead five to ten feet from my rod tip.  If you choose to try this I would highly recommend loosening your drag because you have very little line stretch with that little line out on your hook set.  With a medium to tight drag you will inevitably get zip, zip, zing, zing, SNAP!  Or a combination of the latter, neither of which the outcome will be good.

      Also, after you discover some of these sweet spots, you can fish for hours not losing tons of gear and keeping a bait in the strike zone longer, increasing your chances at success. In this situation I have decided I am fishing for moving fish and they are traveling near the edges avoiding most of the river’s heavy currents.  In spots like these  the fish will often roll or break water giving you the confidence of knowing you are around fish.  I have had the opportunity to fish around some great anglers in my time on the water.  One phrase that plays over and over in my mind like a broken record was said to me by a good friend and great steelheader.  “Dave, they’re just swimming by.”  Some of the greatest fishing tips are so simple that it’s almost ridiculous!.  Once you give in to this phrase and truly believe it, you will have taken a huge leap in the right direction to becoming a great steelheader, and it will help you in your decision of where and how to fish for steelhead on any given day.

     Another tip I can offer is pay attention to the river for clues.  This is a story in itself but let’s keep it simple.  If high colored water is new to you or you just haven’t seen this river condition for awhile don’t panic.  Go around to different spots and watch.  This is how I discovered some of the sweetest high water spots on a river system.  Believe me, the fish will show themselves and help you anticipate how to get after them. 

     Another point to think about when hitting the river in high, colored water would be to use bait or artificial with or without your favorite scent.  When fishing seams for moving fish, both will work and so will a combination of the two.  However, a moving fish will more times than not be a reaction biter, so a brightly colored yarn/puffball combo with a favorite scent would be a good choice.  This choice will also give a steelhead in colored water something bright to see and smell.  When back reeling for steelhead I have found bait and a puffball to work best while fishing something slow.  I have fished both in this situation, and bait certainly out fished the “yarn fly” combo.  Floats and brightly colored jigs have also produced, but still, back reeled bait worked best for me.

     Asking and answering certain questions before hitting the river next time will definitely help you to become a better steelheader.  There are many different variables that can add up in a decision to change techniques, to stay put, or to move.  Try a few of these suggestions in this column and you too will find some great steelhead fishing when you hit the river this season.

Get out there and just fish!  Remember, sticky sharp hooks get em’!  Good fishing. Dave Jacobs

Dave Jacobs is professional guide for salmon, trout and steelhead on many of Northern California’s rivers. Dave Jacobs can be reached at 1-800-355-3113 or davejacobsfishing.com