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Fishing for steelhead with a fly is one of the most difficult ways to be a successful steelhead fisher. One contributing factor is the deterioration of local fisheries due to habitat degradation and excessive harvest from commercial fishers. Even with the odds against the angler here are several techniques that will produce action.

#1. Deep swing with retrieve-

This is an effective way to catch fish in deep water. Stand upstream of the fish, cast across the water and a little downstream. Strip enough line to get your fly to the depth of where you think the fish are holding. Let the fly swing through the drift until its below you. Retrieve the fly at the desired speed, try switching speeds to find one that works.

#2. Dry fly swung-

Cast your fly across the current and down stream a bit, then let the current swing the fly until it is hanging below you. Walk downstream a little to cover all the water fish may be holding. Effective flies for this need to be super buoyant, such as the waller walker and riffle dancer.

#3. Nymphing-

Cast your fly well upstream of the targeted area and allow the fly to drift naturally with the water. Using a strike indicator is suggested and helps keep the nymph at a desired depth. Another trick is to add on a bead trailer about 10inches below the nymph. Make sure the bead isn’t against the trailer hook, this can cause missed hooksets.

#4 Wet fly swung-

Cast the fly across the river and a touch downstream, allowing the current to swing the fly downstream. Take a couple steps downstream to cover all the desired water. Copying the same technique used in trout fishing in streams. An easy method to cover a lot of water.

#5 Wet fly retrieved near surface-

Cast across the river, either upstream or downstream, and simply retrieve your fly by stripping in the line with either long slow strips or short fast strips. And you be the judge on what is attracting the most fish.

Even though steelheading on a fly can be difficult and frustrating, it is definitely one of the most rewarding experiences a fisherman can have. It may seem like an endless struggle to master the arts, but I’ve seen on many occasions avid fly-steelheaders out fish conventional tackle fisherman. Good luck in using these techniques, it takes practice and some dedication to make them effective but I assure you its rewarding in the end. Good luck, watch the back cast, and keep your lines tight.

-tight-lines -troutbum89

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