Steeeeeelhead!

The river is full of fish and it should be clear enough this weekend to fish the upper river this weekend.....SWEEEET!  I went to the hatchery by my house yesterday and it was full of 12-15# chromers.  I got a creeper just looking at those beauties.

If anybody wants to give it a try this year, let me know.

What's your plan Sean?  Are you going to float it or fish from shore?

I have never fished for Steelhead before. What kinda of gear do I need? Do you drift down the river or anchor/tie off? Floating down the river sounds like a fun way to spend the day!

Erik:

The fishable area will be small enough this weekend that I will wade.  If we stay reasonably dry I will be floating next week.  I am also scheduled to kayak fish the Gualala next Friday, which I am super excited about.

Bill:

You need a long sensitive baitcasting rod, a baitcaster that is setup to cast a lot, and a few lures or a bait bouncing set up. Best lures are vibrax spinners in silver or orange, and little cleos in silver/blue.

Where are you considering fishing?  I've fished the mouth of Dry Creek and the area within a couple miles downstream of that before... lots of accessible fishing spots through there... but I was never very successful.

I'm debating whether I'll go to the Fred Hall show or join you on the Russian.

Hmmmmm.... decisions decisions....

fellas - if guys decide to fish on Sunday for steelhead = count me in! Never caught one - but I hear they fight harder than the King S.

I just bought a steelhead rod and I LOVE IT!!!! (it just needs a steelhead at the end of it's line)

I still want to hit the FH show on Saturday - maybe find a job as well = Kayak or fishing industry related works well for me....my daddy (Chris/cpyak) wants me to give it a shot  

Go gettem guys!  I want to see some good detailed reports so I have some clue what to do in early Feb when I hit the Russian.

-Allen

so...do steelhead feed at this time or do they bite out of aggression (just like salmon)?

Hey Joel,

I think Steelhead as still feeding.  They can go out to sea and come back many times.  They do not die after they spawn like Salmon do.  Steelhead fishing is a lot like Sturgeon.  You have to be real lucky or spend a lot of time on the water.

Ken

Doh!  The knuckleheads @ the USACE started dumping a big a$$ bock of water out of Mendo this am, so right now its blown out.  They have been pretty cool the last few years though about turnign it down in time to make it fishable by the weekend.

Joel-they definitely feed, and they do fight great.

Sean - what's you set-up for steelhead?

rod / reel / line / lure(s)

One thing I love about fishing the rivers and steams = the scenery is top shelf!
I used to stream fish for little WILD trout above and below Steven's Creek in Cupertino.....using an ultra light rod with 4lb mono and a coach dog rooster tail - with a single barbless hook. (catch and release) Good times!