New to Steelies

[[email protected]]

Need some tips if nobody minds but I'm new to steelhead fishing and I wanted to try it this year.  I was wondering if I could just attach on of my reels to my fly fishing pole instead of buying and longer rod.  I'm only 14 so I'm a low budget fisherman obviously so please tell me if this is alright.  I don't know what kind of line and what pound line to use.  I have 12# fireline with a 4-5 ft XPS fluorocarbon 10# leader to the end of this with a swivel in between them.  I would also like to hear some of the rigs you guys would use if you don't mind I would really appreciate it.  If I am successful I will put up some pictures so I would love your help if you wouldn't mind.  Also if anything is wrong with my set-up, please tell me.  Thank You

[flagguy83]

Thats a little heavy on the line. I like to run 4 or 6# test for the leader and 6 or 8 pound main line.. Sounds like you have the general idea though. Good luck out there.

[Mr.Vexilar]

Yup too heavy on your leader line.  If i was you... Being a beginner and all i would go get some 8 lb gamma main line and spool your reel with that.  Then use a 6-4 lb maxima leader. 

[fish4kitty]

Ditto with vex. 8# main line 4or5# tip. If you are running an 8or9 weight fly rod you can probably pull it off. Keep in mind when you do nail an 5 to 15# steelie you are going to wish you had a little bit of butt on your rod. They don't just roll up on they side and come in. They go frickin nutz and fight ya all the way to the net. I run 8# stren backing 1/2 or 3/4 or 1oz stick weight then #8 barrel swivel then 4# maxima to whatever I'm running,weather it be spawn, fly. Endless possibilities on different set ups for steelies. Hey good luck.

[Ice Drinker (#1 Guy)]

There's no wrong way to fish steelies, but just make sure not to go too heavy on the line.  I normally use 6 lb. and just make sure you have a great drag on your reel or you are in for a long day.  LOL!  DO NOT horse them in or you WILL get snapped off (or possibly snap your rod)

[[email protected]]

So I need to get some lighter line but is the fly rod ok to use and put just a spinning reel on it?  Also should I go out and buy some salmon eggs or something like that or use artificial baits and with the eggs what kinds of rigs do you use?  Thank You

[DR.SPECKLER]

u can use your flyrod but regular line will eventually wear grooves in the eyes after catchin some steelhead and it will fray your line.id go with 8lb stren if your just startin out.i just attach enough split shot to keep it drifting down river but not enough to stick on the bottom.it really depend where your fishing them

[mbrooks]

Yup too heavy on your leader line.  If i was you... Being a beginner and all i would go get some 8 lb gamma main line and spool your reel with that.  Then use a 6-4 lb maxima leader. 

Definitely go with 4 pound maxima, I prefer slinkies over just plain splitshot though... it helps you feel the fish take better.

[Mr.Vexilar]

id be careful using spinning line on a fly rod.... Do you know what weight your flyrod is? For michigan run steelies you should have at least a 7 wt rod, 8 wt is a good weight also. 6 wt will work but thats a little light.  If you've got the reel for your fly rod why dont you just settup your flyrod for indicator fishing??  Rio 7-9 weight steelhead taper float line, with a 10 ft tapered leader tapered down to 8 lb.....  I would be willing to spend a day with you on the river and show you how i set up my flyrod and teach ya how to indicator fish with a fly rod if you can come over this way.

[[email protected]]

I can't remember my fly rod weight right now but I will find out later.  It's at my dad's house and I'm at my mom's house, should be able to find it today.  I think it is meant for all trout and the guy from Orvis said it could be used for salmon too.  If it is less than a 6 wt. should I just go to my 6'6" M Ugly Stick rod or should I use a 7' MH rod?  Is gamma the only good line for this kind of fishing because thats almost all I have been hearing or is there other lines out there or is gamma just the best?  If you guys don't mind I would still like to hear some rigs because I'm kind or clueless except that you need weight, not split-shot(less feel), and it shouldn't be heavy enough to stop the bait just keep it from moving to far away.  Any special hooks like octopus hooks or egg hooks or what kind or lures?  Also should I use a bobber or what?  If you guys could answer any of these questions that would be great.  Thanks

[deerhunter1030]

I know you said you don't have a big budget but if your going to start steelhead fishing your going to want to get a 9ft steelhead rod. You can find cheaper rods that will run ya about 50 dollars or so. You'll want and good spinning real with a good drag. You don't need a lot of tackle. Split shot,#4hook egg hooks, maybe a few bobbers depending on where your fishing. Line is all personal opinion!! I use 6# maxima ultra green line. Steelhead fishing isn't a science!! Its just your basics. My buddies and I have caught hundreds of steelhead over the years fishing simple!! Big thing is learn the river your fishing!! Good Luck!!

[C P]

Rigging:

Take you main line and tie a 3 way swivel to it off one side of the 3 way tie a small piece mono for you split shot about 2.5 the number of split shot your going to need all depends on the current where your fishing. Next tie your leader to the bottom of the 3 way you going to want your leader at least 4 foot long or more then tie your hook to the end and your ready to go.

Line: In my personal opinion it doesnt really matter what brand of line you use. I use 8 pound trilene smooth casting as a mainline and then the same thing for a leader only in 6 or 4 pound depending on water clarity.

Rod & Reel: Your going to want a at minimum a 9 foot rod the longer the better really. The longer the rod the more sensitivity your going to have and it will be easier to get a good drift and hook set. For a reel your just going to want to use something that holds a decent amount of line and has a good smooth drag.

**Gander Mountain is running some really good deals on steelhead rods right now I was in there the other day.

[flagguy83]

I know you said you don't have a big budget but if your going to start steelhead fishing your going to want to get a 9ft steelhead rod. You can find cheaper rods that will run ya about 50 dollars or so. You'll want and good spinning real with a good drag. You don't need a lot of tackle. Split shot,#4hook egg hooks, maybe a few bobbers depending on where your fishing. Line is all personal opinion!! I use 6# maxima ultra green line. Steelhead fishing isn't a science!! Its just your basics. My buddies and I have caught hundreds of steelhead over the years fishing simple!! Big thing is learn the river your fishing!! Good Luck!!

Traverse bay steelie has nice rods for 25 bucks. I have had one for 7 years and never had a problem with it.

[Mr.Vexilar]

Line: In my personal opinion it doesnt really matter what brand of line you use

  Im not so sure about the brand... Its just the poundage and stretch that the line has.  Flourocarbon is a sinking line, and mono floats... If you're going to rig to run a bobber off a spinning rod settup i would spool your spin rod with mono... If you're going to chuck n duck (aka bottom bounce) i would use flouro.  Only thing is flouro has a lot of memory and can give beginners trouble as far as knotting up goes... Just watch your spool and make sure you dont get any loops in your line as it comes onto your spool.  Or just use a flourocarbon leader and spool your main line as mono.

You almost NEED to have a 9 ft rod or bigger.  A cheep reel wont last you too long either. Get a real with a good drag system. I went cheap and bought a cheep steelhead reel last year for my spin rod.  I spin fish 2-4 wks out of the year, and spend LOTS of time on the water and hook quite a few steelies, the cheep real was burned out in one season.  Steelies take so much drag they will literally burn the drag system out of a cheap reel in a hurry!

I would buy a steelhead combo... Real and rod in one package, Gander mountain has them for $50.  Those reels arent the best, but if you dont put a bunch of fish on them you wont have a problem.

You will want the longer rod b/c it is easier to handle a steelhead on a 9 ft rod compared to a 6ft rod.  You wont be able to do SHI* with a steelhead on a 6 ft rod unless hes a little guy.  Rod length gives you the opportunity to be in closer contact with your fish and if you lay your rod to the right, the fish will then turn to the right, lay your rod to the left, fish will turn to the left, its a good way to control them and keep htem out of water that you dont want them to be in.  Brush piles, fast water, log jams, rocks, wtvr.  But it all comes down to having as much power over that fish as you can to put you in the advantage side of things to land that fish.

[flagguy83]

I'll tell you what zach. Do what you can just get out there and fish. Heck Ive caught steelhead on 5 1/2 foot bass rods. The only thing  to worry about is finding the time to fish. Just get out there bud. I your ever up in the traverse city area. I'll take you out fishing for steelies. Good luck out there and have fun.

[[email protected]]

I have the Clinton River in my backyard so finding a time to fish won't be a problem.  The only problem is what house I'm at because the river is only at my Dad's.  I'll take all of your tips and I thank you for all of them too.  If you guys have anymore I would love to hear them and I would really appreciate is.  I have some ideas for for rigging but I would appreciate those ideas the most.  I'm heading over to Bass Pro tomorrow and ill see what they recommend for rigging.  Ill post what they have for the Clinton river and pictures if I have some luck.  Heard it's suppose to be nice tomorrow so ill try my luck for them and maybe ill fly fish some too, you never know.  Hope all you guys have good luck out there and ill either buy a new rod or try what I have, depends how much they run at. 

[Slammerman]

GOOD LUCK!!!

You will definitely need that fishing the Clinton. I grew up in Muskegon fishing West Michigan streams like the Grand, Muskegon, White, Stony Creek, Pentwater, PM, Little and Big Manistee, all of their tribs., etc.

I would fish the WORST water in West Michigan over the Clinton (or Huron) on this side. I live in Ferndale and it's only a hop, skip, and jump to run up to Yates or most places on the Clinton. I HAVE FISHED IT. It LOOKS like a prime stream with good flow, cover, etc.JUST NO FISH!! I fished it under prime conditions and multiple spots for a couple of years with the best spawn I had, wigglers, waxies, jigs, even threw spinners. I did catch a couple of small rainbows on spawn the times I fished it.

I HAVE SEEN one steelhead come out of the Clinton. Or else the guy caught it elsewhere and was just walking around by Yates with it. I know fish do come out of there. I met a guy who's dad lived on the river and he's fished it since he was a kid and knew under what conditions to fish the one "stacker hole" in the area. He called it a stacker hole because he once caught two fish out of it on the same day. Not the stacker holes I'm used to - we'd call it a "stacker hole" if we took 20+ fish out of it in a day...

I don't waste my time fishing the Clinton anymore. I might drive by and go for a walk here and there.

One of the BIG PROBLEMS with the Clinton is that when they stock it with baby steelies, the locals will beat it to death with their fly-rods playing "catch and release". It's more like catch, release, then two days later a bunch of dead fish downstream.

GOOD LUCK fishing the Clinton. If you can take a steelhead out of that stream, you've accomplished something in my book.

[C P]

Wow Slammerman did you have anything positive to say there? The kids never steelhead fished before? Got any tips for him besides the place that hes going to fish sucks?

[Mr.Vexilar]

Got any tips for him besides the place that hes going to fish sucks?

I think he gave some real good info there.......  The kid is new to fishing, and if he is going to fish a river that dont get a good steelhead run he's not gonna hook a bunch of fish... Or any at that.  Now he knows he aint the only one who dont catch fish in there and he wont get discouraged... Which getting discouraged is the first step to failure when trying something new......

[fishhead16]

Amen Vex. Glad slammer gave him this info, other wise he might get out there and not catch anything and get discoraged. Good info guys!!

[flagguy83]

I have to agree with vex. Theres nothing worse than a young guy trying to fish steelies and get discouraged. Once that happens they dont want to get out there anymore. It happened to me my first year but now I can live with out it. LOL. Everyone is just trying to help the kid out and trying to put him on some fish ,and not in a dead river thats all. I dont think slammerman was trying to discourage him, just helping.

[Slammerman]

Wow Slammerman did you have anything positive to say there? The kids never steelhead fished before? Got any tips for him besides the place that hes going to fish sucks?

Best tip I can give is to go and watch where they are CATCHING fish. Unfortunately, this will probably not be on the Clinton - I can only hope and pray I am wrong and the Clinton actually gets a good run this year.

I've learned more by going to a spot and watching the fishermen when I was MUCH younger. Don't be a pest and ask an occasional question and most guys are glad to help. Pay attention to the guys that are catching fish (NOT hooking or LINING fish). Watch what the guys are doing, that are catching, fish compared to those that aren't.

[fishhead16]

Slammer, can I come and watch you? I'll bring the beer I just want to see where your fishing!!!!

[Mr.Vexilar]

Fish... If you guys dont catch any walleys tomarrow you'll be PIS**D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  THe steelie run is awesome over here, tomarrow is gonna be an absolute RIOT!!!!!!

[Slammerman]

Slammer, can I come and watch you? I'll bring the beer I just want to see where your fishing!!!!

Come watch ....

I'll be somewhere downstream from the weir on the Little Manistee on April 1st ... so will about a zillion other guys.