November 5, 2011

It’s time to take a break from swinging streamers to type at the keyboard. If this warm-ish weather continues, the streamer bite will run deep into November. And, OH! what a fall it has been.

Loves Black CherriesEither this ole boy is getting better at the game, or there are a heckuvalota more fish in the river this fall. Of course, it might be a combination of both, but I’d place more money on the former, rather than the later.

After picking up Kevin Feenstra’s DVD, “Searching for Steelhead” www.swingabigfly.com/, and watching the way he manipulates his presentation, I came to the conclusion that I needed to slow down . . . w-a-y down. And, what a difference it has made. It has actually doubled my hook-up rate compared to previous years.

Now, Kevin will also tell you that these big, gaudy, flashy flies will fool steelhead all winter long. I’m still skeptical about that, but willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. In the past, I’ve always transitioned over to bottom-bouncing once the river temps dropped below 40F. It’s not uncommon for the Sturgeon to hover around the 33F to 35F zone most of the winter. Can it possibly be that these fish will come out of hibernation to grab a Grapefruit Leach? This year, I think I’ll carry two rods during the winter. My streamer rod with sink-tip, and my bottom-bouncing rig. I’m already looking forward to my next fishing report.

For those of you that tie, the streamers of choice this fall have been (in order of steelhead preference): Nutcracker, Black Cherry Spey Fly, White Madonna. Oh, and I got REALLY lucky this year, and was payed an unexpected visit by a two-foot brown. That one took a Nutcracker hyped up with extra flash.