Preparing To Fish For Winter Steelhead?
Using Sink Tips To Catch Winter Steelhead
I have been answering a lot questions about what sink-tips you need and under what conditions to use a particular tip? Both are valid questions and the array of different sink-tips available is a bit overwhelming. If I had to simplify things I would have a Type 3, Type 6, 10' of T-14 and 12' of T-14. Most of the other tips available are, for the most part, designed for specific uses. But keep in mind that tip selection is often a subjective decision based on ones personal preferences. Out of the gate, on 99 percent of winter rivers I have fished, I inevitably start with a Type 6 sink-tip. A type 6 tip will get the fly down, in most cases, without being on the bottom, thus avoiding hanging up which drives me crazy. In addition, a type 6 can be easily adapted to different runs by simply changing the size and weight of the fly you are fishing. If the water is faster I will put on a heavier fly and so on.
Optimal Presentation Of The Swinging Fly
For the most part the depth of the fly is not as important as the speed at which the fly swings. I noticed that Marty Shepard recently posted a similar statement on his blog and he is absolutely right. In cold water, fish seem less likely to move as far laterally as they will vertically in the water column. Watch gear guys fish pink worms on the Sandy river and you will get clear picture of what I am talking about. I have been out several times swinging a run to no avail when a gear boat will pull in, usually across the river. The anglers get out pitch there pink worm, suspended 3 to 4 feet under a bobber, 10 ft. from the bank and hook 6 or 7 fish in the time it takes me to fish the run. Those fish are moving to the pink worm vertically rather then laterally. To achieve a slow swing, you need to make slow controlled mends holding the rod out over the river to get the fly to creep across the current encouraging the fish to move vertically to the fly. You do not want to have slack in the line because it will quickly belly out. Keep in mind that the surface currents are moving quicker then deeper currents. It takes a little practice but with a little work in controlling the speed of the fly you will start see results fairly quickly.
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