Winter Steelhead - Secrets to Success

Winter Steelhead Secrets by Marty Sheppard

 Is the choose to be jack of all rivers and master of none or to truly master a river. 

 I choose to have complete confidence in each day, based on thorough knowledge of my surroundings. Conditions are everything, on the west slope of the Cascades Mountains they change each day. So many rivers within a day drive and I have no desire to explore new haunts.  The goal, for me, is to know every water level, each rock, and the subtle changes to the greatest extent. For the entire winter I am faithful to one river. This bleeds confidence and this assurance hemorrhages success.

These are my secrets to success.

When the river is high and has good clarity you should be there, as the fish will be holding in prime lies.  Often in 2-5 of water right in the middle of your swing! Low, cold, and clear river and the fish like 10-20 feet of water. This is when you need to focus on the deep seams and get down.

Early in the morning, late in the day, and especially in periods of high flows the tactic or temptation of fishing heavy sink tips and weighted flies is completely detrimental to success on my chosen waterway. Fishing a tight line through soft flows in 4 to 5 feet of water with un-weighted fly and light sink-tips compensates for most of the steelhead landed throughout a season. Put on ten feet of t-14 and a weighted fly results in being hung so bad right out in the sweet spot that you almost pull the earth off axis trying to free it up, usually breaking it off, with the whole ordeal spooking any fish in the area.

Take the opportunity during those low flows to learn the river. Often the best fishing is at higher flows and the chance to learn rocks, depressions or drop offs, and subtle channels are right under or behind you as you fish these lows flows. Take note. It’s important for next week when the river doubles in size and you can recall what features exist in that soft run. Low and clear is also the queue to fish deep. Time to get down.

Joe Saracione lands a winter hen.

Some simple points for winter steelhead success:

·         Start short and high in the run. Especially in water you cannot see into. Too many people walk out into the top of a run and strip out the head plus 10 feet of running line and completely miss those chrome creatures tucked into the head of the run and laying 5 feet in front of you.

·         Be consistent and turn over your casts. A predictable fly on the swing gets crushed. I believe the cast that gets the fish to eat is not the cast that created this chance. I believe your last 5 casts are the reason that fish ate! The steelhead saw the pattern of your swings and this primed this critters attitude. When you get that hard grab it is because this fish anticipated the swing. It knew where it would land, how fast the swing would be, and the predictability of it all contributed to the fish knowing it was going to be able to crush your fly! Fish through a run erratically and it is tough to convince the fish to grab let alone hang around. It is much more important to fish at a shorter distance unswervingly than huck out bomber casts that result in Helter Skelter crazy swings.

·         Sharp hooks stick fish. Keep them sticky. Touch a rock? Check your hook. Dull hook? Change or sharpen. It’s a sin to fish so hard all day and finally after all that dedication get grabbed only to come up empty because of a super dull hook that has been ticking bottom on each hang down.

·         Fish hard and fish long. One fish in a day will make it a great day. It only takes one cast to get it done. It could be your first or last cast. Keep positive knowing each one could be the one. If you think your not going to catch a winter steelhead, you likely wont. If you think you are going to catch one you likely will!

Keep'em Wet

Keepemwet started by Bryan Huskey 5 years ago when he was asked by a local fly club to give a presentation about his trout photography. He outlined anglers' responsibility to be good stewards of the resource and to handle catch & release fish with exceptional care, especially when additional time is taken to photograph fish. He called this portion of his presentation "Keep 'em Wet" that has transended into the hashtag #keepemwet. 

This winter, Native Fish Society  launched the “Keep ‘Em Wet” campaign to increase angler awareness about the negative effects of air exposure to wild fish.

"Don’t take us wrong,  I'm not saying we are purest, we’ve all taken fish out of the water to snap a photo, Native Fish Society staff members included.  But the more we learn about  handling fish we love the more healthy wild fish there will be to catch. 

As an outfitters Marty and I have have practised catch and release techniques from early on, teaching sports how to properly handle fish and how to minimize air exposure when taking photos.   

Even when anglers are taking precautionary measures, like crushing the barb, prolonged air exposure can make it difficult for fish to recover and there are delayed negative effects that may not be apparent even if the fish seems fine when it swims away.

Studies have shown that the longer a fish is exposed to air after exhausting exercise the higher their mortality rates are (Ferguson and Tufts, 1992; Gale et al, 2011).  Even 30 seconds of air exposure reduces a trout’s ability to recover and can provide a significant additional stress even when catch and release fishing (Ferguson and Tufts, 1992).

So, let’s get creative with the way we photograph our wild fish by keeping them wet and in the water.  Here's a few recommendations.  Till May 31st 2015, NFS will be holding a photo contest for the best picture of a wild, native fish from the Pacific Northwest with at minimum its gills in the water."

1. Keep the mouth, gill plates in the water cradling the backside of the fish or hand right under the pectoral fin, not squeezing the fish and  hold the tail with the other hand firmly. 

Wild 2013 photo by Marty Sheppard

2. Hold the tail firmly and lay the fish flat covering the gill plate. 

Winter Buck 2011 by Mia Sheppard

3. If you do feel inclined to take a photo of the fish out the water, quickly lift  for a second or two and then submerge the fish back. If you see there is no water dripping off the fish or its mouth is wide open gasping for air, it's been out of the water way to long. 

How to Enter the Photo Contest

To enter, email your photograph to mark@nativefishsociety.org and we will post it to our Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts with the hashtag #keepemwet. The top three photos with the most likes combined will win prizes!

Prizes for the Top Three Finalists

The first place winner will receive a brand new Gary Anderson Custom 12’0” 7wt Spey Rod donated by NFS Board Treasurer Peter Tronquet.  Our two runners up will get to choose between a day of steelhead fishing with Washougal River Steward Steve Lent on the Sandy River and a day of trout fishing with Willamette Valley Regional Coordinator Kyle Smith on the McKenzie River.

The three winning photographs will be published in the Summer 2015 issue of Strong Runs. Let the contest begin, good luck, and Keep Em’ Wet!

- See more at: http://nativefishsociety.org/index.php/conservation/keep-em-wet-campaign-photo-contest/#sthash.GhezXHJO.dpuf

A Steelheaders Passage

Words By: Asher Koles of Bloodknots Fly Fishing Photos by:Asher Koles and Bryan Roller

The water we fish is a part of us. We are protective, secretive, but  willing to open the lines of communication with people from all sides of the spectrum without spoiling the sense of discovery one receives as a steelheader . It’s not because we don’t want other anglers and guides to catch fish. It has much more to do with the process, experience and body of knowledge we have built through grinding out days in high water, low water, and prim-o conditions. Through hooking fish, farming fish, falling apart mid-run, scouting water, loosing flies, having banner days and heart crushing dry spells. Revealing the conclusions from those experiences would spoil one's passage as a steelheadders. We don’t want to diminish the discovery but be willing to guide anglers to the steelhead passage and educate on respecting the resources .

Mia and Marty’s devotion to the steelhead is apparent upon first meeting them. Their fervor for swinging flies, guiding, and protecting these fish has inserted itself into every aspect of their lives. Their daily routine is dictated by the ebb and flow of their home waters. They play an integral role in the community of fisher people, guides, industry folks and conservationists in their region that are all connected to these fish. Their livelihood is based on the health and sustainability of the river systems and the return of wild steelhead. It was very apparent that they would give up that part of their lives to ensure the health and longevity of wild steelhead.

Our foray into this community was intimidating at first. Our experience with people that swing flies, was that they were generally vague, covert, elusive and purposely baffling about their practices. Bring a camera into the room and things get quiet quick. We are as guilty of this behavior to anyone outside our circles as much as the next guy. From our first introduction to Mia, Marty, Brian and their friends we got the feeling that this tight knit culture was in turmoil. Not only the steelhead, but the anglers and organizations that are involved in one way or another were at odds concerning the best way to manage the future of the fish, river-ways, and economic opportunities that beckon. 

What keeps coming to mind in all of these different aspects of protecting and managing steelhead is the simplicity of the fish. The fish has few goals: be at the top of the food chain, and pass on the best genes to the next generation to ensure biological succession. The goals of anglers and interest groups are convoluted and anthropocentric at their core. We want to catch fish. Some of us want to catch and release wild fish, some want to harvest fish. We want to do it a certain way. We think some ways are better than others. What we all have in common is the connection to the fish and the rivers.

When explaining the passion we have for steelhead, we are commonly asked, “Well if you care so much about this fish, why do you potentially threaten their well being by catching them?”. Before spending time around the Sheppards and their friends, that was a hard question to answer. The anglers are the reason these fish have any protection. Without the stewardship of the angling community, the fisheries and natural resources that are connected would continue to be mismanaged by politicians and government entities that have no tactile interactions with the ecosystems. We are the voice of the fish. It’s a double edged sword in many ways because of the multitude of the connections people have to these fish, but at the end of the day we as anglers, guides, scientists, politicians and conservationists must come to common ground on deciding the future of wild steelhead. The fish will keep running, spawning, doing their part. Let’s ensure that they are in a position to do so for both species sake.

Project Background:

Bloodknots is in the process of crafting a documentary on the connections the steelhead angling community, scientists and conservationists have to these fish. What drives both these species (human, salmonid) to go to such lengths to make the connection (swung flies and drive to the home waters)? Investigating what the primary threats are to the fish, what is making their journey harder than ever, and what are the passionate anglers, conservationists and scientists doing to restore sustainable conditions and populations?

Stay tuned on the film’s progress on our website, www.bloodknots.com and our blog, http://bloodknots.tumblr.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/bloodknotsflyfishing

Hitched

photo by Mia Sheppard

Muddlers are my favorite summer steelhead fly.  When the water temperature is 48 and asked what fly to fish, my reply is simple, a muddler,  riffle hitched.

Swing the fly

http://swingthefly.com/mag/stfsummer2013/

There will never be another First

Do you remeber your first Steelhead? You'll never forget!

Jen with her first steelhead !

Hooking my first steelhead reminded me to appreciate all the sensations and emotions of a first time experience. 10 minutes that will last forever in my heart!  

As a novice with a fly rod, my expectations were to enjoy a beautiful day on the river with wonderful friends and hopefully without putting a hook in my eye. Actually catching a steelhead was not on the list...I figured that would come later, after I developed a few skills. At about 10 am all that changed when I felt some resistance at the end of my line. For a moment I assumed I was stuck on the bottom, until the 'bottom' started moving side stream really fast, and that's when I knew the dance had begun. 

Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew my friends were nearby but I couldn't make sound as the line screamed off my reel. About the time that crazy fish decided to take a rest and I started reeling in like my life depended on it I heard Marty, 50 yards upstream "Mia...I think she has one!" As they both rushed over my steelhead took another hard run then exploded out of the water exposing all the beauty and power of this amazing creature. That's when we all realized it was wild and huge! The kind of fish any diehard caster would envy.

It all could have ended right then and I could not have felt luckier (cuz my casting skill sure had nothing to do with it) but it didn't. I got him in close and when Mia tried to grab the line he took another long run and broke water again before I got him back. He rested for a moment while I kept tension, then rolled over, spit out my fly and was gone.

I was so happy that I nearly passed out. Hoots n high fives echoed off the river banks and a moment in time was forever etched into my memory. There may be other steelhead...but there will never be another first.  -Jen AK-Warchild

Tug, The Rod Dropped

Tug, the rod dropped, splash, I fumble to pick up the rod, the reel is spinning, now I'm in control, the rod is bent, the dogs stare on, Nelly's on point.

 The reel keeps spinning, the Saracione stops, my chance to reel, it takes off again, I yell yahoo, no one is around to hear, the reel stops, crank fast, takes off again, the tail smack's the surface of the water, giving in,  reel, the rod bent, the fish is at my feet.

One for the ages

Most of the fish we land every fall average 4-7 pounds and are considered "a" run Columbia basin Steelhead. Each season we land some in the larger class. This one of Bob Alstons is about as large as we see here. This one has a great story behind it with more photos. I would share them here but this fish was landed with Brian Silvey as the guide on one of our guided camp trips! Every fall I head to guide with Brian for a month and later he comes over to guide with me for a month. Check out the rest of the story over at Brians blog:

http://silveysflyfishing.blogspot.com/2011/11/when-you-think-all-hope-is-lost.html

Winter Steelhead Time!

Booking now!

Allow us to take you to some of the most wild an scenic rivers in Oregon,situated just a short distance from Portland. These rivers have wonderfull opportunities for you to fish for steelhead. Our goal is to provide you with the tools necessary to acheive the secrets of winter steelhead fishing. We will work hard to provide this to you!

Join us for another Winter on the Sandy or Clackamas Rivers.

Our forcast:

• Late December will have (already does!) fresh chrome fish spread out in both rivers. These ones are hot!
• January will see more fish push in with some larger wild fish arriving late.
• February is big fish season on the Sandy! Your chance at one of those big beasts.
• March will see longer days, a bulk of the hatchery run, and milder weather.
• April has winter/spring fish. The Clackamas will be great! The Sandy will fish well too.
• May is the time if you love the nice weather and want a shot at the building summer run with a chance of a spring chinook! Don't forget the Sandy River Spey Clave.

photo by Miguel Morejohn

The feeling of holding such a wonderful creature is an emotion of elation and delight!

Sharing moments with family and friends is immeasurable!

Free Casting/Fishing clinics this winter!

Join Mia and Marty Sheppard with Brian Silvey

Jaunuary 9, 2011

February 6, 2011

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Oxbow Park Boat Ramp

photo by Ken Anderson

We look forward to fulfilling your fishing desires!

A big thank you to all of you who made last year a smashing success!