‘How To-Videotorial’ choose spots to stand in steelhead runs..

Posted: March 28, 2009 by Hellcat in Fish Reports


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By Chris Heller aka H3llcat

The more and more I fish smaller rivers for steelhead, the more I realize the need to choose your first spot in the run very carefully. There’s definitely something to steelhead spooking, unlike any other salmonid. So, it’s important with that first spot you choose, to take a moment to choose it carefully. Minimize your impact on the run by considering where the best spot is to fish several different angles, depths, distances etc.

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Team Salmon secret water…..

Way to many anglers are inclined to walk into a river and cast towards the other side. Why is this? Same reason we read sentences from left to right: It just feels right….and….that’s the way we’ve always done things. Casting short requires skill and can be uncomfortable to do. Ironically, much more skill is required when trying to cast short, versus casting far. “That doesn’t make sense” you’re saying to yourself, right? Think about it though. Fishing short means making everything MUCH smaller and shorter, perhaps lighter too, unless the water is off color. But I am speaking more about fishing close on a relatively clear water day. These are ‘untouched’ water methods, so get to your river early. If the angler before you already recently fished the water, then just keep moving. Use this ‘choosing your spot’ method on newly fished water for the day.

I walked up to one of my favorite holes on a local river recently, only to find someone standing thigh-deep in fishable water. He probably stood in that spot because he doesn’t know any better. That’s fine, because that’s how we all learn. Only, I didn’t take the energy or the time required to make him aware that his location he chose to fish this run was piss poor. If I would have told him that I have caught several fish RIGHT where he is standing…..it would’ve fallen on deaf ears. In fact, we’d have probably had words, or more even.

So, instead of telling this poor fishless angler that he should “fish the shallower water first, and then move outwards”, I decided to put together what I am calling ‘allaroundangler quick clips’ where I spend one minute or less providing my readers with a, well, quick tip.

QUICK TIP #1……approaching and selecting your location from which to cast is the first thing you do……

Enjoy your time on the water more by spending a few minutes before your first cast to imagine the best starting spot to stand. Remember, this will take a couple minutes. Let your eyes adjust to the water like you are viewing a stereogram.(click the word ‘stereogram’ to view) …..now just let yourself naturally read the water. The seams will start to appear more clearly….and your eyes will reveal little things to you that MAKE THE DIFFERENCE when you are steelhead fishing.

You’re going to be changing your presentation rapidly with short fishing….but if you can pull it off you may find the fish are all in close that morning. We’ve all had it happen, if even by mistake (an accidental short cast catching a fish for example ) …..so let’s try this method habitually and see if your catch numbers don’t go up.

“How To” quickly choose a location from which to cast into a run…



Thanks for watching my ‘Quick Tip’! More videotorials to come!

Chris Heller aka H3llcat, Team Salmon Captain

Comments
  1. B Dog Lobey says:


    Nice work Hellcat on the tutorial!
    .

  2. Hellcat says:


    I hope you all enjoy it! Thanks!

    Chris

  3. SalMonid says:


    Chris – nice touch. Fun to see the water and pick out where I would be casting. I actually know the hole and it has some dandy water. I think that is a spot where you scored earlier in the season?

    Sal

  4. Hellcat says:




    .

    Just kidding, Sal. I couldn’t resist the picture. Indeed it was a good spot this year and past.

    Lil Sal

  5. Nookslayer says:


    Nice work Hellcat!

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