Steelhead basic theory

[KStock]

Hey guys,
I'm still learning to fly fish for Steelhead (have caught 6 in my life - half of them on a Spey rod) and want to make sure I have my facts straight... leading to a question at the end. Please let me know if your experience has you disagreeing with any of the following generalizations.
Steelhead generally hold in falling water level conditions. This explains why it's generally accepted that fishing is better in falling conditions since they are more apt to come in contact with your fly swinging across in front of them if they are fairly still.
Conversely, Steelhead move up river in rising water level conditions. This explains why it's generally accepted that fishing is worse in these conditions since in order to catch one... a certain amount of timing is involved to come in contact with our flies as they swim through the water we are fishing.
My question is... when the river is falling for a several days, as it is now, will new fish continue to swim up the river and hold? If not, my thought is that the fish in position to swing a fly at the beginning of falling water conditions will either get caught... or perhaps be more likely to become spooked by fishing pressure since they are exposed to us swinging flies at them for a longer period of time than typical...while they wait for river levels to rise and begin to move again. If this is true, is the fishing generally better at the beginning of a long spell of falling water levels? I could be way off. If so, please let me know. Thanks for your help!

-KStock

[sothereiwas]

My experience is that they continue to move regardless. They definitely move more when water levels are on the rise. Steelhead have been known to go 30+ miles in one day. Steelhead tend to come into rivers when they are on the rise, if they stay at high levels they can move throught the system very fast hatchery fish are notorious for this. One day there are no fish around and by the time the river becomes fishable half the run is in the hatchery traps.

I look at it this way, the most productive conditions rarely align , and you cant catch them on the couch. I go whenever I get the chance, and I pick the location based on past experience and current river conditions.

Brad

[rob allen]

I think that at times a rise in water will bring new fish into the river. however once they are in the river they'll continue to move through the river til they get to their spawning grounds. ( i am assuming we are talking winter fish here)...
However winter water levels are generally higher than summer levels and new fish will enter the river even during low water. 1 because there is enough water, and 2 because winter steelhead are very close to spawning even as they enter the river so they are on a timeline whereas summer fish have all the time in the world and move through the system slower...

the best time to fish is whenever you can get out.. prime would however be as the water starts to fall...

[stoneflyguy]

I do agree that you shouldn't wait for the water to rise before you target the fish but if you get some rain or the levels go up do to water being released from a dam etc. you better be out fishing the next day. Fresh water will always bring in fresh fish. Summer time is a great example of this. A drop in the water temp along with fresh water will always be a good thing. If the water is dropping like it is now focus on deeper holes and runs, this is where you will find the fish.

Jeff

[KStock]

Thanks Jeff, Rob, and Brad. You've been a big help to me. From your comments I've learned that water level trend (rising or falling), though important, is not as critical of a factor to catching Steelhead as I may have thought provided the river is at a fishable level. Granted that just getting out on the river is considered a success for most of us I'm sure... have you had some success catching fish in rising water conditions?

-Kurt

[sothereiwas]

I have but it has generally been limited to summer steelhead fishing. The benefit that we have in this area is that every river is different and they rise and fall at different rates. So unless we have a huge rain storm there is almost always a place that is reasonably fishable. The nice thing about steelhead fishing with a fly rod is that the same techniques you learn on your home river and have been successful with will serve you well on any steelhead river. Learn to read water and remember that runs fish differently at different levels and you will be successful.

Brad

[stoneflyguy]

Brad hit the nail on the head. There are several great steelhead rivers in the Pacific NW and each one of them have diffrent water sources that could cause them to rise or fall. In my area I have the Cowlitz that runs out of a dam. There is the Kalama and EFL that run out of the S. side of MT. St Helens, and SF Toutle that runs of the NW side of Mt St Helens. I could go on and on with the diffrent rivers but my point is they fall and rise at diffrent rates and can color at diffrent rates. If your not fishing then your definatly not catching. Read the water and reguardless of what the water is doing you should be able to target fish even if it isn't optimal conditions. If the water is high fish close to the bank and find holding water where the fish might stack up. Mouths of creeks or tributarys are a god place to start. Don't get hung up on water level too much.....

Jeff

[SilverFly]

All good input. The key to being a good steelhead fisherman is being adaptable. If you enjoy swinging that's great and I certainly understand given the awesome grabs. However I find a lot of satisfaction in connecting with fish by changing my technique to match varying conditions.

High water for example, is often overlooked as being a bad time to fish. When in fact it is only a bad time to fish in "usual and accustomed" manners and places. Ironically high water actually reduces the amount of water you need to cover by concentrating migrating fish to narrow lanes near the bank. With that in mind one might look for an inside bend with well defined seam above a set of rapids. Such a place would be a prime resting spot for fish on the move. While fish can be hooked literally under your rod tip nymphing, - there's no law saying you can swing a big weighted fly on a short leash through the seam either. Another advantage of high water fishing is you can stay put on a spot (provided no one else wants to fish through) and wait for the fish to come to you. That said, I tried both techniques one day last week and only managed to donate a few flies to the rockfish.

[sothereiwas]

Wonderful advise Silverfly. That is something I just recently figured out myself and I've been steelhead fishing for some time.

Brad

[KStock]

Great advice guys... you have taught me a lot. Today I was out on the Sandy giving it another try but with a whole new perspective thanks to your input. No fish today but I'll report back as soon I'm successful applying what I've learned from you. Thanks for all your help!

-Kurt