What's it worth?

[Snagly]

I've loved fishing for steelhead since I caught a fresh spring run almost six years ago (on a plug out of a guide's boat). Since then I've caught steelhead on a variety of methods and continue to enjoy experimenting. On the other hand, there are certain very productive types of fishing (e.g. plugging) that I don't use very much simply because the skill required from the angler (vs. the boatman) isn't as great.

So my question for the Board is "How much (more) do you value catching a steelhead on one method vs. another?"

For example, in Alaska we used to fly fish exclusively. It's what caught the most fish so there wasn't any snobbery. Then two years ago I started fishing jigs in deeper holes. Now I drift the river with a fly rod and a jig rod. But because it's harder to cast and detect the take with the fly rod, a fly rod caught fish is in my mind worth more than a jig caught fish. For me it takes an 11 lb jig & float fish to equal an 8 lb fish on a fly. (I'm not saying that this is the way it really is -- I'm just sharing how I feel.)

If I had to take a stab at it, I guess my "enjoyment breakeven" numbers are somewhere along the following lines:

20lbs: Guided and plugging
14lbs: Guided and casting gear
11lbs: Guided and using flies or using a new lure

11lbs: Unguided and using gear
8lbs: Unguided and using flies or using a new lure

Explanations:

If we are talking about extremely large fish -- say, 25 lbs and up, then I'm likely to be much more appreciative of them even if it was a guide that put me on to them! (In that case a self-guided 20 lber might compare with a guided 25 lber.)

I'm increasingly appreciating that finding the fish is harder than figuring out what they'll bite. Reading water is hard for me, so I place a premium on finding my own spots vs. being shown a good slot by a guide. (This is also the reason I ALWAYS use a guide the first day or two when fishing unknown water: I enjoy the challenge, but I'd rather learn where the fish hold and maybe catch a couple than try out my pet theories from different rivers.)

I also don't use plugs on my own very often, and never from a drift boat so I consider them to be just another lure when I'm on my own

I don't fly fish particularly well, so I place a premium on using flies (usually swinging wets or high stick dead drifting)

I love catching fish on something new even if it isn't technically difficult to present.

I fish where there are bait bans so bait doesn't apply.

Then there are the separate but equally subjective questions of "How many fish do you have to hook/ land for it to meet your defintion of a 'great day'?" Is there some sort of trade-off in size vs. numbers? "Does it take two 10 lb'ers to equal one 15 lb steelhead in terms of satisfaction? How many 15 lb fish equal a 20 lb'er?"

Well, it's clear I don't have enough to do at the office today . . . .

[RichH]

For me the bite is everything. If I'm on the sticks the thrill of watching that plug/diver rod flatten out is the best part. I also enjoy feeling the bite when I'm using other methods.
I fish with a guide once or twice a year on the river I grew up on, the Rogue, simply because the method thats most effective is side drifting bait and as the rower I don't get to fish much usnig that method.
I also don't typically have a ton of patience so seeing alot of river is fun for me. Thats another reason for me to plug when I'm on the sticks. I know most of the rivers I fish well enough that I will plug through the prime spots and blow by some of the lesser ones. Sure, I leave fish unmolested but someone who is more patient than I can have a crack at em.
I would have to say my all time favorite method is drift fishing though. I absolutely love the feel of a typical bite while drift fishing. With my molasses quick reflexes it can be a challenge to hook up but thats most of the fun, right?
As far as size being important, to each his own. I enjoy every fish though I must admit that catching my first winter fish on a jig last year and having it be over 20# was a double treat for me. I'm always happy to see a hawg, even if it is on by buddies rod. :wink: :grin:

[NAUTI-NOTIONS]

I belive what your hitting on is the "APPRECIATION FACTOR"
I've had guides put me on some nice fish, But when i can do it out of my own boat with my own gear. Now thats cool.. Whatever the method,
If it makes you happy.
One time as a youngen a caught a 6 pound large mouth in a gunnie sack. took it home and revised it in our swimming pool, i was a proud peacock.

[ampersat]

since i haven't caught that many big fish, every one is reason for a national holiday, in my opinion.

[smoky]

Ive been primarily drift fishing for the past year
for Steelhead/Silvers.

How ever I recently caught my first fish (from my boat) pulling a plug.

Ive caught fish with guides on plugs, but there was something special about doing it myself on my boat with just me and the dog.

I was actually anchored up in the last hole before Sollie. Very slow day, low water.

I was cleaning the boat while I had a KWIKFISH out.

Had my back turned and heard the reel slamming in the holder. There is nothing like watching the rod go down a coulple times, bury and then feel the power of 24#s of chrome chinook.

Dog (smoky) was supposed to be watching the rod. He looked up when he heard the fish splashing, then went back to sleep until I got her in the boat. Took a quick look and back to sleep again.

Also, caught my first two fish back bouncing recently on the Wilson.

First one was with Dave Johnson. He taught me how to be patient while they nibble and then set the hook once its deep in their throat. I enjoy BB as much as drifting.

[Bubzilla]

Good question. I'm not sure I feel the same way, though. I began my steelhead fishing career with a fly rod. In fact, that was the only way I fished for any species for the better part of fifteen years. I caught tons of summers, lots of winters, and all five Pacific salmon species on flies. Then one day things just kind of changed.

My Brother and I had walked into a kind of secluded spot on the coast only to find much higher and more colored water than we'd expected. Rather than just flog away or turn back for a long hike, he talked me into fishing a slinky drift rig on my fly rod. We proceeded to catch 7 winters over the next four hours. What a blast! The next day I went and bought my very first drift rod.

It wasn't that I'd never caught fish like that before; it was that I realized that I knew jack about conventional fishing. Suddenly, fishing was a new experience again. I wanted to try lots of things I'd never tried. For example, I'd literally never even fished with bait for salmon and steelhead. Can you imagine? In fact, if you'd have asked what a Bumbers Knot was used for I'd have probably said it was for towing a car!

Since that day, I've expanded my gear selection--to my wife's delight--and tried many new techniques, but I'm still learning. That's one of the reasons I think this is such a great site. So, to answer your original question, I appreciate fish that I catch doing something new now more than any others. I caught some monster summers this year fly fishing on the Rogue and North Umpqua, but my favorite fish so far was probably a 33# Chinook caught out of Doughterty Slough while bobber fishing this fall. How's that for irony?

[Snagly]

Bubzilla, that's quite a tale of reverse snobbery! It exemplifies an important point: if it's too easy, the satisfaction begins to wane unless something else changes. Either the catch rates have to keep climbing or you introduce new wrinkles into the system. Once you "know" you're going to catch 'X' steelhead a day using a certain method, the urge to experiment becomes overwhelming (esp. if others are catching more using a different method). (Then you try the new, new thing and get skunked. The next day, you're back with the Old Reliable approach praying it still works!)

Anyway, interesting group of perspectives from all the posters. Thanks.

[smilesforu]

I must admit I am always trying new things. Not sure if its boredom or the challenge of something new. Perhaps the promise of learning a trick I can use when needed. 20 hatchery rats equal one nice teener native in satisfaction level. Actually the rats are forgotten unless they can do something memorable, large numbers of them or bit on some new technique. The larger fish just make vivid memories happen.

[Snapset]

When I catch a fish, the enjoyment I get is mostly during the first moment of "Fish-On!" realization, unless the fish is an out of control native or one of the hot 4 pounders that seem to think they were born to fly.

Having someone else hook a fish for me, such as a guide plugging down a river, would mean nothing to me unless I was learning some valuable knowledge for the future.

As far as method, there is something to be said for a jig bobber dunking, also for a sticky chomp of a fish eating eggs and a piece of twisting chrome clobbering a spinner. I think FNF has an exciting technique I might try. I have never trolled for steelhead, especially at night, but next fall I might have to make the long drive up to Washington.

Time for the rain to stop. I got to get out and get me some.