hooking more fish-Details

[David Johnson]

Many anglers over look the details of fishing. Fresh line, sharp hooks and good knots are a mainstay of most anglers in the area of details. There are many others out there that should get some attention too.

Fresh bait and keeping it cold, remembering what color at what water clarity you hooked a fish on, were the fish was holding at what water condition (height), tuning your plugs and matching their size and style to the depth and speed of current, observing what other anglers in the area are doing and keeping your self updated on info. such as conditions and success rates all will add to your own success.

Timing makes up a world of difference. Knowing when and were to be pays off big.

I don't think line size is a big factor unless you are looking for a natural drift (like float fishing) or there is very heavy pressure under very clear conditions. If the water is cold this wont matter as much either as the matabilism of the fish will be low enough they will not get spooked as easily.
This past week I have been running 20# leader on my plug rods in this very low, clear water we have had. One thing if they are going to hit that big plug they sure are not going to care about the line on it and the water has been pretty cold. For chinook I never run less that 40# leader for plugs, never under 203 with bait. For steelead I never go less than eight.

Being the first boat down the river will insure you that you are first to the fish, but you could also be missing a lot of fish.

Here there are two thoughts, you could hit all the agressive fish before any one else and cover more water, thus more fish, or if you are working over less water but harder at it you could get those fish missed by other boats.

I usually opt for the second choise. By knowing the river and every little nook and cranny I seem to do better doing "clean up" behind other boats.

Nothing will substitute for lots of fish or putting in your time. Be out there as often as you can.

David Johnson

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[David Johnson]

If you are just starting out and getting into steelhead fishng for the first time, do yourself a favor by not cutting corners on your equipment.

This morning I was thinking about the first steehead I ever caught. It was after fishing two whole seasons with no success. When I say two seasons I mean every single weekend with my dad from Thanksgiving through February.

I finally caught it after getting a decent rod and reel.

When I started it was with the same cheep, fiberglass, $20 rod that I used for bass, catfish, trout...I fished all that first year without hooking a single fish. This was beck in the mid 80's, when there were loads of fish in the Clackamas.

The next season I got a graphite rod, not really a steelhead rod, it was a Eagle Claw for downriggers or something. At the end of that season I did hook one fish in Eagle Creek, but I was using cheep imported swivels and the swivel broke in half and I lost the fish.

Third seasn, the weekend after Thanksgiving. The Clackamas was totally blown out so me and my dad drove around all day checking out tribs that were a bit clearer. At about 2 o'clock we were fishing a large back eddy in a small creek that is no longer even open to protct spawners. I had on a orenge corky with a pealed prawn tail I had dyed hot pink with Pro Cure egg cure and soaked in shrimp oil. As I drifted it through it came to a stop and wham, I set the hook and "Fish On".

As my dad tailed it we noticed it was wild, we unhooked it and let her go.

Back then you could keep any fish, and my dad had kept a few on other trips but I wanted to let her go on her way. I wish I had a camera along but to this day I can see it in my mind as clear as if it here yesterday.

That winter I landed three or four more and was hooked forever.

The morral of the story, if I would have had the right equipment I could have had more success. It took two years to get the right gear, and have enough time on the water to learn a few things.

There is also no substitute for knowledge. I learned a great deal in the fallowing years by reading every thing I could, talking to people, putting in time on the water and attending siminars.

[David Johnson]

Her's a tip:

When fishing crowded conditions, give the fish sometinbg different.

I like to use a color or scent that other people my not be using in the area to give the fish something a little different. This works great.