Steelies like Blue Fox

[steelheadslayer]

Hit my favorite winter steelhead river today for some fun in the sun. OK, had to wait for the sun to burn off the fog and melt the ice in my guides. The river had sure gone low and clear which kinda surprised me. I talked to one old gent who I helped release a beautiful 12 lb. chrome nate hen and he said it really dropped since yesterday.

Get to one of my favorite drifts and there is no one around. That just doesn't happen this time of year. Fish baits of Amerman eggs and red cured prawn tails with no sucess. So I decided to grab the spinner rod. I bought this rod from Get Bent Scott at the show. He built it for himself but never used it so he made me a deal on it. Now, I think it was a GREAT deal. 8' long, 6-12 lb test one piece rod. Thanks Scott.

Throw out a #4 Blue Fox, sunrise pattern bell, chartreuse with tiger striped blade. 2nd cast, fish on, a dark 5 lb. hatchery buck, back he goes. Fish awhile longer with nothing. Move upriver a few holes and nothing there either. See a few guys leave who had come in while I was fishing earlier. I decide to move too. And then rethink that idea. A mile down the road I say to myself, "there's no one there, a fish hasta be in there somewhere."

Hike a couple holes downriver from the beginning spot and toss out a prawn tail again. FISH ON, and just as quick fish OFF. Grab the spinner rod again. Chartreuse bell body with chartreuse blade with red dots this time. 2nd cast, the spinner gets hammered like a fall nook on a wobbler. About a 7 lb nate buck darker than a Tule nook. Back he goes.

I think I'll just skip the first cast and go straight to the 2nd cast which seemed to be the secret today. Every cast other than the 2nd one came up empty.

I believe this was a first for me, I don't believe I've ever caught a winter steelie on a spinner before today.

[ 02-09-2004, 07:43 PM: Message edited by: steelheadslayer ]

[5-Cents]

Sounds 1000000000% better than working my friend

What a great day to be out [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[SLEDDER]

Thanks for the story! Blue foxes knock them dead on the Deschutes during the summer.

[steelheadslayer]

Shane, you don't know how close I was to applying foe that job you posted. I have a decent job now with good benies but am always looking to change. But then, like you said, it's better than working today which I probably woulda been doing if I had a job with your co. :grin:

[SHOUGALNITE]

good story :smile:

[FallRiverGuy]

Spinners and spoons are a fun way to catch steelhead. Way to go on the successful day.

[Hawg Caller]

Good post: I always bring a spinning rig as a back up, often catch steel on blue fox in the nestuc."lesson learned".

[slabhunter]

Way to go! I've missed with the float and got them with the hardware too.

[ 02-10-2004, 03:19 PM: Message edited by: slabhunter ]

[Raven1]

I've seen the Blue Fox peform for fellow fisherman as well. Unfortunately, all I've been able to do is snag it, or overcast into that ever waiting tree across the shore....

[fishinpoor]

years ago a buddy turned me on to making and fishing homemade spinners,wow my catch rate went way up,there are times when a spinner is all they want,i've fished holes with drift gear/bait then tossed a spinner and wham "there he is" you won't see me on the river without my spinner/float rod along with a baitcaster,look into building your own,as good as blue fox's are you can make custom spinners cheaper and better quality.i bet you won't pass up a hole without chucking a spinner before you move on. :grin:

[maxcat27]

ive had awsome luck with them at marmot dam in mid march for nates........that equals death when the water is right up there and when they are on the bite

[Phishin Phool]

Acouple years ago I was working in Sweethome during the summer run. I'd get up alittle early and head down to the river. Be there by 6am and have fish on the bank by 6:30 and be at work by seven. This lasted for about two weeks. Had a fish on or on the bank just about every morning. All with Blue Fox. Silver blade with dark green body or rainbows or charteuse #5's.
Can't wait till this summer. Gonna have to get up alittle earlier though cause I'm working in Corvallis.

--PP

[bigamefisher2]

Blue Fox is the way to go. I personally use #5's, in the silver/silver, blue/silver, and an occasional brass. I fished the siletz this past weekend and caught and released one, and took 2 home on Sat. Went again on Sun. and had a blast...I hooked 12 and landed 7. 4 were on spinners, and the rest were on pink plastic worms. I haven't used any other spinner since I discovered how well the Vibrax spinners work. Hope you have more luck and fun on them.

[SPAZZ]

CONGRATS

[x3putt]

Watch for the new "Micheal Jackson" Vibrax that will be in the stores in about 60 days. The bell is black w/ silver speckles and one of the blades is tipped with Char and the other Fl Red.