We need rain

[spinnermaker]

This is like two years ago you could'nt run the clackamas for steelhead it was to low. I love steelhead fishing we need rain. Two years ago we fished the clack. from a drift boat instead of sled. I had to change the whay I fished it more drift fishing less back trolling. What do you think.

[ 11-27-2002, 11:10 PM: Message edited by: spinnermaker ]

[KingFisher85]

We need rain cause the bright fish that are coming up are stopping in the first good hole and turning dark on use and then move up river very slowly and don't bite.

[spinnermaker]

kingfisher I now what you are talking about. If we dou't get rain its going to be a slow fishing for steelhead until we do.

[David Johnson]

I just got done watching another discusting forecast.....sunshine through next Wed at least :depressed:

Spinnermaker is right, it's time to adapt techniques. When the fish need to come in they will, but right now they don't need to come unless we get some water.

[KingFisher85]

Well, I hope its not to slow this year. I think it was two years ago and we did not get a whole lot of rain. That years winter steelhead numbers in my little river sucked. I think only 500 or so came up over this way in the Lewis. Now last year over 5000 came up and the are even saying that this year is going to be even bigger. Its not going to be very good though if we don't get some rain to cool the water temp down.

[spinnermaker]

Adapting to your water is the way you keep up. Theres a lot of people I fish with that wou't adapt like low water ,the fish are there but thay stay with the same old drift gear. Go small on your bait & corkie, line in 6lb range.

[DanS]

Two years ago was one of the best winter steelhead seasons I ever had. The low water made it EASY to find the fish, and with the proper presentation, they were willing biters. Get out your floats and jigs, guys.

[Chris Nordling]

I like the lower water, but then again, I'm a driftboat fisherman. The program does change a little, but so do the areas where the fish will be. Even tho the backtroll runs are cut way down ( nearly half in length and numbers), we get the chance to perfect other methods as well. Bobbers and bait/jig, drift fishing, casting spinners and even fly fishing come into the arsenal. I think it's fun to try different stuff during the day or season.

And the cool thing is the fish will still bite.

We face these same low water conditions alomost every year on smaller rivers and creeks at some time or another. The neat thing is when you find one fish, you can usually find many, many more. Sometimes in the same spot, sometimes in the surrounding holes or runs too.

Low water is a great time to learn about fish behavior also. If you can perch up somewhere and just watch the fish for awhile, you can learn a ton without losing a single set-up.

But I still want the rain to come :grin:

Chris