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Hey fellow BFTer's, I'm looking on making my first trek up to the salmon river this fall with my pops. Having gotten addicted to fly fishing, I want to stick to just that. My dad & everyone he goes with are solely bait casters. No fly fisherman. So I'm kinda left in the dark about a setup.
I'm debating between a switch rod, that can do multiple things, but you need all the lines to do so. Or lately, I've been leaning more so to going to a spey rod, which is completely new to me as far as casting and presentation, also flies.
Allen has their two handed Olympic rod for cheap right now, heard good things. Wondering if anyone has test drove it, along with others for comparison. Also if they're any recommendations for line. I am guessing late fall, fish are going to be at the bottom. So mostly using sink tips. There's a bunch of types too that I can't get my head around, scandi, Skagit, etc. I have not a clue really. Looking for someone whose been there and done that, that could get me headed in the right direction. Also looking for a reel recommendations. I'd like to stay on the cheaper side of things, I know some setups can get up there in price.
Sorry for any typing, sent from my phone
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I've heard it said that flyfishing for steelhead is "the fish of a thousand casts", or something to that effect. I am no expert that's for sure.
You really have two choices in my opinion..you can cast all day and not catch a fish or hire a "good" guide and be 90% confident of catching at least one fish and sometimes many more. Your learning curve will be expontential.
Depending on what you mean by "fall"...through September you may catch some fish skating a dry. As you get into October, most of the bites will be underneath. At least that has been my experience.
As far as spey rods go, you may want to find a fly shop that has them for rent before you buy one. I fish the CW and Grande Ronde mostly and their is a shop nearby that I used to rent from for a number of seasons before I bought one. You will want some casting instruction too.
There are some diehard steelheaders on this board that fish the Salmon regularly. Hopefully they will chime in or send you a PM.
Flyfishing for metalheads is a pilgrimage all to its self. You have different gear, different fly's, different casts, different water, different weather....basically "everything" is different. [  ]
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I've heard that Steelhead in general is a fish of a 1,000 cast! Whether you're bait casting or fly fishing. I'm hoping that by fly fishing, I can present something that looks a little more natural/real though. Isn't that why we all fly fish? And of course the fight on a fly rod! We like a challenge!
Far as a guide goes, my dad has been going for the past ten years I want to say. He is friends with a few people up there that run the jet boats/guiding services. Not sure if we can get on one of those or not. But again, not to many of them fly fish. All bait cast. Makes me wonder if I'd be making the right decision to way to fly fish over bait cast....?
By "Fall", I'm meaning end of Oct, beginning of Nov. I think this is the "B" run that's coming through. Guessing egg patterns would work the best. Not sure what type of spey flies would be working this time of year. Or what type of spey flies work good period! Not sure if you can nymnph with a spey rod, or what all you could even do with a spey. If you're basically limited to streamer style fishing or what. Swinging a fly below you threw holes, casting above holes and pulling through them. Using indicators? And obviously dries.
As far as finding a shop, I've been looking EVERYWHERE locally for anyone that has switch or spey rods, just seems to be non-existent where I'm at. Sounds like I'm going to have to make a few calls up to some shops near the Salmon River and better my odds. I just want to get away from the typical shop trying to sell me only what they have if you know what I mean... If they sell TFO, obviously, that's the best rod out there! If they sell Sage, oh, that's the best rod out there too! Catch my drift?
I'm trying to figure this stuff out now then later so I can get casting and practicing before hitting the river. If I can't do this, I'll prob have to revert to baitcasting, which I don't want to do, but will if I must.
Thanks a lot for your input! Much appreciated!
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if youre looking to catch big b run steelhead on a fly rod, i think you should reconsider your river system. i'd be heading up to the clearwater. a-run steelhead are your fish that spend one year in the salt vs b-run which spend two years. i thought i read some blurb out on an noaa report stating the only b-run fish in the salmon river system are from the south and middle forks. thats not to say you wont catch them coming through, but i've yet to see any consistency of "big" fish on the salmon, compared to the clearwater. it's hard to beat those bruisers up north. theyre all fun to catch though.
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If you're thinking about big b-runs on a fly, especially a spey, go to this website, read it, contact them, maybe even make a pilgramage up there. Guarenteed you won't be dissapointed.
[url "http://www.redshedflyshop.com/"]http://www.redshedflyshop.com/[/url]
[url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0nWBeq7-28"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0nWBeq7-28[/url]
Myself, I just bought the first 8-weight I could find (after I got my a$$ handed to me when I tied to land a renegade B-run size fish in stanley on my 5 weight). I pretty much fish smaller water (Stanley Area or little salmon near Riggins -or my favorite- South Fork of the Clearwater) and I just rig up a heavy duty nymph rig with a thing-a-ma-bobber for an indicator and really long leaders- running egg patterns in tandem with stonefly nymphs. I've caught them on little (#16) prince nymphs too. I fish the same way I'd nymph for trout, but try to spot and stalk when possible. Most guys will hit the deep runs, but don't neglect the heads or tailouts of big pools. Good luck!
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[quote nijimasu]If you're thinking about big b-runs on a fly, especially a spey, go to this website, read it, contact them, maybe even make a pilgramage up there. Guarenteed you won't be dissapointed.
[url "http://www.redshedflyshop.com/"]http://www.redshedflyshop.com/[/url]
[url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0nWBeq7-28"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0nWBeq7-28[/url]
Myself, I just bought the first 8-weight I could find (after I got my a$$ handed to me when I tied to land a renegade B-run size fish in stanley on my 5 weight). I pretty much fish smaller water (Stanley Area or little salmon near Riggins -or my favorite- South Fork of the Clearwater) and I just rig up a heavy duty nymph rig with a thing-a-ma-bobber for an indicator and really long leaders- running egg patterns in tandem with stonefly nymphs. I've caught them on little (#16) prince nymphs too. I fish the same way I'd nymph for trout, but try to spot and stalk when possible. Most guys will hit the deep runs, but don't neglect the heads or tailouts of big pools. Good luck![/quote]
Those really LONG leaders probably really help! I hear steelhead are line shy........LAFFIN
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Don't jack with the poor guy, SHK, every tip helps. Satan- the leaders are to get down deep, not to avoid spooking.
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