Headed to the Cowlitz on June 27, pulling plugs from a sled. As a newby I thought I'd throw my fly rod (9ft 6#) in the boat...will that work? What else do I need? What flies should I take? Other advice?
Just a stupid comment first.... I don't think it's legal for you to pull plugs and have a fly rod for yourself. I'd double check the regs to make sure it's kosher.
Aside from that, if you plan on fishing from a boat, you should probably focus on some form of nymphing technique. Lots of folks do a stonefly/globug dropper and others use plastic beads and glue eggs. In addition general stones and other nymphs will probably work well too.
The only presentation thing you really need to make sure is one that focuses on a drag free drift...
Finally, you should probably take a look at Andy Simon's nymphing for steelhead article... Good place to start
Fly selection for steelhead depends greatly on time of year and location. Since I am covering techniques mainly used on the Snake and middle Columbia river strain steelhead, my fly patterns are somewhat specialized.
You'll be fine with what's listed there. In general as long as you put something in front of a steelhead, they'll take it. Yarn eggs, copper johns, steelie stones, globugs, glue eggs, they all work. The hardest part is finding the fish and getting the fly there. If you're good with pulling plugs and identifying good steelhead holding water you should be fine. Once caveat though, you'll probably want to focus on the slower, shallower sides of the runs you fish with plugs. Otherwise, you won't be able to get the fly down for very long....
Hmmm, I may have misunderstood. I think a six weight is a bit light for pulling plugs, but I'm not a plug expert. However, it will handle the flies that James mentioned, if that's what you're planning to do.
F*** THAT! If your already engaged in the most indecent hardware, only skill with the helmsman, knuklehead winch fest (I've done it many times to good effect!), try to redeem yourself as a long rodder and swing a Sky Sunset In some of the rifflle water above Blue Creek.
I may often take a skunking but it's a noble skunking!
Somehow it always boils down to this, doesn't it??? I wouldn't categorize pulling plugs as a knuckle headed endeavor more than I would any other type of fishing for steelhead. It's not my cup of tea, but there is some *REAL SERIOUS SKILL* for the oarsmen to get you into fish....
I was thinking that a 10 or 12wt would cast a plug better than a 6wt. I could be wrong, maybe he's using really small plugs.
Hell I've been known to use a real fly on my fly while playing with my fly. Fly on!!!!!
In with the good air, out with the bad air.
OK, a couple things, he never said he'd be using his fly rod for pulling plugs, he's using the rod as an extra when he is not pulling plugs. Second, why do people have to be such purists when it comes to fly fishing. Isn't the whole goal of fishing to have fun no matter what you use to catch fish, or not catch fish, I know I always have fun, fish or no fish, fly or gear. I guess I'm a "bi", I go both ways and both ways are fun. Everyone should try to learn a new method to catch fish.
I think you missed a bit of tongue in cheek humor there Salmo's a pretty experience angler and knows what he was talking about Besides, if you *could* pull plugs with a fly rod, imagine what the take down would look like!
Also a 6 wt. will handle a summer run just fine, it may take a little longer to get in, but it would be fun. You might want to try a black or olive wooly bugger down there, I've had a few accidental hook ups with steelies while pitching those for trout. Good luck.
That is true, especially if there are natives around, but he said he was going to the cowlitz, that river is just a meat factory, so I assumed if he was fishing that river he would be keeping the fish. If he plans on releasing them by all means bring a bigger rod.
I say use the 6 wt and have some fun. So what if it takes him a few extra minutes to land a fish? Most if not all of the summer runs on the Cowlitz are hatchery fish. Hell, he might even want to bonk one for dinner. The state plants them with the intent they'll be harvested. What a novel idea.
Go fish and have fun, whether you are tossing bugs or pulling plugs.
Brian
Quote: " you can use a six weight, it will take longer to get the fish, but it will be fun."
QUOTE]
I recomend that you use what ever rod you want. You can beat a fish in no time with your six so long as you fish the right tippet and pressure the fish.
Have fun I hear the Cow is fishing great, Try a champain glue egg or swing something big and flufffy
Mark
So you are saying, use a lighter rod and play the fish longer?.. It doesn't matter. Or you're saying use a 4wt and throw 15 LB. maxima on it and have at it. Good advice for people learning and lurking:thumb:
Personally I don't go below a 6 wt for summer steelhead, and the vast majority of the time a 7 wt. An expert doesn't even need a rod to responsibly play and land a steelhead without doing it harm. The rest of us would benefit by using gear reasonable sized for the quarry. Reasonable is relative and subject of endless debate.
As for gear on the Cowlitz, the angler will be happier running his plugs on rods suited to the purpose, and the 9' 6 wt. will do the job as described by James above. Plug rods and a light fly rod are an odd mix no matter how you cut it, however. The upside is that the Cowlitz has water suited to just about all gear types and fishing techniques.
So is everyone new a lurker? or are you privy to top secret info? Orignal thread starter (GEMalone) came across sincere and asking a good question.... and replied to Mello in a thankful way...right?
Many fish a 6W for SRSH
Many first post are far worse and obvious to conclude lurking
Plus he has a avator and the signature is :thumb: 'Attitude is Everything!'
Hence- my reference to people "lurking and learning." I would prefer that someone who doesn't have the same skills as you, not attempt to fish for steelhead with their trout rod for obvious reasons.
RE: Fly rod plug pulling. While not the same thing I did once have my buddy connect my fly line to a downrigger while trolling for kings off of Princeton in Nor cal-It worked but boy was it ugly! (I had a monsterous Deciever like lure on the end of my line.)
Does hooking only Squaw fish while chaseing Bass make for a skunking?
15lb maxima on a 4wt with the rod pointed straight at the fish is the same as 15lb maxima on an 8wt. I broke my 8wt on the ronde 2 years back and used a 4wt the rest of the day with 10lb maxima. Keeping the rod very low, much great sucess belongings to me.
Landed a few brats on a slow 5 wt which was more like a 4 wt using a trout setup 8 lb fluro tippett. Of course my palm was blistered and scraped up by a nick in my reel rim. A 7-8 wt would be prime for those fish. If you don't have one, and don't plan of fishing summer runs often, you can pick a berkley cw up for 25 bucks and it will work fine since you have a sled. Good luck man!
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