Swinging flies for winter West Coast steelhead is a great thrill. The spring steelhead fishing lends itself well for “swinging” flies, and you can sometimes see fish chase the fly over long distances. Pictured are a couple of nice spring hens from today. Thankfully, outside of steelhead circles, down-and-across angling remains limited to a small, occult-like following compared to the numbers of nymph and dry fly anglers. Top 10 Winter Steelhead Flies Revealed. More Spey Fishing Tips. Swinging a fly ultimately means making a cast which gives your fly a chance to flow with the current, lift, and turn rising towards the surface. We'll show you what flies will catch those fish. I’m assuming you have an … It’s also the predominant technique when nymphing for steelhead in the winter. Whether using single-hand or Spey fishing tactics, the goal is the same: feeling that heart-stopping tug at the end of a tight line. Never drop your fly and disconnect mentally. SWINGING & SPEY FLIES STEELHEAD NYMPHS FLIES BY HATCH SKWALA STONEFLIES BWO - BLUE WINGED OLIVES OCTOBER CADDIS FLIES CRANE FLIES Tierra del Fuego Fly Assortment // Sea … I answered a few big questions for you today if you are trying to swing flies for steelhead with a switch rod. Swinging flies is a concept that is often overlooked or misunderstood. When not documenting clients’ outdoor activities, he spends all of his time swinging flies for wild steelhead, casting dry flies to trout in remote lakes, or spinning up fly patterns for a local fly shop. Most on days on the water, I carry two rods, one to indicator fish, and the other to swing. Spring steelhead, like the winter steelhead we pursue in Oregon, return sexually mature in comparison to summer steelhead. Steelhead love them! Steelhead fly fishing: the sole reason many people choose to fly fish. Follow Gink & Gasoline on Facebook: Conclusion. When those two visions come together, you’re onto something good. We were able to lock into some great Bull trout while they were chewing hard on swung flies (past spawn attitude) Theres also some cool Cut throat trout footage as well if your into that. Red's offers the very best swinging flies for Steelhead. From steelhead nymphs to big swinging flies, our selection will have you covered. When speaking of Skagit-style casting systems and tying of intruder type flies, Jerry and his friends Ed Ward and Scott Howell are at the forefront of modern Northwest fly fishing for steelhead. Steelhead are the most common swinging target, but within the rivers of the Great Lakes, there are some diverse opportunities to pursue different fish species, such as Atlantic salmon and lake run browns. These 12 flies will be matched to your exact destination by our team of experts. Spring steelheader "swinging" tube flies on the upper Grand River, OH (This is the first of a series of articles by John Nagy on fly fishing "Steelhead Alley" tributary streams and rivers. This is the final installment of the BC series from this past fall. Swinging Flies Method. Bookmark the permalink. The winter weather and water conditions, as well as sexually developed fish, create some of the most demanding conditions that the angler will encounter all year. The most common and effective way to fish steelhead is by bottom bouncing nymphs with either a floating line or the “chuck and duck” method. Only “crazies” will wade in a freezing river while making Spey cast after Spey cast with one hope: to find a player and entice it to chase and attack our fly. Large and often bright, these fish are some of the most special to swing flies for and are extremely high quality. In 1876, Michigan’s Daniel Fitzhugh never dreamed that his California rainbow trout experiment on the Au Sable River would result in migratory winter steelhead. This is a small run of fish, but when we find one their stunning, hammering flies and giving serious anglers the ultimate fly fishing challenge. Shop with Red's and enjoy a tight line on your next trip. Note: If you are looking for our favorite rods, reels and lines for swinging flies for Great Lakes Steelhead click here … While the theories abound as to why steelhead do or don’t take flies, after twenty-two years swinging flies in steelhead water I’ve accepted that I’ll never really know why, I’m just lucky that they do. I’ve been swinging flies for trout and steelhead for over 20-years – classic, winged-wet flies that have been catching trout for over a century in Europe and the United States. Thankfully the steelhead were as cheerful as our surroundings too. In many ways, steelhead angling is quite a bit harder than some other form of swinging flies. ... We learned a little more about swinging flies during that day on the water. Start with a sinking fly line then add 18 inches of 20 lb test, 12 inches of 15 lb test, and 30 inches of 12 lb test for a leader. Having the RIGHT flies is the first key to success. Steelhead Flies are one of our specialties at Red's. What follows is the story of three fish and the lessons those fish revealed to me about effectively presenting flies to steelhead. If you’re new to Spey fishing for steelhead, try focusing on your swing. If so, drop us a line for more information. Swinging flies can also work wonders with steelhead when the other heavier methods aren’t getting them to bite. It definitely turned into an exceptional day with my favorite two-hander and a great time was had. If you’re not sure what to get, please contact us at info@alaskaflyfishinggoods.com . Other times we may see extremely cold, low water conditions. Winter steelhead have a reputation for being difficult for fly anglers. The fish love well-presented eggs and nymphs. With winter steelhead, you obviously need to get your flies down near the fish, but controlling the swinging line speed is the most critical element for winter steelhead. Want to join us to put some of these tips to practice while swinging flies for trophy resident rainbow trout, dime-bright king salmon, or some of the most powerful steelhead on the planet? In the way, however, lie the inevitable challenges of constantly changing river conditions. Steelhead Anglers who swing flies, are well, pretty crazy. This technique is most common for fishing for salmon and steelhead. This entry was posted in *Recycle, Steelhead and tagged fishing, Fly Fishing, fly fishing lessons, Fly Fishing Photography, Gink and Gasoline, how to fly fish, Kent Klewein, learn to fly fish, Louis Cahill, photography, Steelhead, swinging flies for steelhead by Louis Cahill. However, in the last 10 to 15 years, swinging Great Lakes steelhead, browns, and salmon has become extremely popular, and many opportunities exist in the Great Lakes for any swinging enthusiast. Other general (uncontrollable) hurdles that can affect your fishing experience include heavy rainfall, snow, clouds, and bears. Future articles will feature Elk Creek, PA and Cattaraugus Creek, NY) fishing a beautiful stretch of a quiet Michigan river, swinging a fly with a tight line, only to have your line come tight with an angry steelhead at the other end. On January 28 at 6:30 p.m. PST (9:30 EST), Swing the Fly Editor Zack Williams will host a live event about rigging for Winter/Spring steelheading. Swinging flies … I have heard alot of folks call Bull trout "Poor mans Steelhead".. what do you guys think? He noted that Swinging flies, nymphing and stripping streamers for steelhead are the top techniques and that all are tested these days in the area. So here is my unabashedly biased look at a small sampling of BC’s Best Steelhead Flies. Swinging sink-tips with large flies that are more like streamers than spey flies is … Prompting the Territorial Grab: The Slow Swing In March I was fishing an under-the-radar coastal stream where a healthy run of big, wild steelhead returns each winter. You need one with a soft tip to protect light tippets, but strong enough to pull a steelhead from cover. When the lies are very shallow a dry fly that is fished in the same way will also produce fish. The steelhead and browns can be very aggressive to swung flies and stripped streamers at this time of year as they are feeding on bait before returning to the lakes. The advantage of spring steelhead fishing, if you plan it right, is that you don’t have to worry about things like high river flows and swarms of biting mosquitoes, white sox, and other insects. Any list of the top five steelhead flies for spring or for anytime has to include the clown egg. We have a huge assortment of flies for steelhead. So at Grindstone Outfitters, we do a variety of guiding throughout the province of Ontario, the South Central region, mainly we provide the spring steelhead run. Being successful swinging flies for winter steelhead is all about adapting to changing conditions and paying attention to details. First off, what does it mean to swing a fly? These beautiful sea-run rainbow trout grow upwards of 20 pounds and give you some of the best fights of any fish in the world.. Exploring Summer Steelhead … In addition to the clown egg the list also includes our rabbit wiggle nymph pattern , a black stone , Ed’s Salmon Alevin fly and a good sculpin / goby pattern like the Purple Traitor Sculpin. Whether you are looking for flies for Alaska steelhead or for fishing in Oregon, Washington, or British Columbia, we have patterns you won’t find anywhere else. Sometime between early March and the end of April is peak season for the Great Lakes steelhead run. Jerry French Signature Flies . Swinging flies for Steelhead isn’t for the faint of heart. During my career as a wet fly fisherman I have discovered some truths about swinging a fly down and across stream: After fly fishing for steelhead for over 30 years I have come to the conclusion that I really enjoy the feel of a steelhead taking a fly on the swing with no slack in the line or leader. Swinging flies is like Tai Chi. While I personally don’t swing egg flies to steelhead, as a down and across angler of trout I understand why it works and works so well. Come fish with us in the Bahamas! The spring season starts up in March where there is excellent fly fishing for steelhead and also brown trout. It’s done in a mindful state. Swinging flies for Steelhead The Thompson River in British Columbia is famous for its summer-run steelhead, and this video offers a dreamy look at the river and a discussion of what is happening to the steelhead population. 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