From the Publisher

By the time I discovered steelhead I was a pretty decent trout fisherman and could hold my own against the best.  

But I had never fished for steelhead.  I had read a lot about steelhead and wanted to try it.   I heard how difficult they were to catch and how they had a barely perceptible bite.  

On my first steelhead attempt I fished the Russian River north of San Francisco -- where I  worked for a major construction company.

I did everything wrong!  I was there at the wrong time of year, wrong water conditions, wrong fishing spot and wrong technique! Naturally, just plain beginners dumb luck kicked in and I hadn't been fishing in California for 45 seconds when I caught an 8 lb bright steelhead!  I thought to myself: Nothing to it!  

It took me 2 years to catch my 2nd steelhead!  

West Coast rivers flood and silt up from torrential winter storms that make them un-fishable for much of the winter.  The  trick is to catch the right water conditions.  I tried several steelhead rivers but the long drives and relatively short windows of suitable River conditions conflicted with my work . 

After the winter runs, most rivers have a summer run of what are called "half-pounders" although these summer fish can weigh up 2 lbs or more.   I once fished the Trinity River in Northern California during a summer half-pounder run and literally caught fish with almost every cast!   Every run, riffle and backwater! They were everywhere and I can honestly say that that was when I really enjoyed West Coast steelhead fishing!

Then I re-discovered steelhead fishing in -- of all places -- New York!   Although I had fished the Adirondacks for many years I had never fished the Salmon River north of Syracuse.  A friend from North Creek NY took me to Pulaski on a fall day during salmon season, and watching hundreds of anglers fishing for and CATCHING salmon and steelhead was all it took to get me re-hooked! We asked around for a good guide and scheduled a combined wading/driftboat trip.

On that guided trip I didn't know what to expect.  Especially the wading part!   I was accustomed to the Hudson River in the Adirondacks where wading was fighting for a foothold on a bottom composed of slick moss covered BIG boulders!  One slip and you were swimming!   There I was in the pitch blackness of early morning expecting the same; wading in an unfamiliar river and Steve, our guide, telling me just step over this HUGE log and you'll be okay. Expecting to take a wet spill I was happily surprised to feel a bottom that was easily wadeable gravel.

I was expecting a slow day with endless casts and looking for the tiniest twitch of my bobber. Instead, after only a minute or two, the bobber just disappeared -- permanently!   I gently lifted my rod and I had my first Salmon River fish. Not a steelhead but a beautiful 7 lb domestic rainbow!   That first day I caught nine 10 to 12 lb, steelhead, two 6 lb brown trout and the rainbow. Fifteen years later I never caught another rainbow.  All steelhead!  

Since I knew that there were humongous brown trout in the river I asked Steve if I might try some night crawlers I had been using for big Hudson River browns.  He said they weren't very good but to go ahead.  

I cast out and briefly turned towad Steve for some reason and turned back.   What happened to my bobber?   Not only was the bobber gone but a BIG fish almost yanked the rod out of my hands!   After about 10 minutes I lost the fish.  Steve estimated it to be a 15 lb brown!   Not bad for my first day introduction to New York steelhead fishing!  

Many trips later the most memorable trait of steelhead for me is that they love to jump.  If you like spectacular jumps and long strong runs you'll love steelhead fishing!  On another memorable two-day trip, two of us caught 70 steelhead -- all 10 to 12 lbs!   Now THAT'S steelhead fishing! 

And, contrary to popular opinion about how delicate steelhead  bites can be, they can be aggressive as hell and viciously attack your presentation -- especially in shallow water!

And once again, sometimes you catch them when you go against the accepted norm!  

The name of this website says it all --  hooked on steelhead!

Tight lines!

Dave S.