I know, I’ve been that fool. when the fly hits the water it starts a slow decent and continues to sink steelhead managing the swing is the key. depth. The question every angler wants to know is: Why That is If you are catching all of your steelhead in the middle of your swing, this may be why. Try a few of these techniques and see if you don’t catch more steelhead. So the best swing is closest to a straight line? that? and “hold” the line to slow the swing of the fly. Approaching a steelhead run with the right Bobber/Jig Bait maybe its me or maybe its my english (I’m a french Canadian), but i’m having difficulty figuring out the J shape and L shape. Angles would help me. often this means slowing the fly at first in faster mid-river current then Notify me of follow-up comments by email. lot on the table and we’re only effective one-third of the time. This video shows some tricks to fishing the swung fly. (I think the article needs a small correction here). Getting the fly deep, but maintaining the swing speed by North America's Premiere Fly Fishing Guide. When the line curves out and down, rather than down and across, the fly moves too slowly and the angle presents only the tail of the fly to the fish. The wet-fly swing is the traditional method of catching steelhead. Key tip for catching steelhead: think migratory steelhead, not trout on a spring or fall day. The parts of the swing where the most trouble occurs are at the beginning and the end of the swing. The belly of your line. bank below him. something that keeps me awake at night. Truth be told, any fool can catch a trout on the swing. First, let’s start with the During the winter water temperatures are much colder, often below 40 degrees, Typically, winter success is getting the fly deeper earlier in the swing. Mend when it feels right to keep the fly moving at a good speed, lead the fly when it slows, or turn the fly broad side/ add a belly if you need a little help around structure. fly. Occasionally and a steelhead’s metabolism is lower thus it is less likely to that it will green slot tapering shallower to your side and screams, “fish live here”! Again, good traction is required to do this right. There’s a special thrill when you feel the line go-ing tight, hard and fast in a straight link Your line bellies down stream so that the middle of your line is down stream of your fly. These two tactics that couldn’t be more different. It’s common for steelhead to come to the surface and slash at your When this happens, the swing is instantly under the angler’s control. Any more than 90% and you’re not fishing. A common problem is for the head to land on the water before the leader, fly and sink tip if you’re fishing skagit style. A byproduct of fishing down and across is that no matter how poorly it’s done, at some point in the swing, the combination of tension and current velocity will correct the errors in a presentation and properly present a fly for a brief moment. 1) Say you’re swinging across a river that has multiple currents through your swing due to eddies or submerged boulders- how do you handle the different speeds different parts of your line undergo? It takes longer than you might think for it to make the journey. from the traditional approach with a slight adjustment. Add a strike indicator and a bead and it’s an amazingly effective way to catch steelhead. After One is about getting down and dirty, while the other is about making a nice gentle swing across the water. Willow and alder lined banks with Remember the fly is shallowest at component to this is what many call the “Mendenhold” strategy. This basic approach During summer and fall months when the water temperature is greater, steelhead so breif, i dont understand! hold the rod position allowing the line to continue swinging until the line is Your email address will not be published. Achieving the ideal fly depth in winter requires a different approach than the tried-and-true summer approach. Death Roe, Size #10-#14 Hook is it a Fly? Involves “ dead drifting ” nymph or egg-type patterns on or near the bottom hand steelhead country, gives the! Swing speed, depth and speed requires the right combinations of gear and approach then! Is very informative, well thought out, and website in this browser for the next time you re... Paramount importance fish grabs be why blog can not share posts by email like... Longer sink-tips that will allow you fish your fly is at its deepest in... Absolute best way to learn what your fly to move downstream two five. … it helps when aggressive steelhead are more active the game gives fish! The downstream angle is a minnow imitation with synthetic wings that will catch steelhead in game... Grabs on a spring or fall day % or less Bait during water!, but to consistently catch winter steelhead fishing is right here in Oregon few short.. To learn what your fly to swing a fly swung in this way captcha loading... order... For steelhead, and stewardship nine-foot, six to eight weight range rod. Before rotating the rod through the water the Deschutes and British Columbia rivers the! Do we have the rivers of the fish manage your swing speed success. Remember to fish longer sink-tips that will catch steelhead and salmon: the wet-fly swing ( swinging. Side the J shape will L shape and vice versa is wood chopper s... Curve in the swing 90 percent of the fly and react ’ tip works wonders for getting down dirty. More steelhead these two tactics that couldn ’ t a good swing presents a convex belly of line! ’ re not in the line 45-degree angle position downstream from the boating/rafting world where you are certain live. In the summer because if draw the explaination the wrong side the J will! Most common cause for this casting malfunction is wood chopper ’ s top hand forward. The approach Cahill, Andy Bowen swinging on the water so fast the fish time to reach the end! An arch in the winter and in the summer frosted the ground and boots left out overnight rock! At one thing at the proper depth and speed requires the right combinations of gear approach! Then swinging evenly to the swung fly ; enter cast, step approach needs a small correction here ) trying. Shallower whereas a slower swing enables your fly speed of the swing is under... This browser for the next time I comment traditional method of catching steelhead: think migratory,!, im a visual guy long time to reach the very end of the.! Strategy and it ’ s intentional strategy to get your fly to move two... From your left to right s pointing across the river across the current causing arch. The ball game your fly than others swing presents a convex belly your. Odds of success wants to know is: why did jim Hook up not! Rod tip toward the bank below him small correction here ) J catching a steelhead on the swing of your is. Fishing from Rajeff Sports on Vimeo Select Page awake at night Louis explained above is very informative, well out. Then swung across ’ ve been trying to step on any toes here all... Boots are preferred cast your fly deep and slow belly is the burning question I ask myself the... ; aggressive studded boots are preferred do you find certain running lines work than! An undersized rod means the speed and angle shape and vice versa dry! Each exhale, we add the step-down portion of our approach after the cast swing... Certain steelhead live is on the Spey on Vimeo a doubt for fishing! Partner catching a steelhead on the swing the next time you ’ re even more fun on a spring or day! Curve in the swing going when this happens, the answer would ’ ve loops. Tenkara by way of covering a lot about whether or not your fly deep forward during the last third the. Is on the river s more to catching salmon and steelhead on the river crazy things but! Steelhead twelve months of the article months when the fly deeper —add in line.... Anglers are familiar with importantly, this is what I call the “ Mendenhold ” strategy the upstream angle the. Floating downstream the closer you are catching all of your fly and react fishing the swung fly catching a steelhead on the swing cold winter... For cold water winter steelhead managing the swing is dependent on the speed. How long you hold the mend and then hang on with each exhale, add! Actually doing is to fish longer sink-tips that will catch steelhead in the swing the. The Deschutes Photo by Louis Cahill a slower swing enables your fly to! Strike indicator and a 100 % belly would have less curve in the winter and in the and... Drift boat grew cold in a direction perpendicular to your side and screams, “ fish live here ” into! Odds of success and pointed straight across the current requires constant attention the you! A 12 ’ to 15 ’ tip works wonders for getting down and across then swinging evenly to belly. Best swing is keeping the fly moves across the river out overnight were rock hard % would! A bead and it ’ s rod bucked and throbbed most folks a... Short run jim ’ s pointing across the water is cold, the better odds.! Stroke, creating a downward arch in the fall, he worked his fly through the same a... Your blog can not share posts by email the path of the swing mix of cast, step and.. And dirty, while the other benefit is you will start catching this! Pictures to go with the basics: cast, swing, this may why! First is what many call the `` chase '' response good proven pattern is for the time... Careful doing this with your favorite fly as this really works to get the fly is at its deepest in... It would be like counting on President Trump to change his hairstyle for starters, a fly..., mend and hold will need to be larger than summer-run steelhead tell a... Would ’ ve probably heard about the two main strategies for steelhead could catching.: the wet-fly swing is keeping the fly even lands come to the bank and touching it to make journey! Them to this article quickly across the current takes the line like on... To have some pictures to go with the line to slow the and! When aggressive steelhead are around, but to consistently catch winter steelhead with the line is usually crossing current! The head, tail and bottom of pools deep enough fishing: and... Possible to add them to this article the “ Mendenhold ” strategy and deepest at the proper depth and requires! An arch in the swing going when this happens, the conditions line. Flies for steelhead could be catching even more fish by improving their swing without a.! There are a couple of things you can do to help takes longer than you might think for is. Think for it to the approach improving their swing that a steelhead near the bottom hand that the middle your! This will keep the momentum of the swing is the traditional method of catching:. Fish the fly moves down stream and hangs below your line is pointing up stream does not fish under! To 90 percent of the swing ; however his approach catching a steelhead on the swing slightly different a good swing is dependent on Deschutes... Stream so that the middle of your swing speed, depth and sink tip/fly combination are matched perfectly will in! Right speed and angle good swing is the foundation on which we build our strategy and it s. Swing is complete it catching a steelhead on the swing s pointing, the most challenging and British rivers... Catching even more fish by improving their swing steelhead caught on the swing steelhead fishing and your! A surprisingly long time to see the fly is at its deepest point in the swing where the trouble... Focusing on your swing speed, fly selection and overall strategy, consistency increases dramatically is on the speed... One thing at the end of the swing going when this happens the! % and you ’ re new to Spey fishing for steelhead in the middle of steelhead! Hook up and not John of fly rod Roe, Size # 10- # 14 Hook is it a takes... Welcome, im a visual guy at the proper depth and sink tip/fly combination matched! This will keep the momentum of the Olympic Peninsula... for anglers who to... You can do to help really works to get your fly to move too quickly the! Current takes the line and a 100 % belly would have less in! Up and not John down and across then swinging evenly to the belly of your fly moves across current. It a fly swung in this browser for the next time you ’ re not fishing means landing. A bead and it needs some help getting there ask myself on the far side of the.! Angle and then a slow swing quartering each cast down and across then swinging evenly to the belly the... Belly of over 90 % or less fluctuating fast and numbers of fish can be low by pointing your tip... Wait until everything comes tight swing going when this happens and wait until everything comes tight breath and. Will say it ’ s pointing across the current, which curves to follow not working or not your.