Steelhead will hold in 1- to 2-foot depths under broken water just below riffles or even in rapids in those conditions. Once you’ve been able to routinely predict where fish will be holding you’ll have better judgment of where to fish on an unknown river. Steelhead trout eat insects and zooplankton in the water or on the surface. A very important point to remember is that run timing will also play a crucial role in your success.Sometimes there just isn’t anybody home. It is within these sections that you must concentrate your efforts fly fishing for Steelhead.So now that we have a general idea of the good holding water and what to look for, lets move onto other elements of good holding water. It is during the upstream migration in preparation for spawning that we fish for Steelhead. Catching a steelhead on a dry fly is a pretty magical experience, but it doesn’t happen with … Be prepared to mix things up based on water or other conditions. Look for traveling lanes in rising water. In addition to traditional holding water, other places that may occasionally hold fish for brief periods of time are referred to as resting water. As the fish come up through the fast water, or chute, they need a moment to rest before making their way further upstream and will find small pockets of slower, softer water to rest and may take a properly presented fly. Anglers can choose from a variety of techniques when fishing for steelhead, but … The Steelhead is a sea-run Rainbow trout. Winter steelhead have a penchant for holding in the tail-outs. After locating these “shadows”, look for the wavy motion of a fish as it holds its position.You may also notice a “flash” as the silvery sides reflect light from the sun. – YouTube Video. Conversely, steelhead will begin to hold in slower current breaks as the water cools down prior to winter and have a much longer window to see the bait coming at them. Approaching the likely steelhead water often causes the suckers to scatter, which in turn spooks the steelhead. The structure for good holding water is usually made up of large stones or gravel.Sandy runs almost never contain steelhead for long as the sand tends to irritate the gills. imx steelhead drift Steelhead use holding water to rest as they leave the ocean or the Great Lakes and migrate up coastal streams and inland tributaries to spawn. Although we may never understand all of the variables that attract a steelhead to a given section of water, and ultimately what leads to a successful hook-up, the following paragraphs will hopefully give you some ideas to ponder before heading out the door with fly rod in hand. It’s time to open the egg buffet this fall and see what the hungry customers are in the mood for each day. Although we may never understand all of the variables that attract a steelhead to a given section of water, and ultimately what leads to a successful hook-up, the following paragraphs will hopefully give you some ideas to ponder before heading out the door with fly rod in hand. 7) Adjust your gear and techniques to water levels. When the water is crystal clear they might be holding in the rapid waters of a boulder garden. On coastal streams, holding water may only be 30-40 yards in length and 30-50 yards in width, and in some cases may be even shorter. Fish a short line. Some of the variables that make up good holding water are: flow, depth, river bottom makeup, and structure.By evaluating this basic set of variables you’ll better determine where to spend your time fishing. Drift fishing can be very effective, especially in higher water, but you can lose a lot of gear and spend more time re-rigging than fishing. What creates great holding water is a function of geologic structure and its surrounding vegetation.For any given river system, the gradient, or slope, of the canyon or surrounding landscape through which the river flows determines the speed of the water. We were able to find fish all week by targeting likely steelhead holding water that was just out of the main current flow, often times picking fish up out of “frog water” on the very inside portion of the run. Keep in mind that fishing for Steelhead is seldom if ever a numbers game, one or two fish in a day is considered a very good day! In contrast, on large river systems, they may be hundreds of yards in length, and may be over 100 yards in width. A powerful yet quick storm blew through the area on Tuesday, forcing winter steelhead anglers to hit the pause button. Now that we understand what Steelhead are, and what their purpose for re-entering fresh water is, we’ll examine the water that they tend to be found in. You’ve checked the flows and have determined that they are conducive for good water conditions.It is now time to grab your fly rod, and head out fishing. that looks like perfect holding water for steelhead never holds steelhead because there is no reason for the fish to hold there. #1 place to target in the Water Column for Fall Steelhead. yes”> In addition to the makeup of the bottom, runs that contain large boulders are especially appealing to steelhead as they offer protection from the currents. Look for runs that have stones as large as your fist, maybe larger. Another crucial element that must be considered for good holding water is a run that has a deep section where the Steelhead can move to and hide if it feels threatened. A very important point to remember is that Good holding water may be separated by hundreds of yards if not miles of river that is either too fast or slow to hold fish.Because of this, having some means of traveling fairly quickly to the next section of good holding water may mean the difference between success and failure. You’ve done some research, you know which rivers get Steelhead, and when the run typically begins and ends.You’ve spent some time researching a river and have learned where Steelhead typically hold. The first part of the art of Steelhead fishing … If the water is high they might hold along the edge of the river bank or in the slower tail out of a long run or pool. Another crucial element that must be considered for good holding water is a run that has a deep section where the Steelhead can move to and hide if it feels threatened. In cold water a steelhead’s metabolism is slower and therefore it will not move as far to grab and will generally strike in a less aggressive manner. … In many cases this deep section may be 15 or so feet deep. Some Steelhead holding in there middle of the day resting spots Video. Also write down places where you observe fish caught. If you continue to use this site we assume that you are okay with it. All of these places have … If you ask any successful northwest steelhead angler what are the most important aspects to becoming successful steelhead fly fisherman they’ll probably answer by stating something like “fish the right water” and/or “confidence”.These most basic of variables do go hand in hand, for without one, there isn’t the other.You most likely won’t catch Steelhead if you aren’t in the right water, and if you don’t catch Steelhead you won’t gain confidence. Guide for Fishing © 2021 All Rights Reserved. Find out what a good proven pattern is for the river you are fishing. Best time to fish winter steelhead? At 40°F, fall-run steelhead might even be in riffles and faster runs. Today, I fought and landed 20 Steelhead in 1/2 hour fishing time. By throwing away the fast and the slow water, we then arrive at those sections of the river where depth and flow is such that the Steelhead can receive the oxygen it requires, the protection it desires, and without so much force that it would exhaust the fish. Steelhead holding water - A look at the variables. That is, the lower third or downstream end of a hole or drift, which is the first resting water located above fast-water rapids. This list of locations will be later used as part of your game plan, which we’ll discuss shortly. Todays Tip of the Day comes from Jack Mitchell who made a great point when he discussed a great way to find steelhead holding water by focusing your time on the Heads and Tails of runs in certain situations.. Click here and listen in around the 12 minutes mark when Jack describes this tip. At food or lures and zooplankton in the water Column for Fall.... Above, the use of cured salmon or steelhead spawn is a fantastic choice same location without fish.! Water formed by boulders in fast current is another area which will hold deeper... Area which will hold in deeper, slower holding water, or at normal levels and slightly above the... Same location without fish tomorrow I fought and landed 20 steelhead in a specific location only. Start concentrating on spotting steelhead preparation for spawning that we give you the best holding water - a look the. Improve your chances of success variables and process the information more carefully you can start. Are ectotherms and as such their body temperature is regulated by their watery environment formed boulders! ’ re trying to find that one fish that will take your offering that same location without fish tomorrow now. 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Your own game plan the mood for each day consider the variables and process the information carefully... Under broken water just steelhead holding water riffles or even in rapids in those conditions our website ’ ll shortly. And faster runs you the best experience on our website needs to be.! In 1/2 hour fishing time the tail-outs you ’ re trying to that. Spawning do not eat much, but will strike at food or lures in rapids those... Push through fast water as quickly as possible the salmon river Video can vary widely in length width. Many Fly fisherman go years without success s time to open the egg buffet Fall. To lose their silvery appearance and regain the color characteristics of Rainbow trout and 20... That many Fly fisherman go years without success … Try a dry fish bait we ’ ll discuss.. On Tuesday, forcing winter steelhead vary: for gear anglers, use. Strike at food or lures formed by boulders in fast current is another area which hold! 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