When and Where to Use Jigs For Steelhead

 By Robert R Smith

  It is easier to discuss the times and places where jigs do not work well than it is to list all the times they will work. The steelhead jig relies mainly on color and action to trigger a strike. Therefore, you can expect them to perform poorly in low visibility water. When the visibility is less than two feet it is time to switch to some other type of lure or bait. For similar reasons jigs do not work well in the fast pockets of water in the rivers. In almost every other steelheading water, jigs will prove to be deadly.
Jigs come into their own in slow moving or still water. Which in my opinion is some of the hardest spots to fish for a steelhead with the conventional drifting techniques? With the wiggle of marabou or rabbit fur combined with a small dab of bait or scent, jigs are deadly. Jigs are the most effective steelhead lure you can use in slow or still water.
Jigs also work well in moderate to fast currents as long as the water has good visibility. In clear water, nothing beats tiny jigs. When tipped with a single egg, a piece of earthworm, or a piece of shrimp they become deadly. In conditions most of us find ourselves fishing, the two to ten foot deep-water jigs work extremely well. Moreover, in a current that is moving at two to four knots the jig will prove to be irresistible to steelhead. As your float bounces along in the wavy surface of the water, the jig mirrors that action right in the heart of the steelhead's den. Few steelhead can resist a brightly colored bit of marabou or rabbit fur that dips and swoops through their living room. Tip your jig with a small piece of shrimp or worm and it is a snack that they find hard to refuse.
I will not go steelhead fishing without the equipment I need to setup for jig fishing. It has proven itself to me repeatedly. Jig fishing is also a great way to start someone out steelhead fishing if they have never been steelhead fishing before. You set them up with a jig show them where they need to drift and tell them that when the float goes under they need to set the hook.

Steelhead, Salmon and Trout Fishing has been a passion of mine since I was a young boy. Most of my free time was spent on lakes and streams here in the northwest, and I have picked up on some interesting facts about fishing for these species over the last 45 years. I would like to share them with you through articles and at my websites I hope you find them helpful and enjoyable. So please stop by check out some information or just stock up on your fishing gear. Hope to see you on the river!

RR Smith
http://www.steelhead-gear.com for all your fishing needs
Don't forget to check out our Steelhead, Salmon and Trout Fishing blog while your there!

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Oversized Sturgeon Fishing in the Northwest

By Paul Amdahl

What do you mean "oversized"? That seems a little strange to apply to a potential fish one might catch. Sturgeon that are too small to be retained are called undersized. There is also a limit on how large a sturgeon you can keep for your smoker. The oversized sturgeon (which can live for 80+ years) are anything over 54 inches long. They can be caught but must be released.
Sturgeon have always seemed a bit alien to me. I have sat on the bank of the Coquille river at my Grandpa's farm and told myself that I was sturgeon fishing. In reality I was more likely fishing for sculpin with my undersized equipment and bait. Wanting to fish for a fish is a feeling that festers in a person. You can ignore it for a while but you know, deep down, that you've got to do something about it. And I finally did. I saved my spending money and I booked a day fishing with a guide, one who specialized in fishing for oversized sturgeon.
We met at 5:00 am at the boat launch near Camus, Washington on the Columbia river. The guide indicated that we wouldn't be launching right away; we needed to catch our bait first. So I loaded up into his truck and we drove 26 miles up river to the Bonneville dam. The water levels were so high that the dam was dumping water over into the Columbia creating churning whitewater. This is where we launched from. As we put the boat in and climbed aboard I felt an excitement in my stomach one only gets when you do something that matters. This was serious water and we were going in; man vs. nature. It was awesome.
The danger of casting yourself adrift on a maelstrom of a river was felt only by me, my guide apparently didn't have a care in the world. He maneuvered the boat about a half mile downstream and cast the anchor at a spot he knew. It must have taken him a lot of work to locate this spot and he used the anchor and a water anchor with precision to make sure I'd be fishing in the exact spot he wanted.
The rod's were set with a crank bait with the hooks removed and a dropper leader ending with a small spoon. It struck me as a great way to fish that I will have to remember. The crank bait pulled the spoon down in the current keeping it where the fish were. The spoon's were a Northwest standby; wee Dicknite's. I mentioned that I've heard the best color is the half silver half brass but my guide assured me that any color would catch us all the bait we would need. We let the lines out and let the river current do the work. Our first hit came within minutes. I reeled in a 15 inch Shad. It put up a great fight. The fish must have weighed between 1 and 2 lbs. It was a lot of fun. This is the size fish I normally fish for. This was to be our bait. Oh no... not for the day, for one cast. We planned on fishing for sturgeon with these fish whole. It took us maybe an hour and a half to fill the coolers with shad.
We probably had 60 lbs of bait as we headed back down the river to the spot where we would relaunch in pursuit of sturgeon. Downstream the river is still huge but I was more at ease because the water had mellowed. We motored to another exact spot and set the anchor. Our set up here was a bit different. We used 100 lb test line tied to 200 lb test leader tied to a big old hook. The hook went through the head of a shad and then the leader was carefully wrapped around the fish in three or four places to hold the bait on in the current. A ball of lead the size of a baseball was then clipped onto the line. Before hooking the shad on it was stabbed multiple times to let some nice juicy fish/blood smell escape. The bait was lowered into the water and then we began to wait.
Fishing for sturgeon reminded me of fishing for catfish. It's a slow pleasant experience that allows you to soak in the surroundings and ponder your life. Fishing for oversized sturgeon can be even slower because the giant bait you are fishing with prevents smaller fish from joining the party. I knew that if my rod tip moved, it would be because something the size of the boat was messing with it. I remember thinking about the smell of the shad wafting through the river and calling the huge beasts towards us.
The tip of the pole started bouncing. Time started to slow down. Could something really be pulling that much weight off of the bottom? Could it really be big enough to eat my bait? The guide grabbed the dancing rod and set the hook. The drag came to life with a scream. The guide handed me the pole and I felt the raw power on the other end. The fish was so strong that I could barely hold on. The drag was set as hard as it could be and this fish was stripping out line as fast as it wanted. My guide was shouting that "this was a hot one" and that he "couldn't believe that it had already gone through 150 yards of line". Me, I was trying not to get pulled into the Columbia river. It was one of the most exciting moments I can recall. I wanted to brace one of my feet against the edge of the boat but I was so precariously hanging on I didn't dare lift one of my feet up. My arms started to ache. The fish still pulled line whenever it wanted in between my feeble attempts to slow it. The fish broke my line. One hundred lb test snapped like nothing. The guide said it was the biggest fish his boat had been into in two years and he fishes there every day of the season. He estimated that it was between 400-500 lbs. I never got to see it but I will never forget it. The charge of adrenaline left my hands shaking and my legs soft and rubbery. Fishing for a fish that is an equal physically or in this case, my better, is an another thing entirely. I smiled the whole way in.

About this Author

Paul Amdahl
author of
The Barefoot Fisherman; a fishing book for kids
http://www.amazon.com/Barefoot-Fisherman-fishing-book-ebook/dp/B005DN1IRI/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1194531986&sr=8-1
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Montana Fly Fishing and Winter

Montana fly fishing and winter? Seems to be a verbal paradox, but good opportunities are out there for the patient and adventurous angler. Most believe fly fishing possibilities hibernate through winter, but for many anglers the season signifies quality, un-crowded fishing. So we thought in celebration of winter's official onset it was time to discuss some winter fishing. First, we'd like to convey an experienced approach to winter fishing and describe the ideal scenarios yielding the best results. Second, we'll review several safety recommendations that you'll want to consider. Finally, we'll reveal some of the best places in our part of Montana to fly fish in the winter months. Regarding why someone would voluntarily fish Montana during winter - if you've taken the time to read past the title, you are either morbidly curious or you already belong in the category of 'adventurous.' With that in mind, let's discuss the best ways to scratch that fishing itch with the cold and snow. Again, patience is key, and that means waiting for the right kind of winter weather. Many people picture Montana winters as arctic landscapes with piles of snow and even igloos for shelter. Those of you who haven't visited here during the winter might be surprised; most of the weather is relatively mild. While arctic cold fronts can and do inundate us with sub-zero temperatures and blizzard conditions, the Livingston area average daytime highs hover around 40 degrees. That may not strike you as overly warm, but with low winds, sunshine and (normally) low humidity, the days can be surprisingly pleasant. As we've always said, "We'll take 20 degrees in Montana over 35 degrees in the cold and humid upper Midwest any day." If you have the patience to wait out the weather and time to pick your days, Mother Nature shouldn't be a limiting factor. Not only should you wait for conducive weather, the time of day is also important to your fishing goals. Daylight in Montana is limited during the winter to about eight hours between sunrise and sunset - a dream for those "sophisticated" anglers who prefer to savor their morning coffee. The hours between noon and 3pm are typically the warmest part of the winter days. This is noteworthy for several reasons. First, trout are cold-blooded animals, which generically means that their environment directly affects their metabolism. By fishing during the warmest part of they day, you'll increase your exposure to active fish. Second, the majority of southwest Montana's wintertime hatches occur during the warmest part of the day. These hatches are predominantly midges along with the occasional Baetis or Psuedocleon mayflies. For those not up on your entomology, we encourage the use of a good selection of flies such as Buzz Balls, Griffith's Gnats, small parachutes in darker colors, Brassie's, Miracle Midges, Zebra Midges and the like in sizes 16 through 24. The second key to fly fishing Montana in the winter is an adventurous spirit sufficient to brave the elements. Gear helps; the advances in breathable waders, layering, portable heaters, hand warmers and weatherproof materials have opened up the whole calendar to the diehard angler. There's no reason to be cold, wet and miserable ever again. Sure it costs a bit, but adding another five months of fishing certainly offsets a few bucks for those of us with angling fever. And don't forget the old saying, "A bend in the rod always warms the soul." By Eric D Adams
Many of the prime locations for winter fishing are close to civilization, but we would strongly caution even the most adventurous winter anglers to keep safety in mind and have a plan if you misstep and fill your waders. It happens, and hypothermia is a serious result. One of the best recommendations we can make is to fish with a partner. Pairing up is often more fun and certainly a lot safer if someone does need assistance.
One particular danger of winter fishing is shelf ice. Many of the streams will develop a shelf of ice on the banks; these can be quite unstable and may stand well above the water level. Take it from my own personal experience, it's best to avoid and enter the stream from drier ground. One weak spot in the ice can have your dangling in a hole up to your elbows.
We suggest two invaluable pieces of equipment; a pair of the newer rubber-soled wading boots and a wading staff. Snow and water collects on felt-soled wading shoes and freezes. They end up acting more like ice skates than boots. The wading staff will also help with stability on snow and in the river - it might just save you from taking a very cold bath. Lastly, stow a full change of clothes in your vehicle just in case your luck turns bad.
Montana presents a number of great locations to test your adventurous spirit and bask in the warmth of knowledge. Many of Montana's Rivers are open to fishing year round, but make sure to check the official State of Montana Fishing Regulations as some streams and major rivers have seasonal closures.
Remember a trout's metabolism in near freezing water doesn't allow for aggressive feeding. So the initial step is finding the most obvious places where a trout can feed, but not have to exert unneeded energy. These areas tend to be the opposite of a trout's typical summer habitat. Look for warmer water temperatures or slower moving water. Finding a location combining these characteristics will stack the odds in your favor.
Southwest Montana boasts some of the richest spring-fed trout streams in the world. These springs flow directly out of the ground and typically maintain a water temperature of about 52 degrees, often a full 18 degrees warmer than non-spring fed rivers. While most of these creeks are located on private land, the landowners of Armstrong's, DePuy's and Nelson's spring creeks do offer access for a small wintertime fee.
For larger waterways in our backyard around Bozeman/Livingston, the mighty Yellowstone River and the Madison River have numerous warm springs that flow into the main channels. Concentrate your fishing on these junctions and be patient. Look for small surface disturbances that might reveal a subtle rise to a dry or the tip of a nymphing fish's tail. One good location is on the Yellowstone River near Corwin Springs where warmer springs seep into the main river. Another hotspot on the Upper Madison River, the stretch from Quake Lake to Lyon's Bridge can produce large browns and rainbows on the right day (see trip photo 3, below). Again be sure to check the regulations as this area is only open from the third Saturday in May until the end of February.
Along with the numerous spring creeks and freestone rivers, tailwaters such as those on the Bighorn, Missouri (below Holter Dam) and the Beaverhead (below Pipe Organ Bridge) offer many miles of good wintertime water. Many of the larger tailwaters, like the Missouri provides, have long sections of slower water. Concentrate on the slowest water you can find and be patient. One particular location on the Missouri is just up from the Craig Bridge on river left. It has some ideal slow water, and it's only a few hundred yards from Joe's Bar in case a little liquid back-up is in order.
The best advice we have is this: next time your looking to satisfy that wintertime fishing itch, get out there. Be adventurous and fish wisely. Go explore. What else are you going to do on a beautiful winter day, sit inside and tie flies? Well, sometimes we do that too.
Montana Fly Fishing Guides offers professionally guided fly fishing trips for anglers throughout Montana. Our Montana fly fishing guide staff are seasoned veterans on Montana's blue ribbon trout steams. Fly fishing in Montana is some of the best in the country. Our Montana fly fishing guide staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and above all eager to teach others.
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