FishwithJD

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Which rod for divers & bait for steelies?

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JD — I fish a river that is +90% hatchery steelhead. The last few years I have started backtrolling sand shrimp using Brad’s divers. What rod would you recomment for this? Also how do you like your drag when backtrolling bait or when you are backtrolling plug for steelhead?
–Eric T.

Hey Eric, depending on how big your steelies are, the GLoomis HSR 941 is a dandy stick. I’ve also had lots of fun with smaller spring-run fish on the HSR 9000.

I run a really light drag setting because I’m using braid most of the time when pulling plugs or bait divers. Since braided line doesn’t stretch, the light drag builds in some “give” that helps keep the hooks from pulling free on the takedown.

Are stripers a threat to salmon?

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Hey JD, do you have any input regarding a theory that the non-indigenous Stripers may have a contribution to the current downturn in several indigenous species (i.e. Pacific Coast Salmon, Delta Smelt) populations?
–Don B.

Don, while stripers do dine juvenile salmon, there’s no evidence that suggests that they have big impact on salmon populations. Though non-native, stripers have been coexisting with salmon for 150+ years. In surveys of predators conducted in the Delta recently, Delta smelt have not been found in the stomachs of striped bass and in fact, stripers may actually help Delta smelt by preying on fish that like to eat smelt.

Nope, stripers are not the cause of all this. The main problem with the smelt is poor water quality in the Delta. caused mainly by epic water diversions. Back when we had big numbers of salmon and smelt, the striper numbers were also high…everything has collapsed since record water exports started a few years ago. The salmon are influenced by poor water quality though the major cause in their decline has been lousy ocean conditions.

Can Redfish live in freshwater?

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JD,
I have a friend that caught Red fish in the Gulf waters and brought them home and released them in a fresh water pond 2 years ago. He was fishing in the pond this past weekend and caught one of the Red fish. The fish had survived for two years out of salt water in pond water. The fish has gained weight and doing great. Is this normal for a salt water fish to be able to adapt to pond water?
— Water Wolf

Wolfie, are you speaking of fish that are red or redfish? Sorry, just a geeky journalism major joke there! Anyway, during my stint back in the early 1990’s as editor of the now-defunct Texas Fishing & Hunting News (I swear it wasn’t my fault!), I remember writing stories about freshwater reds in some of the reservoirs. The interesting thing here is that most osmoregulators (fish that can live both in fresh and salt like stripers, shad, steelhead, salmon, etc) need some acclimation time between the two water types. I’m surprised that your buddy’s red made it in the pond, coming direct from salt but maybe they’re just super tough, bad ass fish. Hey — where’s that pond, anyway? Just kidding!

The upside to downer steelhead

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Are downer steelhead really…well…”downers?” Lots of folks think so because when you catch them they’re usually skinny, colored up and not the greatest of fighters. Some people even get bummed out when they hook a downer (also known as runbacks, kelts or spent fish) but there’s actually a lot to love about ’em.

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