FishwithJD

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American River Steelie Question

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Hi JD,

I’m getting my gear, boat and friends (shuttle drivers) ready for a few trips down the American River this winter and was wondering what your outlook for the winter steelhead run looks like. Also, do you plan on booking any drifting trips down the American?

Thanks…
Scott

Hey Scott,

Yep, I will do trips this winter on the American. As far as the outlook goes, that a tough one. Luckily, you can’t really base the steelie forecast on the salmon returns. Last season, the hatchery had a pretty good push of fish — around 3,000 steelhead — so, I’m not sure why we can’t expect to see something similar this year. Famous last words, of course…

While the drought is a bad deal, the low water we’re likely to find this winter will force the fish into some pretty well-defined spots.

Good luck!

The upside to downer steelhead

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upside-downer.jpg
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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A Steelhead for Thanksgiving

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He got the idea from a Zane Grey novel he had read a year prior. It was just a passing phrase in which Grey, who spent a good chunk of his time in a cabin on the Rogue River in Oregon, mentioned something about killing a steelhead for Thanksgiving dinner. The old man didn’t think much about it at first, but then the thought of a steelhead instead of a turkey began to intrigue him.

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How to Boondogg for Steelhead

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boondogged steelie

No doubt you’ve read about boondogging or “dragging” for steelhead in the local fishing rags but you’re not totally clear on the definition, right? Well, Grasshopper, let me enlighten thee… Boondogging is the act of dragging roe downstream from a drifting boat. It’s fairly easy to get the hang of and, because you drift at the speed of the current, you can cover a lot of water in a short period of time – which can be key when chasing sea-run rainbows.
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Yarn Ball Fishing Tips for Steelhead

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Yarn egg

Okay, now that steelhead are showing up in rivers up and down the coast, it’s time to bust out the yarn eggs. Not only are yarn eggs (we’re talking Glo Bugs and similarly styled flies here) deadly effective, but they’re also extremely versatile, easy to use, simple to tie and inexpensive. So here you are, fly tying for beginners never was any easier for this species of fish.

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