FishwithJD

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Still time for huge B.C. steelhead!

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I just got off the phone with my pal Gill McKean of West Coast Fishing Adventures in Terrace, B.C. and he told me I should hop on a plane immediately and head for Canada, where he has been absolutely whacking big steelies to 20 pounds like the 20 pounder above (on flies!) and lots of rainbows.

“It’s been nuts, eh!” said Mckean. “The other day I had 4 guys out and they had a fish hooked up literally on every cast! Of course, it’s not always like that, but we have been having some awesome late-season fishing.”
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Which rods for Steelhead & Salmon?

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JD,
I have a new Willie Driftboat 17×54 and plan on being ready to fish winter steelhead.I have quesition about rods for salmon & steelhead.

I plan on using HSR981c for plug & light back boucing.I was thinking about getting some Gloomis HSR1021c for plug fishing for salmon. When using long leaders on plugs or bait&diver I was going to use STR1263c for salmon.

For steelhead fishing I was planing to use HSR9000c for plugs. When side-drifting I was going to use STR1024s in snagy water and was thinking about using G-Loomis STR1162S rods for side-drifting & double as float rod.

Your opinion would be great. Thank You, Mitch H.

Sounds like you pretty much have it all covered! The only thing I think I would change is the STR 1024’s for side-drifting….they’re extremely parabolic. With such a soft tip, your sinkers will be more inclined to fall into the gaps between the rocks and get hung. The 1025 is better…

Good luck!

–JD

The Best Bait for Spring Steelhead

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If I could use only one bait for spring steelhead, it would be, without question, a big, juicy nightcrawler.

‘Crawlers are the perfect choice this time of year. Think about it – the high flows of spring often wash a good smorgasboard of goodies (including worms) into the water, which steelhead, of course, key in on. Rivers also run pretty cold in the spring, so the fish will be more lethargic and a big meaty hunk of garden hackle is often the only thing that will get them excited. In addition, nightcrawlers also give you a nice “changeup” bait to use on streams that receive lots of angling pressure.

Spring steelhead

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The Steelhead that ate Cleveland!

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Okay, so maybe this fish didn’t actually eat Cleveland, but it’s damn near big enough to do so. Jimmy Davis caught it, as he says, “Somewhere along the West Coast,” on a pink and chartreuse Action Tail Steelhead Worm dangled under a float. After the quick grip-n-grin, the big beast was left to go about his business.

The behemoth wasn’t the only toad from the trip….
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