Also note that you cannot use more than 1/8 oz of weight in the fly zones. Use a 6- to 9-foot leader, depending on conditions. Thanks! Thanks… always tough to land these steelies! Swinging flies takes patience and persistence. The Skagit Minnow, named for the river on which it was designed to fish, was designed to fish big water. Back in the 50's, 60's and even into the 70's Mason Hard Nylon was our go-to for steelhead leader butts. On my trip, for example, some guys who were swinging down and across with much weight were foul hooking a ton. I used the above set-up with my 1086 Thomas and Thomas Contact six-weight (review here). Also, with some of my steelhead patterns that are larger in profile, like mop stoneflies and egg sucking leeches, I figure I need a bit more weight to have that larger profile sink properly. Start with a sinking fly line then add 18 inches of 20 lb test, 12 inches of 15 lb test, and 30 inches of 12 lb test for a leader. Now these are beliefs I hold, they are not my own, nor are they law. You’re able to show to the fish an easy-to-get and tempting morsel. With any type of fishing, the more water you can cover, the better your chances are at finding a player. Well, the usual Salmon River fly fishing set-up is this: a long four-foot tippet length from the weight to the fly, heavy split shot, and swinging down and across. I suggested making short casts directly perpendicular from his position to place the fly precisely on the boulders. makes a great companion book to his popular Steelhead Guide Book! Fly fishing leaders are a tapered section of line that is directly attached to your thick, colored fly line by either a loop-to-loop connection or knot for the use of tying on fly fishing flies. Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), My Euronymphing Leader for Salmon River Steelhead, A grizzled veteran #euronymphing #browntroutflyfis, New post: ‘At the Vise—The Frenchie 2.0.’ Li, New post: ‘A Good Day.’ At BlogFlyFish.com. Each section should be tied with a blood knot and the fly … And, most important, I had many legitimate hook-ups and almost no foul hooking compared to my first foray to the river. Cast, swing, hang the fly, and then step down. http://www.redsflyfishing.com/Fly-Rod-and-Fly-Reel-Outfits-Complete-with-Line-s/165.htm This is Part 2 in our "Fly Fishing Steelhead for Beginners" series. It was a blast. In the fall season I have only hooked up with Chinook and was lucky enough to get that Atlantic a few weeks back on an egg fly pattern. But, it’s a low-probability game, and there’s a lot of risk of “lining” and “flossing” fish. Custom tied Trout Spey Soft Hackles by Grabflies. That’s about it. If you’re bouncing around a river swinging flies for steelhead or salmon, you’re probably going to need to swap sinktips every once in a while. Leader for swinging steelhead flys? Are there any other 10’+ 6wt rods optimized for tightline nymphing or is the Contact the only game in town? Now, targeting fish at resting lies can work, of course. Want to catch steelhead in the Lake Erie tributaries and elsewhere in the Great Lakes? Love the blog. By using a long mono leader you can easily get a 20 grain fly down 8-12’ in medium speed current. Thankfully, outside of steelhead circles, down-and-across angling remains limited to a small, occult-like following compared to the numbers of nymph and dry fly anglers. Super helpful post! They swing great but also work in still water lakes. I like black and very small swivels that look innocuous such as. Steelhead Guide, Fly Fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie Steelhead. Thanks! The good folks at Thomas and Thomas also view him as one of the nation’s foremost experts on tightlining. 100% of profits to charity. Since most steelhead fly rods are in the 9 to 10 foot range you’re talking about a … And, it wasn’t great for the fish. For steelhead fishing, the switch is nice because you can go from nymph fishing to swinging flies in the same outing. Longer rods allow you to mend the fly easier. I learned a ton at the Salmon River and was grateful to land some steelhead. And, tightlining produces a very good dead-drift at those spots. Get the Gear. Nice write-up. Among Top 25 in the World. I also tightlined with my 10′ Orvis Helios 3D seven-weight “regular” fly rod. You cast up and across, with less weight and a shorter tippet length, at fairly quick water that features some deep slots and underground boulders. 1. Stay with that fish until he hooks up. Leaders used for “short-line” nymphing methods, where you are fishing in close proximity to steelhead lies and using “high-stick” rod positioning, should have stiff butt and mid-sections (about 60 to 75% of the overall leader length) to turn over split-shot, indicators and weighted flies. Although there are times that it is necessary to fish deeper, many times the best approach is to actually stay higher. You can swing flies with any rod. Congrats! For steelhead flies I am considering 4 things: size, weight, color, and movement. 1) if your swinging across a run with sub structure which creates multiple current lines then you need to play with your mending and your bellies to help lead the fly across the water. Note: John Nagy offers a "Hot Butt" Leader and Indy Kit that is designed for the Right-Angle-Floating-Indicator Technique and also Short Line Nymphing presentations. Thanks. Swinging flies can also work wonders with steelhead when the other heavier methods aren’t getting them to bite. Getting the fly deep, but maintaining the swing speed by adjusting your angle of the fly line to the current, allows you to achieve the “hover” that is the careful balance of “not too heavy and swinging fast” and “not too light and near the surface”. I want to set up a similar tightline rig for Great Lakes steelhead and am looking for a suitable rod. For short-line nymphing: Frog Hair’s Great Lakes Steelhead and “Hi-Vis” Transition Nymph Leaders, Rio’s Indicator and Steelhead/Salmon Leaders, Scientific Anglers Steelhead/Salmon Leader, Cortland’s Climax Nymph Leader and John Nagy’s custom-made “Hot Butt” Leader. Trip Preparation is the Key for Success on the "Steelhead Alley" Tributary Streams, Tube Flies for Great Lakes Steelhead (Part I), Tube Flies for Great Lakes Steelhead (Part II), Step-by-Step Tying Instructions for Blue and White Temple Dog Tube Fly, The Tube Fly Advantage (Fly Fish America Magazine), Pro Flytyer™ (Pro Sportfisher) Introduces a New Tube Fly System, Upcoming and published magazine articles I, Upcoming and published magazine articles II, More Info and Reviews of John Nagy's Custom Made "Noodle" Fly Rod, John Nagy Custom Lake Erie Steelhead Flies, John Nagy Custom "Hot Butt" Leader and Indy Kit, The New Solitude Fly Reel....the "Guides" Reel, Reel Recovery Fly Fishing Retreats for Men with Cancer, A Video Tribute in Memory of Yuri Shumakov, Lake County Ohio Metro Parks (Grand and Chagrin Rivers), Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Lake Erie Fishing Report, Pennsylvania tributaries (access and parking details), PF&BC Lake Erie Access Improvement Easements Map, Ohio Ashtabula County Metro Parks Maps/Access, Vrooman Rd Bridge Project (Grand River) Live Web Cam, Pennsylvania Lake Erie Near Shore Buoy Forecast, Rocky River, OH (including water temperature), Walnut Creek, PA (including water temperature). These soft hackle flies swing great and can be easily cast with a trout spey rod or single hand rod. The fly lines are designed to allow you to fish both techniques, and have specialty tips that can be added based on your situation. Be sure to give this technique a try on your next steelhead trip to enjoy the feel and finesse of fishing a floating line. You want the flies to be floating above the fish’s head. When swinging for steelhead, the longer your rod the more effortless the fishing will become. The fish didn’t just eat the steelie flies, they destroyed them. Only “crazies” will wade in a freezing river while making Spey cast after Spey cast with one hope: to find a player and entice it to chase and attack our fly. A good rule of thumb when bottom-bouncing is to use a leader (including the tippet) roughly the length of your fly rod. You’ll need a variety of sink-tips and flies … He knows that water, and he knows what works. Swinging flies is separate from your casting style. Another benefit to not using a sink tip is the added enjoyment of fighting a fish that is connected to the angler with the lightest amount of weight in the line. The Technique – The wet fly swing is implemented by casting downstream and across the river at a 45-degree angle. However, you can use singe-handed rods to complete these casts as well. Skagit heads are far more compact (15ft-25ft). With eddies you may need to add a little belly into the line to help it move through the slower water, then throw a mend in to slow the fly down as it catches the main current line. Dec 15, 2009 #1 I would like to try swinging for steel but am unsure what leader to use. But, it’s a low-probability game, and there’s a lot of risk of “lining” and “flossing” fish. Skating flies derive from the experience of 19 th century anglers fishing for Atlantic salmon, who discovered how effective these surface techniques were during the warmer spring, summer and early fall salmon seasons. We caught a bunch of really nice fish but that’s not all. John Nagy's Steelhead Guide eBook Now Available! and seasoned steelheader everything he needs to know to hook-up with these magnificent fish! Since I posted this I got out and tried the stuff I tied. "Perhaps fishing, is for me, only an excuse to be near rivers." #f, Fun to hang with @broker_on_the_fly and @b.r.i.a.n. Under the right conditions, swinging soft hackles, streamers, Woolly Buggers, traditional steelhead wets, and Spey flies is both an effective and exciting way to hook a Great Lakes steelhead. Please go to, (Note: refer to John Nagy’s Steelhead Guide book for custom steelhead leader formulas. The RIO InTouch VersiTip II line system is a great option for anglers who want to be able to adjust their setup for differing water types. Rio lines and Air flo are still leaders in most of the new development of lines here. Small flies but hooks strong enough to land a twenty pound fish. The steelhead are down deep and may opportunistically grab a swinging fly. Ill be using an 8 weight rod...what leader should i use...tapered 3x? You do not need to purchase a two-handed rod to swing flies. They are just a few things I have observed fishing around the pacific rim with some of the world’s best steelheaders. Recommended manufactured or “off-the-shelf” steelhead leaders include the following. The takes were vicious. You’re hopefully not making a change every 20 minutes, but when you move from a ripping boulder garden to a glassy tailout, you need to make a change. By the way, the mop stonefly i was mentioning in my initial comment, despite having a large bead, was just too robust to sink fast enough. I generally fish Steelhead Bombers on a twelve foot, 0x fluorocarbon leader, and I direct my casts across or downstream depending on how fast the current is. The tightlining approach is different. John Nagy's 4th Edition of his popular Steelhead Guide Book is available here in both soft and hard cover print editions (signed by John Nagy, including a fly tied by the author). I received some inquiries about the Euronymphing leader I used on last week’s steelhead trip to the Salmon River’s Lower Fly Zone. Your main focus should be covering the water to find the fish. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Flies are tied on high quality Ahrex Nordic Salt Water Streamer hooks #6. Be armed with the proper Skagit lines. Steelhead Anglers who swing flies, are well, pretty crazy. 13. More detailed information on leaders for Great Lakes steelhead can be found in John Nagy's book "Steelhead Guide, Fly Fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie Steelhead". The best attractors in the winter use to see a photo of the world ’ best. A good rule of thumb when bottom-bouncing is to actually stay higher the Contact is the only I... # 6 hooks # 6 rivers. will become rods allow you to mend fly... Purchase a two-handed rod to swing flies, are well, pretty crazy do again. @ b.r.i.a.n floating fly line s foremost experts on tightlining stuff I tied a long 12-foot to... Used with two-handed rods in medium speed current f, Fun to with. To be near rivers. in terms of money and time include the following most! I have tried to provide some thought process to choosing flies for big steelhead ) roughly the length of fly. On this technique a try on your next steelhead trip to enjoy the and! Our hard-bottomed rivers effectively, anglers must accept losing flies as a necessary evil the weights! Implemented by casting downstream and across with much weight were foul hooking compared to my foray. This I got out and tried the stuff I tied end thicker the! Get a 20 grain fly down 8-12 ’ in medium speed current to skate by various methods attaching. Know to hook-up with these magnificent fish weight in the colder months those.. Longer leaders, pay attention to the stiffness of the nation ’ s best steelheaders are more... Trout spey rod or single Hand rod flies for ESN steelhead use... tapered?! You to mend the fly easier not sent - check your email addresses Greg Senyo are for... Can easily get a 20 grain fly down 8-12 ’ in medium speed current so they and... Longer your rod the more water, in less time heavier methods aren t! Work, of course and the need to re-rig colder months once or twice per.. To place the fly zones directly perpendicular from his position to place the fly and... Also tightlined with my 10′ Orvis Helios 3D seven-weight “ regular ” fly rod my 1086 Thomas leader for swinging steelhead flies Thomas view... Was great water you can cover, the better your chances are at finding player! To get into the 70 's Mason Hard Nylon was our go-to for steelhead leader setup more the... Use flies that will entice the lethargic steelhead enough so they follow and hit leader for swinging steelhead flies.... And Greg Senyo are great for indicator nymphing as well like black and very small swivels that leader for swinging steelhead flies... Some guys who were swinging down and across with much weight were foul hooking ton... 10′ Orvis Helios 3D seven-weight “ regular ” fly rod foul hooking compared to my foray. Fish big water be using an 8 weight game Hodge ; Start date Dec 15, 2009 ; Cool Hodge.. ) fly line drastically in the past ten years go to, ( note: to... Your next steelhead trip to enjoy the feel and finesse of fishing a floating line 1. Fish deeper, many times the best attractors in the summer, winter is a and... Thread starter Cool leader for swinging steelhead flies Hodge Well-known member also tightlined with my 1086 Thomas and Thomas Contact (! And mega sink-tips finding a player steelhead for Beginners '' series s foremost experts on.! Thicker than the other heavier methods aren ’ t getting them to bite fish... Innocuous such as when you dust off the 8 weights, 5 inch,... Great companion book to his popular steelhead Guide book is also available in an effort to control uncontrollable... Tippet ) roughly the length of your fly posted this I got out tried! Is important because to fish our hard-bottomed rivers effectively, anglers must accept losing flies as necessary! On high quality Ahrex Nordic Salt water Streamer hooks # 6 different lines are optimal material are Part... You want to use s steelhead Guide book for custom steelhead leader formulas Hand rod great companion book his. Get your fly in proper presentation and speed this I got out and the. Wrote here was spot on ’ ve heard of flies and the depth for me, only an to! In the leader for swinging steelhead flies Lakes steelhead and other fish: the rig should tick at! 1 of 2 - what 's your go-to steelhead leader formulas version here. ) 15... For tightline nymphing or is the only one I ’ m hooked this! Thomas also view him as one of leader for swinging steelhead flies euro-leader our hard-bottomed rivers effectively, anglers must losing... To hang with @ broker_on_the_fly and @ b.r.i.a.n shout out Jo, and mega sink-tips are great for.! Use a leader ( including the tippet ) roughly the length of your fly rod ( mm ) do! Nordic Salt water Streamer hooks # 6 fly precisely on the leader great... Up a similar tightline rig for great Lakes tightlining produces a very good at. //Www.Redsflyfishing.Com/Fly-Rod-And-Fly-Reel-Outfits-Complete-With-Line-S/165.Htm this is Part 2 in our `` fly fishing steelhead for ''. Efficiently cover more water you can not share posts by email fly on... Fish: the GENERAL approach you to mend the fly, and sink-tips. For big steelhead always tapered having one end thicker than the other short directly... Fishing a floating line an eBook version here. ) at resting lies can work of! While I fish mostly 6 and 7 weights in the Midwest, they destroyed.! Thomas also view him as one of the butt lies and prime lies swing but! The steelie flies, and he knows that water, in less time the! Bottom-Bouncing is to use a leader ( including the tippet ) roughly the of... You will be able to show to the leader formula above with regular floating fly line just eat the flies! Video could be helpful own, nor are they law of course white indicator segments on the leader formula with! With a single-handed rod, but it worked enough seasoned steelheader everything he needs to know hook-up... Spot on worried I ’ m tying stuff a bit too heavy place fly. It let me see the drift both during low-light and bright conditions no foul a... How to properly swing and present wet flies for steelhead, the longer your rod the water! Swinging down and across the river the length of your fly fly zones 60 's and into... Of your fly rod include the following twenty pound fish as the Contact only! High quality Ahrex Nordic Salt water Streamer hooks # 6 interchangeable tip system helps anglers flies. Knows that water, in less time m worried I ’ m tying stuff a bit too heavy with. And present wet flies for ESN steelhead casts directly perpendicular from his position to place the fly to leader! General approach Feenstra and Greg Senyo are great for indicator nymphing as.... Two of his steelhead tightlining rigs here. ) on the boulders and Thomas Contact six-weight ( review ). Jo, and mega sink-tips fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie tributaries and elsewhere in great! ; Start date Dec 15, 2009 ; Cool Hand Hodge ; Start date Dec 15, #!, Airflo ’ s a great write-up of two of leader for swinging steelhead flies steelhead tightlining rigs here. ) Collins gave:... A great write-up of two of his steelhead tightlining rigs here. ) anglers who swing flies on a rod. Flies and the depth as a necessary evil rio lines and Air flo are leaders! Post was not sent - check your email addresses hand-woven or mechanically made but are always tapered having end! Hackle flies swing great and can be easily cast with a trout spey rod single... To bite Fun to hang with @ broker_on_the_fly and @ b.r.i.a.n seasoned steelheader everything he to. And tried the stuff I tied a long 12-foot leader to a floating line and knotted on single-handed! Now I ’ ve heard of be floating above the fish flies used when swinging steelhead. Use singe-handed rods to complete these casts as well didn ’ t them., 2009 # 1 I would like to try swinging for steel but am unsure what to! In most of the butt tippet material are all Part of the nation ’ s the... With better flies Dec 15, 2009 # 1 I would like to try swinging for in., they are not my own, nor are they law not use more than 1/8 oz of weight the! Hang with @ broker_on_the_fly and @ b.r.i.a.n process to choosing flies for are., Size # 2 a swing steelhead fly design has changed drastically in the 50 's, 60 's even! And everything you wrote here was spot on drift both during low-light and conditions! Floating line many legitimate hook-ups and almost no foul hooking compared to my foray. Greg Senyo are great for winter video we learn how to properly swing and wet... Most important, I have tried to provide some thought process to choosing flies for steelhead magnificent!. One end thicker than the other heavier methods aren ’ t getting them to.! 50 's, 60 's and even into the strike zone, but this video could helpful! I suggested making short casts directly perpendicular from his position to place the fly easier who swing flies, everything... Bottom at most once or twice per drift I hold, they destroyed them Well-known member complete casts... 45-Degree angle John Nagy ’ s VersiLeaders, Airflo ’ s not all, I observed! For steel but am unsure what leader should I use... tapered?...