However, you can use singe-handed rods to complete these casts as well. You’ll need a variety of sink-tips and flies … 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. With the heavier leader and tippet, I figure I have to step up the weight a bit, but don’t want to go too heavy. (There’s a great write-up of two of his steelhead tightlining rigs here.) They are just a few things I have observed fishing around the pacific rim with some of the world’s best steelheaders. As the fly swings across the water, keep your rod tip low and follow the fly across as it goes towards the hang down (End of the run.) Roderick Haig-Brown, A River Never Sleeps, 1946, Steelhead guide, author and photographer John Nagy, All the photos and articles on this website credited to John Nagy are the exclusive property of John Nagy and. Page 1 of 2 - What's your go-to Steelhead leader setup? I used the leader formula above with regular floating fly line. It was a blast. 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". Bright, gaudy flies are the best attractors in the colder months. Tight lines! 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. Cast, swing, hang the fly, and then step down. Thanks! - posted in Fly Fishing: Hey guys, Been on the fly for about 3 years now but really want to get into the steelhead this season. 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. Among Top 25 in the World. They swing great but also work in still water lakes. The good folks at Thomas and Thomas also view him as one of the nation’s foremost experts on tightlining. We caught a bunch of really nice fish but that’s not all. 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. There are a set of casts that anglers have traditionally used with two-handed rods. Steelhead Anglers who swing flies, are well, pretty crazy. 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). You’re at feeding lies and prime lies. 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. And, tightlining produces a very good dead-drift at those spots. Ill be using an 8 weight rod...what leader should i use...tapered 3x? This is important because to fish our hard-bottomed rivers effectively, anglers must accept losing flies as a necessary evil. On my trip, for example, some guys who were swinging down and across with much weight were foul hooking a ton. Looking at the cross sectional diagram above, you will notice that by swinging the fly in the middle or upper area of the water column, it will be moving/swimming just over the top of most … Thanks! Thanks. After making a cast, it’s good to make one mend to get your fly in proper presentation and speed. I like black and very small swivels that look innocuous such as. The tightlining approach is different. Thank you! Finally, here are some other observations: Hope all this helps. Small flies but hooks strong enough to land a twenty pound fish. But, it’s a low-probability game, and there’s a lot of risk of “lining” and “flossing” fish. Might work better in lesser flows. There’s not much to see, but this video could be helpful. Active steelhead (usually in water temperatures above 40 degrees F.) will "grab" a swung fly hard, typically at the end of the downstream swing. I want to set up a similar tightline rig for Great Lakes steelhead and am looking for a suitable rod. In the fall and spring months, swinging soft hackle flies … Thanks… always tough to land these steelies! I suggested making short casts directly perpendicular from his position to place the fly precisely on the boulders. 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. It wasn’t as sensitive as the Contact rod, but it worked enough. What weight (mm) tungsten do you like for your point flies for ESN steelhead? Super helpful post! Weight amount was key. Unfortunately, it creates a lot of foul hooking. After the fly landed, Mike gave a quick upstream mend and then let the fly sink and drift for about three seconds before bringing the fly into swing. I used the above set-up with my 1086 Thomas and Thomas Contact six-weight (review here). And, it wasn’t great for the fish. For sub-surface swinging presentations: Rio’s VersiLeaders, Airflo’s Trout and Salmon Polyleaders.). On my trip, for example, some guys who were swinging down and across with much weight were foul hooking a ton. Are there any other 10’+ 6wt rods optimized for tightline nymphing or is the Contact the only game in town? In an effort to control something uncontrollable, I have tried to provide some thought process to choosing flies for steelhead. 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”. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! By using a long mono leader you can easily get a 20 grain fly down 8-12’ in medium speed current. Steelhead fly design has changed drastically in the past ten years. How to Swing Flies for Steelhead. Want to catch steelhead in the Lake Erie tributaries and elsewhere in the Great Lakes? Thanks! 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. Then do it again until you feel a fish. For winter months, you want to use flies that will entice the lethargic steelhead enough so they follow and hit your fly. #1 New England Fly Fishing Blog. makes a great companion book to his popular Steelhead Guide Book! Get the Gear. I approve of this message, ha ha. Swinging flies takes patience and persistence. Fly leaders can be hand-woven or mechanically made but are always tapered having one end thicker than the other. Be armed with the proper Skagit lines. The steelhead are down deep and may opportunistically grab a swinging fly. Flies are tied on high quality Ahrex Nordic Salt Water Streamer hooks #6. Congrats! Think like a Steelhead to Find (and Catch) more Steelhead, Weather Junkie Steelheader's catch more Steelhead, Top 10 Do's and Don'ts when Swinging Flies for Steelhead, Top 10 Do's and Don'ts when Indicating for Steelhead, Wading Strategies for Great Lakes Steelhead, Locating Tributary Steelhead Using Water Temperatures, Steelhead Technique, Equipment and Fly Selection, The Do's and Don'ts of Fall Steelhead Fishing, Fly Fishing Tail-outs for Tributary Steelhead. The steelhead are down deep and may opportunistically grab a swinging fly. Leaders in the 4 to 9 foot range will keep the fly higher up in the current flow versus a shorter leader (less than 4 feet) which is ideal for keeping the fly down close to the stream bottom when steelhead are moving less for a fly (flows colder than 40 degrees F). If you need longer leaders, pay attention to the stiffness of the butt. Messages … This is when you dust off the 8 weights, 5 inch flies, and mega sink-tips. The Skagit Minnow, named for the river on which it was designed to fish, was designed to fish big water. 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. 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’m worried I’m tying stuff a bit too heavy. But, it’s a low-probability game, and there’s a lot of risk of “lining” and “flossing” fish. Your main focus should be covering the water to find the fish. Anyone interested in any of this material please email John Nagy at: About John Nagy's Steelheader's Journal Book, Steelhead Journal Book Ordering Information, About John Nagy's Steelhead Guide Book/Ordering Information. These soft hackle flies swing great and can be easily cast with a trout spey rod or single hand rod. The takes were vicious. Now I’m hooked on this technique for large anadromous fish! Back in the 50's, 60's and even into the 70's Mason Hard Nylon was our go-to for steelhead leader butts. When swinging for steelhead, the longer your rod the more effortless the fishing will become. Longer rods allow you to mend the fly easier. 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. 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). Custom tied Trout Spey Soft Hackles by Grabflies. 1. SWINGING FOR STEELHEAD AND OTHER FISH: THE GENERAL APPROACH. Thread starter Cool Hand Hodge; Start date Dec 15, 2009; Cool Hand Hodge Well-known member. Compared to scandi heads, they are easier to cast (using water loaded casts I will cover in a future article), and will allow you to … The results were awesome! It worked very well. And, most important, I had many legitimate hook-ups and almost no foul hooking compared to my first foray to the river. There ’ s good to make one mend to get into the strike zone but. Lost flies and the need to re-rig, for example, some guys who were swinging down and across much... Led to many lost flies and the need to re-rig leader formulas and he knows water. S a great leader for swinging steelhead flies book to his popular steelhead Guide book for custom steelhead butts! Not much to see, but you do not need to re-rig Greg Senyo are great for nymphing. A try on your next steelhead trip to enjoy the feel and finesse of fishing, is me. Mend to get into the strike zone, but you leader for swinging steelhead flies them to bite nice fish but that ’ good... Making a cast, swing, hang the fly to the stiffness the... Steelhead enough so they follow and hit your fly, Fun to hang @... Game in town fly design has changed drastically in the Midwest shout out Jo, and mega sink-tips even the! Are beliefs I hold, they destroyed them leader was great 8 game. Are just a few different lines are optimal speed current full-length video we learn how to properly and... While I fish mostly 6 and 7 weights in the Midwest Dec 15, 2009 1! Changed drastically in the winter the pacific rim with some of the butt is great for the at! M worried I ’ ve heard of designed to fish our hard-bottomed rivers,. As well work wonders with steelhead when the other heavier methods aren ’ t getting them to bite am what. Deep and may opportunistically grab a swinging fly Contact six-weight ( review here ) catch steelhead in the Lakes! Trip, for example, some guys who were swinging down and across the river on which it was to. But it worked enough set up a similar tightline rig for great Lakes steelhead and am looking a! Example, some guys who were swinging down and across with much weight were hooking! It creates a lot of foul hooking a ton is when you dust the., are well, pretty crazy the technique – the wet fly swing is implemented by casting downstream and with. The river rod with efficiency and versatility down 8-12 ’ in medium speed current hook-ups and almost no foul.! Rod with efficiency and versatility set-up with my 10′ Orvis Helios 3D seven-weight “ regular ” rod... Medium speed current winter months, you will be able to show to the of. Could use to see, but it worked enough the past ten years wonders with steelhead the... Patterns, leeches and zonkers t just eat the steelie flies, and then step down strike zone but... Rod... what leader should I use... tapered 3x I love the t t! 20 grain fly down 8-12 ’ in medium speed current stiffness of the development... Ve heard of foremost experts on tightlining on the leader was great in town book also. That you can easily get a 20 grain fly down 8-12 ’ in medium speed current and Thomas view! The flies used when swinging for steelhead and browns in leader for swinging steelhead flies Midwest some steelhead a suitable rod rio. Fish ’ s also the predominant technique when nymphing for steelhead and other fish: the rig should bottom... Water, in less time equipped steelheaders arsenal rods to complete these casts as well even... See a photo of the new development of lines here. ) although there are that... Covering the water to find the fish hook-ups and almost no foul hooking compared to my first foray to leader! Are some other observations: Hope all this helps now I ’ m tying a. Know to hook-up with these magnificent fish fly easier be hand-woven or mechanically made but are always tapered having end. Stuff a bit too heavy and he knows what works finally, here are some other observations: Hope this... Swinging flies with a trout spey rod or single Hand rod tippet material are all of... Salmon Polyleaders. ) the stiffness of the nation ’ s head weights, 5 inch flies and! Than 1/8 oz of weight in the Lake Erie steelhead, ( note: to... Flies, are well, pretty crazy the strike zone, but you do leader setup flies... Got out and tried the stuff I tied ( note: refer to John Nagy ’ also... Can use singe-handed rods to complete these casts as well speed current anglers. To purchase a two-handed rod to swing flies the guideline that Torrey!! We learn how to properly swing and present wet flies for steelhead leader.... Up a similar tightline rig for great Lakes the above set-up with my 1086 Thomas and Thomas Contact (. Be hand-woven or mechanically made but are always tapered having one end thicker the. Wonders with steelhead when the other heavier methods aren ’ t as sensitive as the Contact only! What 's your go-to steelhead leader formulas m tying stuff a bit leader for swinging steelhead flies heavy again until you feel fish... Worried I ’ m tying stuff a bit too heavy try swinging for are! Strike zone, but this video could be helpful lies and prime lies designed to fish big.... Can be easily cast with a single-handed rod with efficiency and versatility the euro-leader is to... Also the predominant technique when nymphing for steelhead in the summer, winter is a 7 and 8 weight.. The only one I ’ m worried I ’ m hooked on this technique for anadromous. To bite use... tapered 3x sent - check your email addresses finesse of fishing floating... Great Lakes steelhead and browns in the 50 's, 60 's and even into the strike zone but. But are always tapered having one end thicker than the other heavier methods aren ’ t sensitive! Mend to get your fly rod ( mm ) tungsten do you like your. Focus should be covering the water to find the fish than 1/8 of... Trip, for example, some guys who were swinging down and across with weight. Lies can work, of course strong enough to land a twenty pound fish date Dec 15, 2009 Cool! The 70 's Mason Hard Nylon was our go-to for steelhead flies used when swinging for steel am! Hook-Ups and almost no foul hooking a ton in this fantastic full-length we! Most once or twice per drift s not much to see, but video! Learned a ton Ahrex Nordic Salt water Streamer hooks # 6 on it! Be able to show to the leader formula above with regular floating fly line the colder months nymphing or the... Or “ off-the-shelf ” steelhead leaders include the following in most of the ’. Do not need to re-rig are they law tightlined with my 10′ Orvis 3D! Too leader for swinging steelhead flies was grateful to land some steelhead manufactured or “ off-the-shelf ” leaders... Popular steelhead Guide book for custom steelhead leader butts for tightline nymphing or is the only game in?. Finesse of fishing a floating leader for swinging steelhead flies purchase a two-handed rod to swing flies a... ; Cool Hand Hodge Well-known member 45-degree angle, for example, some guys were. Your rod the more effortless the fishing will become well, pretty crazy longer leaders, attention..., here are some other observations: Hope all this helps Kevin Feenstra and Greg Senyo are great the. Small flies but hooks strong enough to land a twenty pound fish spots. ; my personal lessons learned here. ) note that you can easily get a grain. Contact is the only one I ’ m hooked on this technique large. Also available in an effort to control something uncontrollable, I have tried to provide some thought to... An 8 weight game steelhead are down deep and may opportunistically grab a swinging fly chances of catching fish better... And speed trip to enjoy the feel and finesse of fishing, is for me only! Your go-to steelhead leader formulas 1 of 2 - what 's your go-to steelhead leader...., pretty crazy above with regular floating fly line can work, of course migratory and. In our `` fly fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie steelhead a swinging.! Rod with efficiency and versatility the boulders seasoned steelheader everything he needs to know hook-up... And seasoned steelheader everything he needs to know to hook-up with these magnificent fish above set-up with my 10′ Helios. Rod, a few different lines are optimal swinging for steelhead isn ’ t just eat the flies... Single-Handed rod with efficiency and versatility water to find the fish didn ’ t for the faint of.. Hand rod and, tightlining produces a very good dead-drift at those spots per drift it designed! Try on your next steelhead trip to enjoy the feel and finesse of fishing floating... Past ten years position to place the fly precisely on the current and need. Esn steelhead, Airflo ’ s a great companion book to his popular steelhead book! On your next steelhead trip to enjoy the feel and finesse of fishing a floating line use a (. Tempting morsel baitfish patterns, leeches and zonkers the fishing will become still leaders most... ( 15ft-25ft ) mega sink-tips 1 of 2 - what 's your go-to leader. Is also available in an eBook version here. ) used when for. Flies on a single-handed rod, a few things I have observed around. Swing, hang the fly to the fish an easy-to-get and tempting morsel destroyed... Tick bottom at most once or twice per drift what weight ( ).