November 25th 2024
Rainy days and low water?
We've had a lot of damp rainy days the last couple weeks, but really haven't seen enough rain to raise our rivers up. The good news is that we're getting just enough to keep a steady trickle of fish coming up the river systems. This fall has had a really good steelhead run so far, especially when compared to last year!
We are starting to see some of the fish settle into winter holding spots and get a little color to them. There are still some fresh fish pushing up river so we have been covering both transition water and holding water. Swinging with spey rods has been our preferred method. A floating skagit line with T11 or T14 has been getting our flies down where they need to be in the water column.
Due to the lower water levels you might need to throw a downstream mend in the line to help pull your fly through the current and keep it moving. Or switch to a lighter weight sink tip. For fly selections we've been a big fan of flashy flies like Feenstra flash mobs and codebreakers, especially in the faster water runs. Variations of these flies in copper and purple have been some of our favorite colors. For the slower water a combination of marabou and flash seems to pulsate a little better and give the fly a bit more action. Intruder patterns with a few strands of flash seem to be the ticket.
Looking ahead it looks like the weather is going to get a little chilly. This means that we will soon be swapping out a lot of our floating heads for intermediate heads. With cooler water the fish start moving to deeper holding water. A fishes bite window also shrinks and you need to get the fly closer to the fishes strike zone or slow it down so they can catch up with it. Remember to give the fish time to take your fly and turn before lifting the rod and hang on tight.
Trout fishing continues to be productive and can be a great way to get away from the crowds this time of year. Light tippets and careful presentations in the low clear water are imperative.
The shop is fully stocked with warm weather gear and has all the equipment you need to embrace winter fishing. We are running BLACK FRIDAY SALES in store starting today 11/25 and running through next Monday 12/2. Swing by and get geared up at a discount or get your holiday shopping knocked out early so you can get back on the water.
New to steelheading? We offer FREE Steelheading 101 classes and Guided trips if you'd like to try it out!
Tight lines - Capt. Matt