Yeesh! August is tough!

[ChezJfrey]

Been out twice this month and absolutely nothing happening for me.

Well, I've inadvertently killed two wild trout though...they hit my spoon at the end of the swing and one got the hook through the head and the other must have bit the actual spoon blade and when I struck, the hook went through both gills. Bummer.

Anyway, might hit it again after work today.

 

[steelhead_stalkers]

These hot months demand finesse techniques for pressured, low, clear water steelhead!

 

[nativefish]

wow 2 trips out with nothing???? better throw in the towel!

 

[ChezJfrey]

wow 2 trips out with nothing???? better throw in the towel!

Hehehehe. Trust me, my frustration tolerance was built up pretty good from last year's 12 months of nothing, so I'm OK there

But, this year I have at least been getting missed strikes, some lost hookups and even a fish or two landed nearly every single trip, so I guess I've gotten a bit spoiled. I suppose I'm a bit stubborn and refuse to fall prey to assuming I'll get no action when I step up to the river at the beginning of the day's fishing

 

[nativefish]

After a few years I agree about the stubborn feeling. Ya know they are there and where they are supposed to be. Sometimes the freaking fish just arent there!

 

[bran_man]

Yeah it has been tough out there. Water is so low and clear! Think for the first time ever, I'm going to start using flourocarbon line for my leaders in holes that it will help....

 

[Mad dog]

These hot months demand finesse techniques for pressured, low, clear water steelhead!

:clap: The smaller the better!!!

Caught 3 hatchery fish in 3 hours monday morning....I could tell they had been fished over!!! :think: Very subtle takes....the vast majority of anglers....this is what I believe....do not know when a steelhead has picked up the bait! If you feel tug,tug,tug....it's not a bite....that fish is already trying to dislodge the bait from it's mouth. A good rod is worth it's weight in gold!!!

It's august....I would ditch the spoon!!!

 

[ChezJfrey]

It's august....I would ditch the spoon!!!

Yeah, kinda what I was wondering about. Been using smaller and dark, but maybe a different technique is in order.

 

[rippin fish lips]

:clap: The smaller the better!!!

It's august....I would ditch the spoon!!!

Or just try to stick with dark colors if you can't get away from the spoons. My buddy got his first yesterday on a copper thomas. I just stick to darker colors and nothing over 1/4oz and try to find water that is 3-4 feet deep. Plenty of fish still bein takin on spoons.

Dime sized, or little less then dime sized cluster of eggs will work fine in low clear water if the fish are willing to bite.

 

[steelhead_stalkers]

I don't doubt you can still catch steelhead on spoons. You can also catch steelhead on powerbait. True story I have done it but its probably not the best thing to fish if you want to fill up your hatchery tag this time of year. For the most part spoons and spinners catch really hot steelhead and they catch them pretty fast! But for pressured fish and very clear water a lot of times it just spooks them or turns them off. Good time of year to work on other techniques. Water height, color, temp and speed should determine what technique you use.

 

[bran_man]

I don't doubt you can still catch steelhead on spoons. You can also catch steelhead on powerbait. True story I have done it but its probably not the best thing to fish if you want to fill up your hatchery tag this time of year. For the most part spoons and spinners catch really hot steelhead and they catch them pretty fast! But for pressured fish and very clear water a lot of times it just spooks them or turns them off. Good time of year to work on other techniques. Water height, color, temp and speed should determine what technique you use.

Yup! pretty much my thoughts. I will still try spinners/spoons in the early morning when there is overcast and not clear/bright sunny day. I'm personally thinking maybe even trying float fishing, just with super short leaders! ha ha. I know float fishing is a good way not to spook the fish as easily... just kind of a hard tactic to use with the super low water levels... Thoughts on this?

 

[steelhead_stalkers]

The McKenzie is a tough one for float fishing up by leaburg. Off of the rock point below the island is a great float spot if no one is drifting fishing it. Also the island above is a great float spot when the water is low. And the flat below the falls is another great spot to sight fish them with a float. Its only about two feet there so you need a short leader. Pink worms, beads, yarn balls and small chunks of roe work best in the shallow flats and then you can add jigs to that list in the deeper water. Also if you have a lighter rod going down to 6 lb flouro leader can work really well. Just make sure you loosen your drag. You won't catch them all but the hookup ratio should go up.

 

[Mad dog]

Went 3 for 5 sunday, didn't feel good the whole morning! Barfed on the trail on the walk in, slept on a rock for 1/2 hour until legal fishing. Hooked a fish on the 3rd cast that went ballistic and came unhooked. An hour later I let a hatchery go, then spent a couple of hours with nothing. Moved to a different hole and immediately went 1 for 2, then nothing! I realized that I had left my sunglasses sitting on a rock at the 1st hole so I headed back that way. The sunglasses where there and I hooked a small hatchery on the 1st cast that I clonked.

 

[ChezJfrey]

Dang man, my hero!

So, maybe drift a small cluster of EZ-eggs with 6-8 pound leader? Or do I need the real deal, eggs-wise?

 

[plumb2fish]

My buddies always give me crap about using easy eggs....especially after I land fish on em. They work pretty well on pressured springers too.

 

[Mad dog]

Dang man, my hero!

So, maybe drift a small cluster of EZ-eggs with 6-8 pound leader? Or do I need the real deal, eggs-wise?

50/50.....sometimes pressured fish eat them better with no bait!

 

[Mad dog]

My buddies always give me crap about using easy eggs....especially after I land fish on em. They work pretty well on pressured springers too.

I think a lot of the time fish aren't used to seeing them....most summer fish have seen just about everything by now!