Steelhead virgin

Bob Loblaw · Senior Member

Steelhead virgin

Cole Davis · Senior Member

It's only addictive once you actually hook one. Then it's even more addictive if you can land it. The rest of the time you will be freezing your ass off wondering why you just bought that new 8 weight and how much money you could flip it for as soon as you get home. But if the time is right and you get one you'll never look back. You may even find yourself compulsively swinging large streamers in April and May for rainbows not quite able to get over that kind of grab. Definitely the most rewarding fish that have ever been at the end of my line.

Matt R · Senior Member

Good Luck, Where ya going?

Fenwick · Member

Enjoy your first time, beginner's luck can pay off. I've become progressively worse over the years.

Bob Loblaw · Senior Member

Cole Davis wrote:
It's only addictive once you actually hook one. Then it's even more addictive if you can land it. The rest of the time you will be freezing your ass off wondering why you just bought that new 8 weight and how much money you could flip it for as soon as you get home. But if the time is right and you get one you'll never look back. You may even find yourself compulsively swinging large streamers in April and May for rainbows not quite able to get over that kind of grab. Definitely the most rewarding fish that have ever been at the end of my line.

I hear ya. I grew up fishing for Atlantic Salmon in Ireland and was 0 for about 12 years before I got interested in girls and beer and cars and all sorts of less important distractions in life.

At the recommendation of somone on this forum a couple of years ago I bought a very cheap Cabelas 8 weight and reel. I think I paid less than $100 for the combo, so I haven't mortgaged the house to get into this. I have a bad feeling however that if these fish pull as hard as I suspect, if I hook a decent sized on it will demolish the $25 reel. ...look forward to having that problem!

I'm going to the American River at Sunrise Park with a group from the Orvis store in SF....an instructional class for Steelhead rookies. Really looking forward to trying a new klind of fishing. Watching a strike indicator or short lining nymphs all day can get old after a while.

Hoping my old waders hold up. Just patched a bunch of holes in them....getting wet in July can be nice. Not so much in November.

drifter · Senior Member

Dont expect to pop your steelhead cherry at the A this time of the year..

SK60 · Senior Member

DFG just issued a report today that steelie counts are up 2X over last year on the Trinity. Go get your fix.

browndude3649 · Veteran Member

SK60 wrote:
DFG just issued a report today that steelie counts are up 2X over last year on the Trinity. Go get your fix.

Saweet. I'm looking togo week before thanksgiving week.

Matt R · Senior Member

Im fixed reel good.. 3 days last week and 3 days the week before on the Trinity. Couldn't be any better.

browndude3649 · Veteran Member

Any yous guys go upto hatchery to get an eye-full?

SHAWN · Newbie

How's the fishing on the trinity? Haven't been in a month. There were no steelies up high yet then. Caught a couple of salmon in Lewiston though.

Fenwick · Member

Check out Trinity Fly Shop www.trinityflyshop.com / they've got a link to lodging in the Lewiston area, and I bet they could recommend something if you're staying in Weaverville. If you want to swing flies go by the shop and they can be very helpful with tips (even sinking tips). Car and camping could be very wet, snowy, and or cold. Have fun it's beautiful out there.

Cole Davis · Senior Member

My new 7 wt. switch should be here today when I get home from work. I gotta tell you, I am so happy to be tying up string leeches right now instead of midges....I hate midges. My least favorite bug to fish. Now I just gotta find a time slot to go chase some chrome.

Bob Loblaw · Senior Member

I have a bunch of unused vacation time I need to burn before the end of the year and I'd love to use some of it on a midweek trip to the Trinity. If anyone in the East Bay area wants to rideshare with me let me know. I'd be happy to drive and split gas. How do most people deal with accomodation up there? is there year round camping? do you sleep in the car? get a room in a motel?

Matt R · Senior Member

Im not sure about most people but I stay in my truck. Sometimes on a gravel bar right along side the highway and sometimes way down in a hole along side the river. As Fenwick said it's wet and cold most of the time and not really for the fair weather fans. 2 weeks ago, different story short sleeves and steelhead were the rule during the day. Really there's options to stay in motels, in campgrounds or wherever its flat. I'd go again and I probably will soon but I just burned vacation on 2 trips up there in october. I'll post a report soon

Cole Davis · Senior Member

Like Matt said if you got a truck with a camper it makes things easy. Bring your zero degree sleeping bag. I would check out the strawhouse inn at big flat. They have some rooms that may be cozier at night not to mention good coffee and bagels early in the morning and brick oven pizzas on Friday. If they are booked roll across the street to big flat campground which is usually open in the winter. Burnt ranch also stays open all year further west down by "the forks"

Bob Loblaw · Senior Member

Still a virgin. Saw tons of salmon doing their thing and plenty of yahoos snagging. Saw 2 jerks trying to snag fish out of a big redd.

Fished nymphs and egg patterns under an indicator and swung some leech patterns, but not even a grab. Beautiful day out there though and I'll definitely try it again.

Hand hurts from casting a big 8 weight all day, definitely a different sort of fishing.

The Trinity is tempting me.