In summer conditions its important to remember that subtly can be very important. When a river is gin clear and had lots of pressure the profile and presentation of your fly can make a big difference.
On Saturday afternoon I fished the Cowlitz River. With lots of jet boats running up and down fishing eggs, shrimp, plugs, spinners, and a variety of different techniques I decided to go with a small wet fly. I knew the fish had seen lots of big presentations and must have been feeling the pressure.
Here are some things to keep in mind when fishing for late summer hatchery steelhead. They are BUGGY and CURIOUS. When they have been in the river for a little while they get trouty, buggy, and are naturally inquisitive. Some of their old fresh water instincts come back and they are intrigued by bugs, minnows, and other river critters. In the fresh flows they are top of the food chain except for outside predators like eagles, bears, birds, nets and fisherman. But under the water the threats are minimal.
Since they don’t usually spawn till the following spring, they get snacky. At least this is the instincts of summer run wild fish.
Contrast this with winter conditions when you usually swing a larger pattern that has marabou and looks more like a leech. If you try your big winter flies in the summer you might not have the success you could with a smaller summer wet (buggy) fly.
So what flies should you use? Let me suggest a couple sizes and flies. First I like #4-#8 size flies. I also like gold with a natural wing, blue, and a red tail. Put a little flash of chrome or gold ribbon in them. Purple with flashabou and a hint of pink can be nice. I like to pick wet flies that look buggy and fish them on a 6ft of 12lb / 15lb fluorocarbon leader with a sink tip, T8, T10, T11 depending on the run.
Last and most important fish your flies confidently and all the way through the drift. Give them a little twitch at the end and make the first couple strips slow. Whenever you move to a different style of bug its easy to get anxious and want to go back to what you know works or worked. But work through a run two or three times, be patient and try a couple different bugs. Peek the curiosity of a playful steelhead and tease one up for a good fight.
Always Believe
Tim
