New to the forum

[Jetdrive]

Hello everyone,

I have been invited to go Steelhead fishing this weekend and was surfing the net to try and find information on just what I'll need to have an enjoyable trip. That is when I came across this fine website and forum. I just got my Cabela's card in the mail and already know that I need to purchase new wading shoes with it :) ! However in talking to the guy I am going with I am hardly prepared for the trip as far as tackle/clothing is concerned.

Can anyone help me and advise as to what I need from A toZ to make this trip. I may be able to incorporate some of the things I have. Your help would be greatly appreciated. I really don't want to burn the credit card up, but will do what I need to get by.

Jetdrive

[Finman]

Welcome to the site Jetdrive!!! I will say that you left an awful lot of open holes in what you're looking to accomplish, but I'm sure with the help of you and all of us here you'll get yourself hooked up.

First, you didn't mention what style of fishing you'd prefer to do. If it's fly fishing, a 7 or 8 weight with a soft tip will suffice with either running line for chuck and duck, or a weight forward line will do for casting. Leaders with tippets in the 4-6 lb. range should take care of things, and flies such as a variety of nymph patterns, sucker spawns, egg patterns, and some buggers should get you going.

If spinning is your thing, a 9-11.5' rod will do and same leaders apply. Throw everything that could work at them from flies to egg sacks.

Although the weather is not supposed to be frigid this weekend, the water is still 33-35 degrees. Depends on how you handle the cold as to how to dress and what type of waders to wear, but you definitely want to have some type of spikes on the soles of your feet if you're going to wade around. I prefer breathable bootfoot waders and also have 5 mil neos if necessary, but I sweat too much in the neos. Quite a few guys that aren't as bothered by the cold water on their feet do wear regular wading boots. Like I said, it all depends on the individual's toleration to the cold. Best advice is layers that wick and keep you dry, as you can always shed layers if you get too warm. Stay away from cotton as it holds moisture and sweat and will make you cold in the long run.

Hope this gave you some thoughts for a start to getting prepared. Good luck on the water!!



Finman

[the happy salmon]

Hello everyone,

I came across this fine website and forum.

Jetdriveyes , you have come across the finest website in all the land!!!! if you need info , this is the place!!!!!! if you want comradary and a good ball bustin, this is also the place!!!!!!!!!!!!! jump in the fire!!!! :D

[Craig]

No matter which way you go, here is my suggestion. Instead of buying a bunch of stuff, GET A GUIDE. I can't stress this enough. $300 will get you a crash course in steelheading and you'll probably even catch a few. You don't need to buy ANYTHING but film.

Scenario #1. You hire a guide and decide steelheading isn't your gig. You're out 3 bills, but still had a fun day.

Scenario #2. You hire a guide and get hooked. You're out 3 bills, had a fun day, and learned alot.

Scenario #3. No guide. No fun. Post used gear on Salmon Crazy classifieds.

Scenario #4. No guide, but you're hooked. Six months from now you sell all the stuff you bought because you bought the wrong stuff.

You've got a clean slate now....I wouldn't wan't you to learn the hard way. Most of the guys on here will admit they "wish they had known then what they know now".

Using the search engine on this site will get you the best NY steelhead info available period. Collectively you have access to THOUSANDS of years of steelhead experience. Yahoos are not welcome, so you can trust the info you get here. If you need guide or gear recomendations just ask. It will inevitably save you $$ and frustration.

[Scales]

Nice post Craig, couldnt agree with you more..

[Craig]

Scales, I would hate to see somebody walk the same path many of us did.

Over the years I've probably spent over 10K chasing these damn fish. Between waders that leak, rods that suck, reels that explode, leaders that break, fly tying CRAP, ect.......Here I am 20 years later and I'm finaly happy with my set up.

[Scales]

No doubt, I been there. So many trips up there where i left frustrated as hell, because i just didnt know the deal. I did hire a guide twice and cant stress enough the valuable info i got out of those trips.

[Jetdrive]

Hey, thanks everyone! I guess I did leave a lot of holes open on just what I was going to do up there on the Salmon this weekend. I have not been up there for overt ten years and of course like everything else it all changes over time. The equipment out there and the techniques used are miles ahead of what used to be the status quo.

I'd like to get a guide at some point, but this trip is on an invite by a guy I work with and his translation of a few things left me with just a few questions to research on. Everyone thinks you are on the same page when it comes to "their" experience. Talk of float fishing and centerpin reels and the like tell me I have not been paying attention to the game. As a matter of fact the last time I was on the Oswego I should have took boxing gloves. Sours your experience when some get a little unruly over fishing space. Unfortunately, other than the power of the fish that swim out of the big lake, that is what I remember of it all. I caught a couple salmon and a big brown, but sat back and watched the commotion for the most part. My friend tells me that the steelhead fishing is a bit different.

He told me he has some stuff I could use and if I need I can probably get just as good a deal up there on equipment than I could at Cabela's minus the points of course. Just getting back up there and getting a feel and a look, see will be worth the trip to justify a return interest in the fishery up there.

Thanks again everyone, I'll be sure to let you know how I do.

[Linescreamer]

Yeah Craig, almost thirthy years latter and I still don't have a

PIN!!

[woolybugger65]

Jet, number one thing i wouldn't want to forget to get is a New York State fishing license.

[Craydaddy]

So you want to Float Fish, right??? What questions do you have???

[Jetdrive]

I have an idea what float fishing is, but maybe you could tell me exactly what it is and why the method is so popular. I see some of the equipment is fairly expensive. I would also like to know more on the terminal tackle end i.e.; hook types and sizes; split shot or slinky's weight; line weight and color; leader materials and weights as well as the floats themselves. Spinning would be a preferred method, but would be willing to use flyfishing tackle at some point. Maybe the guide thing would be the thing to do in the future as well. Thanks.

[ecsteelheader]

Welcome to the site dude,,, Craig hit it right,,1st time steelheading go one a drift boat trip,,you'll learn alot in 8+hrs...give GOTTUM a shout he'll do you good,,if your gonna buy a spin outfit,,no rod shorter 9',i have 2 10'6" which i bought from BassPro Shops for only $29.95 and they kick *** just as much as a GLOOMIS or Fenwick,spinning reel you want a reel that holds at least 150yds of 6lb test and has a smoooooth drag,,the drag is a big factor,i have 2 Okuma Metaloids nice reel,smooth drag and cost under $75.00,plus they come with a xtra aluminum spool,load one w/6 lb test and the other w/8lb test,i use Stren Hi-Vis Yellow,,tuff stuff and you can see your line for the slightest twitch,,leader line my fav is Maxima Ultra Green depending what kind of water i'm fishing i use 4 or 6 lb test leader, i use split shot in sizes #5 or #7 depending on the flow,you cant use slinkies the way there suppose to be run,because of the bull$hit law,well i hope that helps you and good luck fishing,,and if you dont catch,,keep going back you'll love it>))>

[Jetdrive]

Thanks, ecsteelheader, I'll take your advice along with me when I go to invest in this stuff again. I forgot about a lot of the BS laws NY serves up. I'll have to read up on those for sure. Don't need a tap on the shoulder.

Just wondering if there are any secrets in the hook department. These are a big fish and there has been major develoment in fishing hooks over the years. I remember fishing the ********** with #12 salmon egg hooks and one egg catching browns up to twenty inches, but lost a couple of giants. Both times the hook came back a little out of shape. That was my last trip up there and that was awhile ago.

Thanks again for the advice and the well wishes......

[toolmaker66]

i have 2 10'6" which i bought from BassPro Shops for only $29.95 and they kick *** just as much as a GLOOMIS or Fenwick,

Hold up as well as a GLoomis or Fenwick and you haven't fished since when 1986 or something??? LMAO!!! Had to EC... lol

Jetdrive want a good secret on hooks? Buy Dai-Riki. They are the BEST.

[Kinghookjaw]

just bought some dai riki's a few weeks ago and had used them this past weekend. I dunno if I just got a bad batch but 80% of the snags i tried to break out off, resulted in a broken hook. they were breaking right where the bend of the hook starts. I've heard excellent things about dai-riki's, but now im kinda wondering. best bag for the buck in my opinion... MUSTAD!

Welcome aboard btw.. and I would most definitely agree with craig on this one. Steelhead have a way of frustrating even the most seasoned vet... hire a guide or go with someone who has a few years experience and fish under his belt. most anyone on this site will be glad to assist you, thru the forum or in person on the river. best of luck on ur trip and post some pics for us to see.

<><


Hold up as well as a GLoomis or Fenwick and you haven't fished since when 1986 or something??? LMAO!!! Had to EC... lol

Jetdrive want a good secret on hooks? Buy Dai-Riki. They are the BEST.

[Craig]

just bought some dai riki's a few weeks ago and had used them this past weekend. I dunno if I just got a bad batch but 80% of the snags i tried to break out off, resulted in a broken hook. they were breaking right where the bend of the hook starts. I've heard excellent things about dai-riki's, but now im kinda wondering.<><
I've had the same thing happen with them KHJ. I've grown very stuborn lately about hooks. For speys/streamers I use Vivaris or Partridge Of Reditch. In all other cases I use Gamakatsu. I'm probably just paying for peice of mind, but I don't remember hooks breaking when I was a kid. Maybe the manufacturers are just pushing the envelope more now (heat treating and such).

[Paul Conklin]

I had the same problem with Dai-riki's # 135's but you need to remember they are only a 1X strong hook compared to say a Tiemco 2457 they are 2X strong.

[SuperiorChrome]

I use the Tiemco 2457 in size 8 and 10 for anything from steelhead to atlantic salmon in the St. Mary's. I've never had a problem with a hook breaking. I've also had good luck using a #6 Daichi octopus hook when fishing spawn in the late spring. I think it's just a matter of personal preference.

[gman2153]

Steelhead have a way of frustrating even the most seasoned vet...<><

KING - Now there is about the best darn quote I have seen on Salmon Crazy...

They will frustrate a man more than any woman ever put on this Earth...that's what we get for chasing them tails...:D

[ecsteelheader]

Hold up as well as a GLoomis or Fenwick and you haven't fished since when 1986 or something??? LMAO!!! Had to EC... lol

Jetdrive want a good secret on hooks? Buy Dai-Riki. They are the BEST.


LOL ..I havent been winter<--<< steelheading since dec of 2002..I was up in the fall,,I have a custom made G Loomis 9'6" which Jim Rusher made,im just saying for the low buget price these 10'6" BassPro rods ,i landed quite a few steelies on those rods and one was a 35" 16lb male w/4lb test leader,rod worked great ,thats why i bought 2, I miss winter steelheading but my job doesnt pay great in the off season,,i'm just trying to save the guy money...

On hooks i use Owners and Gamagotzu's..lol..however you spell it>))>

[toolmaker66]

My buddy Mike from Watertown uses one of those Bass Pro Shop noodle rods. Brown in color? Looks alot like a custom rod, he swears by it also. Might have to find me one up there in Auburn.

[Jetdrive]

LOL ..I,,i'm just trying to save the guy money...

On hooks i use Owners and Gamagotzu's..lol..however you spell it>))>

That is spelled Gamakatsu if it really matters.

I went and bought some of those at Cabela's today in size 10 and 12. I also traded in some stuff I had around the house that I never used or used very little and came home with a St.Croix Wild River 11'6" rod. They didn't have anything I really liked. Net cost after trading in a couple of turkey calls, a seat and a Muzzy Zero effects rest I reaaly didn't need: $20.... I have an Okuma reel that should be able to do the job. It fits very nicely.

Spent a little more than I should have with the wading boots though. I got a pair of Korkers with the interchangeble spikes and we all know what they cost. After new line, the hooks, some leader material, some hand and foot warmers, I should have enough for a NY state license! I think I'll be ok, thanks to everyone's good advice:rolleyes:......Thanks again!

[ecsteelheader]

My buddy Mike from Watertown uses one of those Bass Pro Shop noodle rods. Brown in color? Looks alot like a custom rod, he swears by it also. Might have to find me one up there in Auburn.

Yup its dark brown w/maroon colored bindings,,its called Tourney Special IM6 model#TSP106ULN-2 2-8lb test,, im gonna use them at the shore for light line bluefishin:eek: ,,that should real fun,,next weekend i'll be ocean fishing>))>

[the happy salmon]

type in the keyword silstar on ebay search and there is a giant list of 10ft noodle rods for steelies! the bidding on some start around 12 dollars! they are great poles for the price and you dont loose any sleep if you break one... just buy another! :D

[woolybugger65]

i agree w/slappy happy. i have a silstar, paid $17 new for it. seems indestructible.

[CB1]

I had the same problem with Dai-riki's # 135's but you need to remember they are only a 1X strong hook compared to say a Tiemco 2457 they are 2X strong.

I also use 2457's and really like em..... Sharp and they stick, but one thing you gotta pay attention too is that they are 2x heavy, but still only wire, not forged.. THEY WILL BEND, not on fish but getting outta snags, etc.. So, check them often...

[bighead salmon]

Hay jet don't forget to hook your sack and WELCOME TO SALMON CRAZY this is a fine site and their are many fine anglers on it to so don't be afraid to ask about any thing at all.

[the happy salmon]

i agree w/slappy happy. i have a silstar, paid $17 new for it. seems indestructible.my silstar kicks a$$, buddy! wooley buggar knows his rods!!!!!!!!! :D