This page is designed to give you some insights on things I’ve learned in both
guiding situations and my own personal fishing experience. I hope to share with
you things that have improved my fishing as well as that of others. I would also like
to use it as a forum for any questions you have. So, if you find yourself in a situation
were your just left scratching your head, shoot me an email, maybe I can help.
Examples of this would be questions on casting, flies, knots, rod design, what lines
to use, or whatever. Please feel free to use me as an information resource.
Boot Foots Are Cool...
As a winter steelhead guide, I'm constantly trying to figure out better layering
systems to stay warmer while on the water. Despite my efforts, my feet always
seem to be cold during the winter. I've tried bigger boots, two heavy socks, one
light -one heavy sock, etc. I had just excepted that cold feet were just part of the
game.
However, I recently bought a pair of Simms boot foot waders through their Custom
Shop program. I tested them in the Great Lakes first. The first morning of my trip
brought temperatures in the single digits. Rated at -20 degrees, the Muck Boots
kept my feet completely warm. Back here in the Northwest, I've noticed my whole
body stays warmer. Outside of their warmth, the boots are light and comfortable.
More so, you can get them on any of the Simms waders. If you spend a lot of time
on winter rivers, I highly recommend giving them a try. Your feet will thank you.
Stinger Hooks For Steelhead
When I first started fishing Winter Steelhead, my flies were the usual suspects.
Marabous, Spey flies, General Practitioners tied on size 3 to 3/0 Alec Jackson Spey
hooks filled my Wheatley Boxes. I had a lot of steelhead eat my flies, though my
hooking percentages were not great, and my landing percentages were even
worse. At that time, I would also slip line to the fish as the steelhead turned on the
fly. I was getting frustrated. Not that I couldn't go home happy at the end of the day
after just getting a good pull. It was just clear to me that a better way existed.
At that time, there were a few fly tiers playing around with an independent stinger
hook hanging off the back of the fly. This made sense to me. So many of the grabs
I was getting were what I refer to as "non-committal" The fish would simply pluck
the fly, or give it a half hearted pull or two.
I went to work at the vise trying to create a weighted leech pattern with a stinger
hook. The original fly was rough although effective. With the thought process help
of other steelhead anglers, that fly evolved into my Loop Leech. The results of that
first leech were immediate. My hook up and landing ratio went way up!
Since then, all of the flies I fish on sink-tips for both winter and summer fish utilize a
stinger hook. The advantages are so clear. First off, the hook is near the rear of the
fly. If a steelie breaths on the bug they have a much better chance of finding the
hook. Second, stinger hooks have a shorter shank than a traditional hook. Once
the fish is hooked, they have a much harder time torquing the hook out. More so, if
the hook is damaged from snagging the bottom, it can be replaced easily thus
saving the fly.
My first choice of hook is the Gamakatsu B10 S Stinger hook. It's fine wire will
penetrate easily though will not bend out. More importantly, because of it's design,
the hook rides point up. This allows the hook to ride over the bottom structure
without snagging. More so, it usually finds purchase in the top or corner of the
steelhead's mouth.
I fish a size 2 for winter fish, and size 4 for summers.
Steelhead Leaders
We are big fan of hand built leaders for steelhead. A number of folks wanted to
know how I build my leaders... Well here's my formula.
For floating lines, I typically fish 10' leaders. I build the leader out of Chameleon
Maxima, and use Ultra Green for the tippet.
35" 40lb. - 25" 30lb - 18" 20lb. - 12" 15lb. - 12" 12lb. - 24" 10lb.
For sink-tips, strip the coating off the end of the sink-tip and tie a perfection loop
with the core material of the sink-tip. To attach the tippet to the butt section, use a
triple surgeon's knot and go loop to loop with the perfection loop on the butt
section. Typically, we use 3 to 6 feet of 10Lb. or 12 Lb. Maxima Ultra Green for
tippet material.
By Tom Larimer
Guide Tips
