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RLK5221
Super Fisherman
USA
23 Posts |
 Posted - 10/09/2007 : 21:23:38
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My 12 year-old son has caught the fly fishing/tying bug. He watches all of the tv shows showing people fly fishing all over the world and has self-taught himself pretty well, as he does catch fish on his own flies in ponds, etc. I bought him a fly rod for Christmas and he was out casting in a snow covered backyard. He would like to catch a steelhead, probably using spinning gear for now. He wants to take some fly casting lessons this winter.
Unfortunately his Dad (me) doesn't have a clue about anything related to Steelhead. I was looking for some guidance about fishing the Vermillion River from shore - I'd rather not have him wade if possible. Dave suggested I put a post up on the site. I'm not looking for your favorite spots, just some basic information to get started. We have a 2 hour drive to get there so any help or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ron
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baitdave
Forum Admin
USA
1526 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2007 : 05:22:54
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| Thanks for posting Ron. We just need some rain! |
Pass The Fun Of Fishing On! |
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Tommy-Lund
Superior Fisherman
USA
137 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2007 : 07:08:56
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| Hi Ron, that's very cool. Not sure where you are coming from, but check with some (if you can find them) local fly fishing shops, or local fly fishing clubs. There was a store in Columbus that used to have lessons periodically, casting and tying etc, but they have since closed. They are still on line, madriveroutfitters.com. You may be able to find some good info there. The Mohican State Forest in Loudonville, Mohican River below the spillway has some pretty nice Brown Trout, I caught a 4 1/2lb there a few years back, they are stocked fish by the ODNR, but still quite fun, and a lot of 6-10" fish can be caught, and you're coming up on a good time of the year, been too hot this summer. Tight lines to you & your son. |
We're gonna need a bigger boat - Chief Brody |
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spinningwheel
Expert Fisherman
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2007 : 13:33:49
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RLK5221;
Can't speak to the fly fishing thingy, but can offer some advice about the spinning rod technique.
K.O. Wobblers or Little Cleos in the gold, copper, blu/slvr, red/slvr,blu/gold,grn/gld or slvr, red/gold combinations are what we always keep in our boxes. Use the 1/2 oz or next size up, depending on water speed and how far you want to cast, and let them sink for a second or two. If it's not rocky on the bottom, like the Chagrin, you can let it settle to the bottom and then begin your retrieve at a speed that lets you feel the spoon working. Once you feel it wiggling, speed up just a small amount and never let your guard down. I really don't talk a lot or move around much because, if and when a steelie hits, you're off to the races and he'll do whatever is in his arsenal of tricks to throw the hook. They will run at you at an unbelieveble speed, so you have to crank your reel as fast as you can, then they'll pass you and strip off all the line you retrieved and then maybe some more. This can/will happen until the fish is totally burned out, and if you get into one that has some weight behind him, it can last for what seems to be an eternity. He'll jump maybe 3-4 times during the runs depending on his size, keep the line tight when he does, but don't make the mistake of resetting the hook, because he'll use the slack to spit the lure and take off.
When spoons are coming up hitless I change over to a # 10 trout hook and use canned corn, whole not creamed...lol, miniature marshmallows, in white, spawn sac's, pink or red, wax worms, mini-foo jigs, in black, or maggots, use a couple small split shot weights about a foot away from the bait to take it down to them. You can get the foam bobbers with the lead insert centers for casting them out into the water. I would imagine that Dave has them or will be getting them in. I set the depth of the bait to just about 4" above the bottom, if known, and then cast upstream as far as I can and let it float down to as far as I can let it drift downstream from me. If there are other fishermen there it becomes a real pain in the creel to let it drift too far... But work the area you control constantly.
I caught my biggest, just over 14 lbs, in Euclid Creek, on a marshmallow that I rigged onto a red/whi floating jig head with a 3/8 oz. slipped walking sinker and casted onto the other shoreline. I pulled it into the river about 3-4 foot from the edge and kept the bail open on the spinning rod. The sinker held the position and the jig head allowed the line to play out slowly with the current. The silver hit and when I saw the line going out a LOT faster than the current had been taking it, I closed the bail and set the rod in the same motion. That fight pulled in an audience of fishermen from around the area...since the fish was so frantic that it was tail walking and stripping and running as far as we could see both up and down stream and they really couldn't fish with all that happening by their areas anyway.
That fight lasted maybe 8-10 minutes, because we were using ultra-light combo's at the time...but it seemed like forever because there was no break in the fight. Since then I have changed over to a medium/heavy weight 6 1/2' rig and haven't had nearly the amount of fight with one since. The wife still uses the ultra-light 4 1/2' and lives for steelhead season. I suppose I should credit her with catching approx 3 to every one I get.....but I still take her with me when we can get out for them...or maybe she takes me....
Hope you can use some of this;
spinner |
Edited by - spinningwheel on 10/10/2007 13:45:23 |
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RLK5221
Super Fisherman
USA
23 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2007 : 18:37:00
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Guys,thanks for all of the info. My hard drive crashed the day after I posted - I now understand the value of backing up your files as I lost EVERYTHING. I'd be driving from the Columbus area. I didn't know Mad River outfitters was closed as we were thinking of getting my son some lessons for Christmas. I'll check and let you know. Thanks again for all of the info. Bring on the rain!
Ron |
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baitdave
Forum Admin
USA
1526 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2007 : 16:55:46
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Ron,
Drop a post out to ask when guys are going to fish. Maybe a fella or 2 can be shadowed by your son...
IN 2008 and on, Dave's Bait is going to promote a very large push for 17 and under to fish. We need our younger generations to carry the torch. This will help them stay on the straight and narrow. VERY IMPORTANT!
If every angler(whether they be an adult or child) could just put the fire in a child's eye this place would be a better world.
I will explain in a future post. Most likely this late fall/winter.
regards,
Dave
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Pass The Fun Of Fishing On! |
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steelmen brian
Expert Fisherman
USA
67 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2007 : 22:51:34
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Just a story, but to me this is what steelhead fishing is all about. My daughter is 12 and last year I took her to vermillion river, She caught two small ones with my noodle rod while I retreived her bobbers and hooks out of the trees from her rod and reel. She still talks about the day that she kicked my butt steelhead fishing. My son is 8 and I took him a different time. I got him hooked up on a small one and he got the rod, just as I let go I loosened the drag up just a little. I'll never forget the smile on his face as he reeled as fast as he could and the fish came out of the water splashing and thrashing. We also got to see an eagle that day. There is not a video game out there that could compare to this.
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DOUBLE EAGLE
Professional Fisherman
USA
1065 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2007 : 06:40:22
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That's what I'm talking about !!!! You should of seen my son's face when he hooked his first one. To start off we probably went to the V about six or eight times and also hit the Rock a few times. Wake gave us some pointers and fished with us a few times also. It was spring on the Rocky and I bought us each fly rods. We went up on a Monday to get away from the crowd. As we were walking down the river we could see the Steelies swimming around. We both started to cast to them and then all of a sudden my son latched on to one, the fight was on and there was a grin from ear to ear. It was the best day of my life fishing for Steelies, we each hooked around ten and landed six each. Can't wait to do it all over again. If I can hit them in the Spring I will definitely take a few days of vacation.
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Steelhead Info.
