Most steelheaders use fly rods to pursue rainbows in medium or fast water. Load the fly reel with 100 yards of fly line backing (20-30 pound test dacron line) then 100-200 yards of six- to 10-pound monofilament line. Fly line is rarely used because you are typically casting only 10 to 20 feet of line upstream and drifting through runs and rapids. Rainbows prefer to lie in current breaks near fast water.
The fly rods we see anglers using for steelheading are nine- to 10-feet long and usually seven, eight or nine weight. Remember, fishing the Root might yield a 20-pound trophy fish and the odds of landing such a huge fish are greatly increased if you have a stout rod. Also consider a fly reel with a disk drag and multiple retrieve. These reels can be pricey. An affordable favorite I've seen on many rigs of experienced steelheaders is the Martin, Model 72R. The disk drag will allow you to play a large fish with one hand while freeing up the other to help you keep your balance and wade downstream.
For tackle, try yarn, egg imitation flies, spawn and various streamers, nymphs and wet flies. We like to drift a homemade yarn fly, a piece of colored yarn tied to a size 4 or 6 steelhead hook. Varying amounts of split shot are added to make sure the yarn fly drifts through the run near the bottom, in the zone where the steelhead lie.
As a general rule, fish yarn early in the season and when sight-fishing for trout near their spawning beds. I prefer brightly colored yarn unless the water is very clear, which is rare for the Root. Productive colors included chartreuse, orange and hot pink. You can combine one of these bright colors with a softer color in infinite combinations. I pre-cut one-inch pieces of several yarn colors and compose new flies as I go. Some folks use a vise and pre-tie the yarn on the hook shank. I use a snell knot and slip the yarn through the loop as I fish to find combinations that produce strikes.
Popular flies for steelhead include Woolie Buggers, stone fly patterns, mudler minnows and Woolie Worms among others. Local patterns vary, but I've learned that darker patterns work well on the Root. Fish nymphs, streamers and wet flies later in the spawning run, in deeper pools and especially after the suckers enter the river. Suckers will dominate your catch when fishing yarn once they move into the river.
Whatever your methods, you're bound to have action if you can find fish in the river and you are persistent. The Root River and other Lake Michigan tributaries offer wonderful opportunities to teach kids the thrill and satisfaction of hooking, playing and landing a silvery, magnificent steelhead.
A reminder to all who love to pursue trout on the thousands of beautiful miles of trout streams in Wisconsin. The trout season closed yesterday, September 30th. Early catch and release barbless season will re-open on the first Saturday in May. Early season trout fishing is, in my opinion, some of the best trout fishing you will experience in Wisconsin. The trout are eager, the bugs are non existent, and the spring sun on your back for the first time can certainly make you forget those winter blues.
From the Telegraph Journal.
A 150-year-old record for the largest catch at Wilson's Sporting Camps was broken at Coldwater Pool Aug. 30, compliments of a 15-year-old first-timer.
The camp's new record holder, Braden Tierney of Massachusetts, grabbed a fishing pole to go Atlantic salmon fishing for the first time at Wilson's. Chances are when he took to the water he didn't think he'd be breaking a record that had stood for more than a century.
Tierney wrestled in a behemoth of a fish, coming in at 51 inches, at Coldwater Pool. The trip certainly didn't disappoint.
His guide, Karl Wilson, was ecstatic with the record-breaking catch.
"It was quite a fish. And he was pretty excited, as you can imagine."
Wilson was unsure what the record was before, but said this fish beat any fish since, with previous outstanding catches usually reeling in a "couple in (the) 40-inch range."
But this record was about 10 minutes away from not happening, Wilson said.
He noted after being out on the water for a while, Tierney's father, Tom, decided it was about time the crew wrapped things up. Giving the fishermen 10 more minutes before heading home, Braden and Karl set to work.
"He knew what he was doing," Wilson said of Tierney.
Then, the salmon caught the line and the fight was on. After tearing and tugging for about half an hour, Tierney got hold of the monster fish.
"Finally, we were lucky enough," Wilson said, describing how he knew they had a big fish on the line when it would occasionally jump out of the water.
"It was just a monster. I think I was more excited than they were."
Naturally, the fish was released back in the water, but not before a few pictures of an overjoyed Tierney with his record-breaker were taken.
Although the record-setting angler couldn't be reached for comment, Tierney commented on wilsonscamps.nb.ca, the camp's website.
"When we got him to the net, though, he still had plenty of energy left and could have fought for quite a bit longer. As you can see, we had some trouble holding on to him for a picture because of this!"
Some enthusiastic fishermen commented on the site, issuing Tierney their congratulations on breaking the record, saying things like "Braden you're the man," and "Many people fish salmon for a lifetime and never hook anything close to what you caught. You really have something to boast about."
Not surprisingly, Wilson said, Tierney's first time fishing won't be his last.
"They definitely want to come back after that."
