Battle plans for steelhead

Steelhead are among the strongest fighting and most energetic sport fish that swim in our province. Once hooked, fresh river-run steelhead can be so electric and unpredictable that losing one during the fight is arguably just as common as landing one. There are a number of ways to help you land more fish faster and in a more conservation-minded fashion. Here are six of the absolute best. The hook The difference between the right hook and the wrong one can be staggering. While quality is the biggest factor, size is also crucial. Bigger hooks work best on larger rivers or in turbid conditions. Smaller hooks become necessary when water is clear or fish are skittish. Another factor is cover. If fish have plenty of logs to get under, you will need more brawn to pull them out, so your line and your hook need to be up to the task. My go-to hook in most conditions is Kamasan Specialist in No. 6 or 8, depending on the size of my offering. They are thin, but extremely sharp. When I need more brawn, I level up to a Raven Specialist hook or Daiichi X510. The Daiichi’s are definitely worth the extra cost when pulling fish from deep cover. Take a dip When a heavy fish takes you far downstream, don’t follow it. Simply dip half to two-thirds of your rod from the tip into the flow, while maintaining pressure. Within a few seconds, you should feel the fish noticeably calm down. Reel very slowly and carefully. The fish will usually just follow. But if it starts to run again, play it a little longer and start the process over. Timing is the biggest factor. Why exactly this technique works so well is somewhat mysterious. The best explanation I can offer is that submerged line doesn’t pull up as hard or as threateningly as line that is cranked by a high-held rod. Regardless, it’s almost miraculous how easily even the largest fish can be brought to hand this way. Side swipe Side pressure at key points during a battle can be awesome. It might feel counter-intuitive to point your rod tip almost downstream, but it works. Try this next time you feel that a certain fish just won’t come in. Once you have it close to shore, instead of pulling up-river and away from the fish, swing your rod downstream. Then quickly