Steelhead on the Fly

HOW TO CATCH GREY GHOSTS

About the author

Aaron Shook is an expert Steelhead fisherman. He spends spring and summer in Yakutat Alaska guiding for the Yakutat Lodge and winter and fall in the Pacific Northwest(Oregon). If the fish are in the river you will find him there.
E-mail me Send mail

Recent posts

Recent comments

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in anyway.

© Copyright 2010

Back on the creek today.

After two weeks away, I was not sure what I would find. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I hooked up on the first cast of the day, and then again minutes after. Steve who joined me also hooked up in the first couple of minutes. We saw about ten fish today, and I hooked five, and landed 3. Steve hooked the one first off, then just kinda fell apart. He was spotting them, and moving them right to me. “Thanks Steve!”. Here are the pics from today.

P3220003P3220008P3220009

 P3220010P3220014P3220012  

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;


Posted by flymstr on Monday, March 22, 2010 9:52 PM
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post RSSRSS comment feed

Trask River Natives.

Today was a bit wet, but there were a few fish to be had. I got a line on some Natives entering the Trask river system, and decided to give a shot today. Steve and i headed out at 4:00 am and arrived in the dark at 5:30 am. The first hour was slow, but with an indicator and a micro jig on the fly rod, I was able to get into a nice Native buck. I hooked up again about an hour and half later, but the button came off. Steve was not on today, and never felt a fish, but that happens to the best of us. On our way down river, along the road, we saw a spey rod fisherman giving it a go. Steve saw one cast and said “Looks like no action to me”, I said “ Hey you only saw one cast, he may get one anytime”. We stopped fifty yards down and took a look. We thought we saw a fish, so Steve headed down to get him. “It was just a stick!”.  While he was complaining about the stick, I went up the road to see if the Spey rod was working out. As soon as I got a view of him, I saw the hook set. Running down to get a pic, I was able to get a short video and some great pics. This was about a 13 to 15 pound Native egg wagon. Measured out at 33 and 1/2” and chrome as they come. Real nice fish. I did not get the fisherman’s name, but if you read this please leave a comment so I can get your name, and good luck to ya. I think I am going to pull out my old 14’ rod and see what I can do. It has been over 20 years since I fished with it on the Deschutes.

P3211825  P3211827  P3211831 P3211832 P3211830 P3211834

P3211835P3211826 P3211836

 

P3211833

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;


Posted by flymstr on Sunday, March 21, 2010 7:01 PM
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post RSSRSS comment feed

Mexico

I am back from Mexico and will be on the creek soon. Hope there is a few fish around still. See ya all there if you are still fishing.

P3161600 P3100012 P3100032 P3100033  P3100048 P3110128 P3110130 P3110139 P3110153 P3110199 P3141197 P3161598 P3100047

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;


Posted by flymstr on Friday, March 19, 2010 12:23 PM
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post RSSRSS comment feed

Still catching some fish out here!

I don’t know when it will end, but I hope it just keeps on going. I know at this point, the fish are turning color, and the meat is not at it’s best, but for someone who does not eat them, they are still fighting fish. For the last 30 years, I have taken some flak for fishing after all the bright ones are gone, but I say to them “Who cares, they still bite, and they still fight!” I have seen and landed several very nice fish this last week, (some egg wagons with the skeen’s still in act and great meat for those that want it). The males may have color on them, but if they are still firm and not to badly beat up, the meat will still be in great shape, they just don’t look as good to the neighbors when you bring it out for the barbecue. Anyway, the fish are still moving in. Today, Matt and I saw nearly 20 fish, got into 12, and landed 4. At certain times today we had up to 8 fish in 2 different holes, with new fish moving in throughout the day. Weather has been fabulous, but it is leading to real low water conditions, causing the fish to be more spooking after the morning shade goes away. Most of the fish are laying in tight little riffles behind rocks, but we did find fish moving through the bigger holes today. At least 5 of the fish we saw today, were 12 to 15 pound chrome bright egg wagons, working there way up quickly. We could not even keep up enough to get one cast at these fish. “They were on the move!”. Here are the pics from today, and I am trying to put together a good vid, but youtube is messing up with the music I can use. Hope to have it up soon!.

P3040002P3040004P3040006P3040007 

P3040011

P3040009P3040014P3040012

P3040013P3040001

 

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;


Posted by flymstr on Thursday, March 04, 2010 9:54 PM
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post RSSRSS comment feed

Clear water Steel!!

The creek is on the drop, and very clear right now!. I was not out there yesterday, but my buddies were, and I got some pics from their day. Today I was on the creek with Damon and Richard. We got into fish throughout the entire day. I think we decided that we saw about 15 fish, and landed 8 of them, and hooked all but 2 that I can think of. We had some good aggressive bucks today, that are guarding their egg wagons. When they get like this, they are very likely to bite anything in the vicinity. Got some good pics today, and a couple vids coming up as I get them together. Hope you are all catching fish!!

P.S. I lost my Leatherman on either Friday,Saturday, or Sunday at the creek. I set it down on the bank and forgot it. If anyone who reads this, found it, or knows someone who did, please return it to me. It has some sentimental value (Gift from my brother for first year in Alaska), I would very much like to have it returned it anyone knows where it is. Thanks.

3 1 2010 018 3 1 2010 026 2 28 2010 006 2 28 2010 013 2 28 2010 017 3 1 2010 013 3 1 2010 017 P3020015 P3020019 P3020020P3020025 P3020021P3020026 P3020028 P3020029 3 2 2010 004 3 2 2010 009 3 2 2010 011 3 2 2010 021 P3020010 P3020013 P3020014

Good luck out there

Flymstr;


Posted by flymstr on Tuesday, March 02, 2010 8:08 PM
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post RSSRSS comment feed

Sunny day on the creek.

To tired to write much, so here are the pics from today. I will have more when I get them from Damon.

P2280015  P2280002  P2280007  P2280010 P2280011 P2280014

P2280008

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;


Posted by flymstr on Sunday, February 28, 2010 7:19 PM
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post RSSRSS comment feed

Two days of good fishing!

The last two days on the creek, have been good. Had some trouble with the site last night, so yesterday’s pics will be added in today. I had a great day yesterday, going 6 for 9. I was only able to pics of four of them, because two of them decided to move just as the camera was going off. I think I may have got one of them flipping away. Today was a bit of a different day for me. I took a couple fisherman down today, and spent the day working to get them into some fish. Emmit and Shane have been fishing the creek this season with no luck. So today we got together, and they hooked up with some Steelhead. Emmit, I believe got two fish on, and Shane had 5. Not to bad for 8 hours of fishing. They did not get any to the bank, but that is not always what it is about. I hope the information I gave them, will help them with Steelhead fishing. I was able to touch 6, and land 4. For some reason I touched two right in the middle of the back in some fast water. I guess I was just getting in the wrong spot in the right area. Oh well, some times that happens, you have to take the good with the bad I guess. Anyway, back to the fish. The fish are getting colored up a bit more now, but some fresh fish are still showing up along the creek. I had a report today, that there are still Eagle Creek fish being caught at the mouth of the Clack., and the ODFW site says, there may be two hundred or more still coming up. Crossing my fingers on that one. I thought the creek would have reacted better to the recent rains, but the amount it came up, was erased today as I watched it fall and clear throughout the day. We needed a bit more moisture to really bring in the fish. It looks like we are going to be in a trickle effect with the fish for March, unless something changes with the weather. This may be a blessing in disguise though. If the rain does not come, then at least we have some fish all the way through mid April. So here are the pics from the last two days.

Yesterday:

  P2260015

P2260001 P2260002

P2260005P2260014Little native buck

Today:

P2270007 

P2270006P2270008

P2270011P2270002P2270001

 

Please release me!!!
Good luck out there;

Flymstr;


Posted by flymstr on Saturday, February 27, 2010 7:10 PM
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post RSSRSS comment feed

Nice fish in the creek today!

Again and again, Eagle creek seems to step up to the plate, and provide fish. I was very discouraged this morning. We saw absolutely no fish for the first hour of the day. Then finally I was able to get into 2 fish, and land one.P2227290 Another half an hour later, I hooked and landed another nice little buck. During this time, Damon and Richard were down below me landing fish of their own. After releasing my buck, I turned the corner just in time to get a pic of Richard’s buck. Damon had just released one, and there were at least 3 fish left for me to play with. I did get a nice little buck from this hole. All three of us, hooked and landed fish in this spot today. After chasing the remaining 2 fish around for about 45 minutes, we gave up on them and headed back up, to give it another shot. Damon and Richard walked up the creek, while I went up and around. Richard hooked up twice along the way, with some nice chrome fish. While up river, I was able to TWINS 1YR 055hook and land 2 perfect little chrome egg wagons. After catching up to me, Richard, Damon and I started our trek out, when I spotted a nice little buck in a hole. Damon stepped up to the plate, and put the hurting on this fish. As Richard and I watched Damon casting, we were able to see this fish turn and strike the fly with pure aggression. This was good stuff to see. I was also able to get some great underwater video of this fish. 

So for the day, Damon was 2 for 3, Richard went 1 for 2, and I got lucky, going 5 for 6.

I am out of here for a couple days, and will be back on Thursday for some more action :) :)

Enjoy the pics and the vids from today.

TWINS 1YR 038TWINS 1YR 041TWINS 1YR 044indy2 feb22,2010 P2227288P2227297P2227291P2227299P2227304 P2227289Steelhead2 feb22,2010Steelhead2 feb22.2010

Steelhead3 feb22,2010Steelhead3modifiedSteelhead feb22.2010Steelhead modified

Good luck out there:

Flymstr;


Posted by flymstr on Monday, February 22, 2010 7:58 PM
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post RSSRSS comment feed

Slide shows from the years.

Thought I would give you all some fish porn from the last couple of years in Yakutat. Hope you enjoy!  Let me know by leaving me a comment:

This is a big King Salmon from the Akwe river in Yakutat Alaska.

Some of my personal Steelhead from the Situk River, Yakutat Alaska

 

A little bit of everything from the Situk River, Yakutat Alaska:

Wildlife from Yakutat Alaska

Trout opener at Lake Lenice Washington:

Plus check out this link of my big fat one in Yak 2 years ago.

image

http://www.youtube.com/v/5IBFxbZSEx0

 

Good luck out there, More updates on the creek tomorrow.

Flymstr;


Posted by flymstr on Monday, February 22, 2010 12:01 AM
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post RSSRSS comment feed

Egg wagons still looking good!

Well I don’t really know what to write anymore about the creek. The fish are still there, and I have had some great days this week. Today was a good day for the three of us. (Damon, Richard, and I). We hooked up with nearly 15 fish, and landed a good percentage of them. Got some great video today, and hope to get more tomorrow. Talked to the hatchery guys, and got some info. They have processed 927, and have about 30 in the trap now. The ODFW site claims that Eagle Creek fish are still being caught as far down as the mouth of the Clack. Conditions remain low and clear. With the weather we are having now, you have to fish in tight behind rocks with hard white water spilling over. They are there, they are just tight in the white water. Light blue and white are the ticket for the rest of the month, and then should be switching to purple and darker blues.

 

P22072902 17 2010 032P22073002 20 2010 015

2 17 2010 024

2 17 2010 0262 20 2010 010P22072872 20 2010 0092 17 2010 0072 20 2010 0162 17 2010 014P2207291

 2 20 2010 018 

I have also thrown in some pics given to me the last couple of days from others catching fish on the creek.

2fishfromAaronP2150373DoubleDay

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;

 


Posted by flymstr on Saturday, February 20, 2010 10:08 PM
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post RSSRSS comment feed