By Michael Smith, Sr., Contributing Writer
If you are a steelhead fisherman wannabe and you live in striking distance of Sultan and Gold Bar, your day has arrived. The winter steelhead run has begun on the Skykomish River!
Hooking into one of these powerful fish is a rodeo all its own, and it is well worth the rain and cold you will wait through to make the connection. If you have not fished for steelhead before, the gear and techniques, not to mention the weather, may seem daunting. Here are some basics to get you started.
When: During the week in early mornings is the best. Fishing holes get crowded on weekends. The run should continue through mid-January.
Where: Reiter Ponds is a popular steelhead fishing spot. Turn left from U.S. 2 onto Reiter Road, about one mile east of Gold Bar, and follow the road to the hatchery. Another good fishing spot is the Sultan Bar, where the Sultan River runs into the Skykomish. Go south from U.S. 2 at 311th Street, and across the river to the parking area on the left. You can also get access to the Skykomish from U.S. 2 at numerous places between Gold Bar and Index. Watch for the cars pulled off the road.
Gear: You will need a medium weight spinning rod and reel with 15-20 lb. line, 10-12 lb. fluorocarbon leader, -+ ounce float rig, a -+ ounce jig, and miscellaneous stuff. You can buy all of this in reasonable quality for around $150. I like to go to Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish, John's Sporting Goods in Everett, and Greg's Custom Fishing Rods & Tackle in Lake Stevens for gear and advice. They are local, helpful, and know whereof they speak.
Rigging up: The rig is simple. It is a brightly-colored lure, designed to provoke a steelhead attack, that hangs in the water below a floating bobber. When the lure is taken by the fish, the bobber will disappear below the water. You then set the hook. Starting from the main line, the rig will look like this: 15-20 lb. test, main line +Ö bobber stop knot +Ö 3-5 mm. bead +Ö -+ oz. bobber +Ö 8-12 lb. test, fluorocarbon leader at 12-36GÇ¥ +Ö -+ oz jig. Ask the folks at your fishing store to show you how to put these together.
Presentation: Cast the lure in front of the fish! This is the hard part. Look for large rocks, trees, or other structures that will give the fish cover, or slow water that will give it rest. Cast your lure above these places and let it drift into the path of the migrating fish.
Will you catch a steelhead? No, and yes. No, you will not catch a steelhead from your couch! Yes, you can catch a steelhead out on the river, if you are there at the right time, use the right rig, and put the jig on the fish's nose! Good luck!
Michael Smith, Sr. is a retired, second-career pastor, most recently at Monroe United Methodist Church. A lover of fishing, Smith hopes to provide easy-to-understand information for the novice fisherman.
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