Ken showed me a new technique that we called the "One Hop" catch. Ken was fishing a run that was fairly close to the bank when he set the hook. The fish jumped about four feet out of the water and landed on the bank. Shortest steelhead fight I ever saw. Must be a record.
We quickly got him from the ground into the net and back into the water. Great technique and certainly eliminates the chances of break offs.
Ken got into a nice brown that made some very hard runs that definitely gave him a chance to practice his line management. The fish decided to go straight upstream through the shallow riffs and just rip line off his reel. Then as if by magic, gone. Another lesson on fly fishing that will make Ken just a little better.
Stream Conditions
Elk is low and very clear and the fish are tight lipped. Be prepare to cover the water to find fish. There are large pods of fish in the deeper pools, but they are nervous and difficult to coax to the fly. Cover the water and fish the runs and small slots and you will hit a few cooperative fish. At the end of the day, I noticed fish starting to move up stream. This could be a good thing.
Ohio Tribs had a bit of color and flows have been ok. The fish are spread out and there doesn't seem to be many fish in the system right now. The guides have been out scouting and guiding everyday and have found them, but you need to move and cover the water (run and gun).
I recommend no inicator in the pools and fish the head and tail of each pool. In the good runs and pockets, if you're not comfortable with "High Sticking" use an indicator.
We have taken a number of fish on small streamer patterns. Dead drift them into a swing and you should hit a few fish.
We need some rain to add a little color to elk and increase the flows a bit, and Ohio needs another push of fish. We have some rain in the forecast and that should help.
Remember hit the pockets and slots. Go light on the weight.
See our fishing reports for steelhead. By clicking the nav button Steelhead above or
http://rsmflyfishingsteelhead.blogspot.com/
Tight lines everyone
Scott McClintock
