The tools we chose to chase the chrome

It is October 1st, and Steelhead Alley rivers are ready for mother nature to provide us with some rain to once again bump the flows and trigger another push of chrome to enter the streams for our fishing pleasures.  As of now most all major tributaries are low and clear in the Ohio and Pennsylvania valley.  The few fish that are in the system at this point are finding refuge in the shale cuts and under the timber.  This leaves us anglers limited opportunity to tangle with the chrome we seek.  Alas we are cleaning the rods and reels and re-checking our gear to ensure we are ready when the time comes that mother nature graces us with her rainy presence.

In this day and age of the world wide web, to pass time anglers turn to the computer and crawl the web.  The west coast anglers look to be having a spectacular fall run!  I am sure I am not alone in wishing I could make it over to the west side to take part in the fun.  Unfortunately I sit here in Steelhead Alley waiting for the rain to get us going again.  

I recently came across a site that I frequent that had a post that got me thinking.  It is the elephant in the room that I am sure many anglers have seen or experienced first hand within their angling regions.

I fish for steelhead with a spinning rod, therefor I am perceived beneath a bait caster, center pinner, fly and spey angler.

I fish for steelhead with a bait caster, therefor I am perceived beneath a center pinner, spin, fly and spey angler.

I fish for steelhead with a pin, therefor I am perceived above a spin and bait cast angler, but below a fly and spey angler.

I fish for steelhead with a fly rod, therefor I am perceived above a spin, bait caster and  pinner, but below the spey angler.

I fish for steelhead with a spey rod, therefor I am perceived above bait casters, center pinners and spin fishing anglers, but get along with traditional fly rod anglers.

The chosen tool should not be the single factor in determining ethics, knowledge or passion of any individual angler.  Some may prefer one over the other or some may be restricted by budget on a chosen tool to target the chrome in our great fishery.  Some may feel more comfortable with a chosen style of fishing but aspire to advance their knowledge and learn more about another style and technique in their angling progression.  Some may chose one style of fishing over another based upon personal preference and what they want to get out of their day of fishing.

If you have fished long enough you will eventually, if not already see the good, bad, and ugly of each and every angling group.  It is those anglers that are willing to take the time and help educate those misinformed and or those that don’t have the knowledge to a specific style of fishing that are the true sportsman of the passion we all love.  We may never be able to change those that could care less about ethics, but surly we can have a significant impact on those younger in the sport and those that are always looking to learn something new.

I think we all need to look within ourselves including me, to realize we may never be able to change or guide those with bad ethics who don’t care, but rather we as anglers can have a significant impact on the those younger and those willing to learn from each other without first labeling them as “Oh that is a “X” style of fisherman, he is not as good or not as ethical as me mentality.”  

 Let us never forget, we all share a common bond and that is the pursuit of chrome with our chosen style of fishing.  It is the outdoors, the love of nature, the fresh crisp air, the tug of a hot chromer, the sense of accomplishment we feel when we land one of the great beauties of our streams and the memories created streamside with our fellow anglers.

Steelhead Alley Angler has always and will always support all forms of fishing regardless of region or chosen rod.  We are bonded by the common passion of fishing and that is what makes me feel so great about Team SAA. 

Until Next Time...
Fish Hard...Fish Often...

Switching it up with Ben See – Part 4

Switching it up with Ben See – Part 4

It has been a while since a new episode of “Switching it up” has been published.  I would have loved to come to the computer and write a great success story of how I have been able to pick up a switch rod, throw on some sink tips, swing hobo spey patterns and land some fish.  Unfortunately I still have a lot to learn and every trip out to the streams produced another skunk.  Like the movie Goundhog Day, it was the same ole thing.  Head out to the river, conditions a bit different then the last, but hopes of hooking up with some steelhead still the same as the first day I started spey casting.

This skunk scenario repeated itself 9 times. Yes 9 trips out to the rivers!!!  As frustration levels increased and confidence levels in my fly fishing skills in general decreased I had to reassess a few things.  Is it my casting?  Is it my presentation of a fly?  Could it be the fly itself?  Am I using the right sink tip?  Are the fish just not biting?  Am I fishing the wrong areas?  Where are the fish?  What am I doing wrong?  It is cold, windy and miserable out here.  What in the hell am I doing!!!

Giving up isn’t an option, but I am truly humbled by the spey and the swing.  I never thought I would crush the fish and put up numbers, but rather would find a new way to target the species that I love so much.  As I have said in the past and still believe today, the method an angler chooses to fish for steelhead is of personal choice.  While it is no secret that using bait presentations can and does put up the numbers per say, the fly presentation is a different mentality.  It isn’t about the numbers but rather the experience.

On the bright side, my fly tying skills have grown leaps and bounds from when I first started with fly fishing.  I have grown fond of the Snap T, and feel confident I can put a fly where I want it.  Unfortunately, the fish gods just haven’t blessed me very often yet with actually catching a few fish.  I attribute a lot of this to the conditions I am fishing this winter, and also the learning curve of spey casting with the switch rod.  I won’t quit, I never quit.  

2 months of fishing and no fish, so I figured I would dust off the centerpin and see if I could get my mojo back.  I am a firm believer that if you believe you will catch fish you will, and if you don’t believe you won’t.  I believe every time I go out with the centerpin that I will catch fish, and on Sunday I did just that.  It was nice to have a double digit day on the Chagrin River.  A mix of chrome and colored up bucks, and the action was fast and furious.  

Many have asked me if I have gone back to the centerpin.  The rod and reel you use is a tool.  While I enjoy my time on the water, it is also nice to be rewarded with a few fish as well.  I will be back using the switch rod soon.  I don’t quit and I won’t quit.

Until Next Time…

Fish Hard…Fish Often…