Matt, I am really enjoying all of your videos! I am just getting started in steelheading. Thank you so much. I love your sense of humour and your clear instruction!
Matt, I just found you and glad I did. You are a great teacher with a great voice--calm, calm, clear, and detailed. When you say you spey-cast with skagit line across the river, what can you really expect for distance?
Great video! I tried fly fishing for salmon for the first time in August and looking forward to the first time for steelhead next month. I used a 9' 10wt for salmon and it worked great for NW Michigan. I'm considering an 8wt for steelhead but uncertain if I should go with a 9', 9'6" or a 10". Any suggestions?
Thanks for watching! For me, technique is going to determine the ideal rod length. For chuck & duck, a shorter 9’ rod is the way to go. If nymphing or swinging flies, a longer rod will provide better leverage for roll casting and better reach for line control and mending. The downside is longer rods can be cumbersome in tight areas and landing fish is a little more work. Have fun out there!
@@TheNorthernAnglerFlyShop I appreciate the response! Decided to split the difference and went with a sage x 896! Will put it to the test next month! Looking forward to more content!
Might be a strange question but in October when do the steelhead start to run. I’m in Ontario Canada and live near multiple rivers that flow into Lake Ontario. Just wondering when the big push of fall fish come through and when they leave.
I wish I had a crystal ball to look into and tell everyone when exactly the fish will show up but the reality is that we can only make educated guesses. Weather conditions play such a big role in determining when fish actually show up so they are usually the best thing to keep track of. Other factors like water levels and temps are also important. If you forced me to put a date on it, October 15th is usually a good bet to at least have some fish in the river.
The D&D is a great fly series and hugely popular for this application but it’s also easily the most marketed fly for this. I think it’s easy to assume we need “special flies” for these fish when really they are very willing eat some crazy stuff our resident trout are happy to ignore. Remember that these fish are adapting to the stream environment and anything that you can strip for browns you can use for steelhead. Throw what you have confidence in whether it’s a monster D&D or a woolly bugger!
What are rivers that you could suggest Spey I understand big manistee and grand but that’s all I ever hear about you guys set me up with an 8 wt Redington dually 13ft with 600g 23ft head and it’s hard to find wade able rivers big enough I’m also over in alpena and the Thunder Bay is not wade able
Big Manistee is our favorite for the full spey rods but with a little care and "tree awareness" you can absolutely get away with smaller rivers like the PM, Betsie, Platte (down low) and more! You'll also want to look at some different casts when fishing these smaller rivers as there won't always be room for the Snap-T & Double Spey. If you get a chance, check out the snake roll & perry poke...super helpful to have in your bag!
I started tying what I call a chain nymphs, using beed chain leaders to make, I've even used mini spinner blades to make a bill like a crank bait. I stopped rowe fishing long time ago I only fly fish creeks now and I slaughter them. People get mad because they don't.
Presentation is FAR more important than the fly. Fish will eat a well presented leaf before theyll eat a poorly presented fly haha haveing said that there isnt much I love more than a look into someones fly box!😆
I hate to sound elitist but chuck n duck is hardly fly fishing, doing it with mono is absolutely not fly fishing, at that point it just makes way more sense to use a spinning rod.
We’re certainly not going to argue that point with you, it’s a technique totally adapted from the spin world. I will say it’s a great way to bridge the gap and introduce anglers to fly tackle. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@TheNorthernAnglerFlyShop Well I can tell you that while I was fishing last year I broke my fly rod so I tried my 9' spinning rod to do the same thing right? Wrong. It sucked. . The 9' 8 weight makes this process way easier. Just though I would pass this on. Hopefully helpful
@@TheNorthernAnglerFlyShop my comment probably came off a bit abrasive and I apologize for that, it was a great video, and im not the type to think any way is inherently better than any other, I personally fish every style from float fishing(centerpin), single and double hand fly, bottom bounce with spinning rods and run baitcasters for lures or float, I love swinging streamere and that's what I usually get drawn toward if I fly fish but when I nymph I basically always use a bobber, if I'm going to do it without one I'll just use a spinning rod because I can get a much better, longer more natural drift with a spinning rod loaded with mono than I can with fly rod and fly line, plus all the added benefits of a spinning rod(casts farther and easier, reel with mechanical advantage, usually a better drag in my oppinion, a butt on the rod to make fighting fish easier). But yeah I basically just wanted to say I'm sorry for sounding like a know it all, mono loaded on fly gear makes me cringe but to each his own, ethics are alot more important than the gear one chooses to use. But it was a great video, would love to see some more in depth video on indicator nymphing or fly patterns for any style, I love a good look into someone else fly box haha
Matt, I am really enjoying all of your videos! I am just getting started in steelheading. Thank you so much. I love your sense of humour and your clear instruction!
Thank you for all the great information.
Matt, I just found you and glad I did. You are a great teacher with a great voice--calm, calm, clear, and detailed. When you say you spey-cast with skagit line across the river, what can you really expect for distance?
Hey Gary, thanks so much for the kind words! Your distance can depend on a lot of factors but we're usually casting anywhere from 40-75ft
Cool video. I'm from Bay City Michigan but my favorite place to fish is the PM outside Baldwin. I'll stop in sometime. Thanks
Great video! Thanks very much
Going to try the Mono line. What weight is recommended? How many yards? Is that a zebco Cajun line? I can't find it.
great content sir!!
Thanks so much!
Subscribed. Phenomenal information. Thanks.
Great video! I tried fly fishing for salmon for the first time in August and looking forward to the first time for steelhead next month. I used a 9' 10wt for salmon and it worked great for NW Michigan. I'm considering an 8wt for steelhead but uncertain if I should go with a 9', 9'6" or a 10". Any suggestions?
Thanks for watching! For me, technique is going to determine the ideal rod length. For chuck & duck, a shorter 9’ rod is the way to go. If nymphing or swinging flies, a longer rod will provide better leverage for roll casting and better reach for line control and mending. The downside is longer rods can be cumbersome in tight areas and landing fish is a little more work. Have fun out there!
@@TheNorthernAnglerFlyShop I appreciate the response! Decided to split the difference and went with a sage x 896! Will put it to the test next month! Looking forward to more content!
Might be a strange question but in October when do the steelhead start to run. I’m in Ontario Canada and live near multiple rivers that flow into Lake Ontario. Just wondering when the big push of fall fish come through and when they leave.
I wish I had a crystal ball to look into and tell everyone when exactly the fish will show up but the reality is that we can only make educated guesses. Weather conditions play such a big role in determining when fish actually show up so they are usually the best thing to keep track of. Other factors like water levels and temps are also important. If you forced me to put a date on it, October 15th is usually a good bet to at least have some fish in the river.
T-city has a summer steelhead run ?
What streamers are you stripping? I heard mini D&D's are fire for fall fish
The D&D is a great fly series and hugely popular for this application but it’s also easily the most marketed fly for this. I think it’s easy to assume we need “special flies” for these fish when really they are very willing eat some crazy stuff our resident trout are happy to ignore. Remember that these fish are adapting to the stream environment and anything that you can strip for browns you can use for steelhead. Throw what you have confidence in whether it’s a monster D&D or a woolly bugger!
What about euro style?
Great video, thanks
Awesome point, the euro game is still emerging for steelhead but wow is it effective!
I'm from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania I have 4 noodles rods no fly rod no center pen rods new to steelhead fishing
waht about Tenkara rods?
Yeah but how many eggs should I put in my spawn bags?
Not really my area of expertise but I think that depends a lot on time of year and water conditions.
What are rivers that you could suggest Spey I understand big manistee and grand but that’s all I ever hear about you guys set me up with an 8 wt Redington dually 13ft with 600g 23ft head and it’s hard to find wade able rivers big enough I’m also over in alpena and the Thunder Bay is not wade able
Big Manistee is our favorite for the full spey rods but with a little care and "tree awareness" you can absolutely get away with smaller rivers like the PM, Betsie, Platte (down low) and more! You'll also want to look at some different casts when fishing these smaller rivers as there won't always be room for the Snap-T & Double Spey. If you get a chance, check out the snake roll & perry poke...super helpful to have in your bag!
I started tying what I call a chain nymphs, using beed chain leaders to make, I've even used mini spinner blades to make a bill like a crank bait. I stopped rowe fishing long time ago I only fly fish creeks now and I slaughter them. People get mad because they don't.
Show us some flies
Yeah man.... we wanna know the flys lol
Flies are next, don’t you worry!
Presentation is FAR more important than the fly. Fish will eat a well presented leaf before theyll eat a poorly presented fly haha haveing said that there isnt much I love more than a look into someones fly box!😆
Can’t forget flossing!
Lol. Spoken like a true Great Lakes angler
@@garretthilliard5348 😂😂😂
I hate to sound elitist but chuck n duck is hardly fly fishing, doing it with mono is absolutely not fly fishing, at that point it just makes way more sense to use a spinning rod.
We’re certainly not going to argue that point with you, it’s a technique totally adapted from the spin world. I will say it’s a great way to bridge the gap and introduce anglers to fly tackle. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@TheNorthernAnglerFlyShop Well I can tell you that while I was fishing last year I broke my fly rod so I tried my 9' spinning rod to do the same thing right? Wrong. It sucked. . The 9' 8 weight makes this process way easier. Just though I would pass this on. Hopefully helpful
@@TheNorthernAnglerFlyShop my comment probably came off a bit abrasive and I apologize for that, it was a great video, and im not the type to think any way is inherently better than any other, I personally fish every style from float fishing(centerpin), single and double hand fly, bottom bounce with spinning rods and run baitcasters for lures or float, I love swinging streamere and that's what I usually get drawn toward if I fly fish but when I nymph I basically always use a bobber, if I'm going to do it without one I'll just use a spinning rod because I can get a much better, longer more natural drift with a spinning rod loaded with mono than I can with fly rod and fly line, plus all the added benefits of a spinning rod(casts farther and easier, reel with mechanical advantage, usually a better drag in my oppinion, a butt on the rod to make fighting fish easier). But yeah I basically just wanted to say I'm sorry for sounding like a know it all, mono loaded on fly gear makes me cringe but to each his own, ethics are alot more important than the gear one chooses to use. But it was a great video, would love to see some more in depth video on indicator nymphing or fly patterns for any style, I love a good look into someone else fly box haha
*trout
Just here to let everyone know........Great lakes rainbows are not steel head.....that is all. ………. good night
Then what are they?
No salt no steel. Just large funny shaped rainbows. 😂😂😂😂😂
Just because your cat has kittens in the oven doesn't make them biscuits.
I would take a T-shirt if you put “Large Funny Shaped Rainbows” on it. Let me know
Who cares what you think. Its a fish. Just like oregon men are not really men!
drop shot system.... weight is on the bottom...your flies are up in the feeding zone