I've spent countless days in western Michigan fishing winter steelies. The White, the PM, the Rouge, all those rivers and more made for some good fishing. The best day I ever had started out as the worst. I slipped and fell crossing the White river within the first 1/2 hour. Soaking wet, I knew I had to get back to the car quick. Dejected, I placed my wet clothes on the car seats with the heater blowing hard and started on my way home. When I got back to the highway. South was home, and north was to the PM river. I reached over and found my clothes were already starting to dry. I knew they would be ready in the hour it took to drive to the PM. I turned north and had the best day of my life on the PM, hooking almost 2 dozen fish. Had I turned south and gone home? I would have missed the best day of winter steelhead fishing I ever had in Michigan. That was 40 years ago, and now that I lived in western Oregon for the last 36 years, there's been many trips and many great steelhead memories, but I'll never forget the day that almost wasn't.
And, a very nice good morning to you too, lol. Great video. Your friend knows his stuff. I found the different techniques used on the different waters informative. We use similar techniques east on the Lake Ontario tribs, your friend, however, was an excellent guide; passing over I take it less productive water and putting you right into fish. . .he knows his stream(s). The streams were pretty too, I dare say prettier than ours. Video went well with my morning coffee. Thank you.
Very informative episode....hard to beat a snow covered steelhead stream. Upstate angler here - I haven't fished the tribs in a few years because I just can't take the anxiety re: fishing pressure.
I hear 'ya. I came into steelheading in the early 90's before things exploded and went online. Now, I drive insane amounts of miles to beat the crowds; and its a bigger investment of time but oh my gosh is the solitude worth it. Unmolested fish do the things they're supposed to, also! which is nice.
Yeah throw it in the seem that'll run into he eventually I fished Steelhead for yrs the fly will draw automatically in there mouth even if the don't hit it
Spent the first half of the video saying the cold will make the fish lethargic, when he finally gets a bite, he says the real cold will water will make them real vibrant.
The cold makes them less likely to chase, “lethargic” so you have to put it in there face. They also hang in slower currents as a general rule with colder water. like these guys said. Sometimes when you hook them in the cold water they go nuts with energy, they become a jolt of electricity that you cant always hold on to, your just lucky to have him on for a second.
Is there no close season for game fish in the US? Here in UK, for example, salmon season ends Oct 31, so they are undisturbed for spawning in late Nov Dec.
At 9:50 and 14:55 minute, would like to see you guys just use the same thermometer brand to test the water temperature, so there’s consistency. Better yet use both of them to test the same water and see if there’s a difference in reading. For all you know the 2 makes are just calibrated differently only, hence making you think the water at Thornbury compared to Meadford is slightly warmer when it actually might not be… Sort of like when I buy and use 2 different hygrometers in the house. Put them basically at the same spot but 1 will read the humidity as this and the other will read as that, like a difference of 5-7%.
Really strange. Says to stand upstream of the fish to avoid being seen. Hardly explains why the classic way to avoid being seen by fish is to stay behind them, downstream, and how staying upstream works, OK, he once mentions that broken water helps keep the fish from seeing fishermen upstream. He doesn't mention what is probably the main advantage to upstream in clear water: no slap of line and indicator landing over the fish. Oh, well. Then the vid gives the usual formula of fly distance below the indicator of twice water depth, followed by him saying they are fishing 3' deep water, and showing us his indicator and a fly that is no more than 3'-4' below. Total mish mash of advice and demonstration. One guy says the fish are lethargic in such cold water. Other guy says, "This fish is really perky, because of the cold water". Nice scenery, though.
Hardly explains? At 15:40 he explians in great detail the downstream tactics of the smaller creek vs the larger pool they are fishing. He aslo explained the indicator at 5 ft for fishing a depth of 3. He also explained how he’s controlling the drift, by throwing mends, raising and lowering the rod tip to give slack. Maybe you just dont pay attention very well? maybe you want to be the victim of this free fishing lesson? Really strange is right. Does he need to paint you a picture?
That's not a steelhead, never touched the ocean, the fish that go in to the Great Lakes don't count. That fish is the average size of BC interior lake rainbows and looks like one too.
You just can't beat winter steelheading. Beautiful stream.
We agree!
The guide is spot on - and the scenery beautiful
John's a great guy and awesome guide
I've spent countless days in western Michigan fishing winter steelies. The White, the PM, the Rouge, all those rivers and more made for some good fishing.
The best day I ever had started out as the worst. I slipped and fell crossing the White river within the first 1/2 hour.
Soaking wet, I knew I had to get back to the car quick. Dejected, I placed my wet clothes on the car seats with the heater blowing hard and started on my way home. When I got back to the highway. South was home, and north was to the PM river.
I reached over and found my clothes were already starting to dry. I knew they would be ready in the hour it took to drive to the PM.
I turned north and had the best day of my life on the PM, hooking almost 2 dozen fish. Had I turned south and gone home? I would have missed the best day of winter steelhead fishing I ever had in Michigan.
That was 40 years ago, and now that I lived in western Oregon for the last 36 years, there's been many trips and many great steelhead memories, but I'll never forget the day that almost wasn't.
Glad you were not hurt.
@@newflyfisher If I had a fly in my box for every time I fell down while wadding? Wait! ... I Do! LOL
Thanks.
I love the big head it my home close to home in the summer it full of small mouth and in fall there’s salmon and trout
Bill is my favorite host.
It's interesting how a small change n freezing temp water produces action. Nice fish. God Bless n fish on!
When was this filmed? Like the early 2000s?
yes it was
Id love to see some more modern content
great timing!
Awesome! Love it! Such a great vid 🐟🎣
At 15:40 you can see a CHROMER behind him flash as it eats something
And, a very nice good morning to you too, lol. Great video. Your friend knows his stuff. I found the different techniques used on the different waters informative. We use similar techniques east on the Lake Ontario tribs, your friend, however, was an excellent guide; passing over I take it less productive water and putting you right into fish. . .he knows his stream(s). The streams were pretty too, I dare say prettier than ours. Video went well with my morning coffee. Thank you.
Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoyed the video!
Very informative episode....hard to beat a snow covered steelhead stream. Upstate angler here - I haven't fished the tribs in a few years because I just can't take the anxiety re: fishing pressure.
I hear 'ya. I came into steelheading in the early 90's before things exploded and went online. Now, I drive insane amounts of miles to beat the crowds; and its a bigger investment of time but oh my gosh is the solitude worth it. Unmolested fish do the things they're supposed to, also! which is nice.
You guys are amazing. Thanks 🙏 for thes awesome Channel😊
Our pleasure!
Is that a sinking leader/tippet obviously?
Yeah throw it in the seem that'll run into he eventually I fished Steelhead for yrs the fly will draw automatically in there mouth even if the don't hit it
Spent the first half of the video saying the cold will make the fish lethargic, when he finally gets a bite, he says the real cold will water will make them real vibrant.
The cold makes them less likely to chase, “lethargic” so you have to put it in there face. They also hang in slower currents as a general rule with colder water. like these guys said. Sometimes when you hook them in the cold water they go nuts with energy, they become a jolt of electricity that you cant always hold on to, your just lucky to have him on for a second.
"vibrant" means colorful.
There's a reason you don't fish rivers in the winter ........all day .....Oh they got one..........how many days ?
thats why its called fishing and not catching. if it was easy everyone would do it.
Is there no close season for game fish in the US? Here in UK, for example, salmon season ends Oct 31, so they are undisturbed for spawning in late Nov Dec.
Steelhead run timing is different. While steelhead and salmon are related- they are not the same.
Completely different from state to state, species to species and water to water.
they dont naturally spawn here
Wondering if you are don't fly fishing and I don't have a center pen rods I'm only have noodles rods four of them
At 9:50 and 14:55 minute, would like to see you guys just use the same thermometer brand to test the water temperature, so there’s consistency. Better yet use both of them to test the same water and see if there’s a difference in reading. For all you know the 2 makes are just calibrated differently only, hence making you think the water at Thornbury compared to Meadford is slightly warmer when it actually might not be… Sort of like when I buy and use 2 different hygrometers in the house. Put them basically at the same spot but 1 will read the humidity as this and the other will read as that, like a difference of 5-7%.
Great way to freeze your a$$ off.
0:32 so they’re lake run rainbows, not steelhead……
Whats the difference?
Really strange. Says to stand upstream of the fish to avoid being seen. Hardly explains why the classic way to avoid being seen by fish is to stay behind them, downstream, and how staying upstream works, OK, he once mentions that broken water helps keep the fish from seeing fishermen upstream. He doesn't mention what is probably the main advantage to upstream in clear water: no slap of line and indicator landing over the fish. Oh, well. Then the vid gives the usual formula of fly distance below the indicator of twice water depth, followed by him saying they are fishing 3' deep water, and showing us his indicator and a fly that is no more than 3'-4' below. Total mish mash of advice and demonstration. One guy says the fish are lethargic in such cold water. Other guy says, "This fish is really perky, because of the cold water". Nice scenery, though.
Just typical fly anglers. No clue what they are talking about most of the time.
Nobody asked
Hardly explains? At 15:40 he explians in great detail the downstream tactics of the smaller creek vs the larger pool they are fishing. He aslo explained the indicator at 5 ft for fishing a depth of 3. He also explained how he’s controlling the drift, by throwing mends, raising and lowering the rod tip to give slack. Maybe you just dont pay attention very well? maybe you want to be the victim of this free fishing lesson? Really strange is right. Does he need to paint you a picture?
That's not a steelhead, never touched the ocean, the fish that go in to the Great Lakes don't count. That fish is the average size of BC interior lake rainbows and looks like one too.