F
flocaster
What he said! X2 TonyStick to one technique while you're looking for that first hook-up. If you're losing gear, then pick a cheap technique (halibuthitman has that covered for you!).
Wear polarized lens (aka magic fish glasses), I like Cocoons worn over my prescription lens. Do get black frames, don't get turtleshell frames. Fish where you might actually see passing fish (shady, shallow, narrow upstream end of a pool with good cover on a smaller river with clearish water). Arrive at dawn and stay there until dusk. Wear clothing that blends in (no need to go camo) and don't sillouette yourself against the sky and keep your shadow out of the water. Don't let your dog or children go splashing around. Cast infrequently and spend time observing. Eventually you will see a fish, hopefully in time to target it; otherwise, sometimes the magic happens and the fish hooks you before you see it.
I've been a trout angler most of my 53 years. The first time I went to a winter steelhead stream, in 2008, I had a big fish lunge at my wobbler, but it totally missed and there was no repeat. We were just messing around because we needed an excuse to check on the cutthroat population, yet seeing that I could get a reaction had me hooked! I poked and prodded at steelhead each winter, but didn't catch anything until 2012. And then winter steelhead fishing turned into winter steelhead catching, where I could purposely target fish and get results. Steelhead are just big trout; they're blindered slightly by that spawning mission, but they really do have all normal trout habits. This year I've had the mindblowing experience of scanning a rain-swollen, nearly blown out river and saying, "if I were a steelhead, I'd be there", pointing and then seeing a steelhead come through the murk to the surface exactly at that moment!
i just think that paying 375.00 FOR 1 PERSON for a guide to maybe go catch fish is really stupid idea what if you dont catch anything that money down the drain thats the only thing stopping me i dont want to get ripped off
with ..... HOOEFULLY CATCHING A FISH
ok recently i went fishing in grants pass rogue river and gold hill hitting 6 different spots and using about 13 different color combinations ALLL NO GOOD
then i went to shady cove and went to 3 different spots STILL NOTHING............ then i went to the applegate river STILL TRYING 13 COLORS AND NOTHHING
IM REALLY GETTING FED UP WITH THE BULL PEOPLE TELL ME TO USE ....
ARE YOU ALL LYING HMMMMM I WONDER
i should have pulled something out of the river i kept switching back and forth from float fishing to bouncing bettys and slinkys losing my gear getting more agitated by the second i have wasted almost 65.00 plus all the gear and pole
im sick and tired of liars and cheats
People are just trying to give you friendly advice, and there is a lot in this thread. I think you need an attitude adjustment or else give up, doesn't seem like it's much fun for you.
i just think that paying 375.00 FOR 1 PERSON for a guide to maybe go catch fish is really stupid idea what if you dont catch anything that money down the drain thats the only thing stopping me i dont want to get ripped off
with ..... HOOEFULLY CATCHING A FISH
i just think that paying 375.00 FOR 1 PERSON for a guide to maybe go catch fish is really stupid idea what if you dont catch anything that money down the drain thats the only thing stopping me i dont want to get ripped off
with ..... HOOEFULLY CATCHING A FISH
Personally Ive never taken a guide out. However, I will at some point. If $375.00 is an outrageous amount of money for you to invest into steel heading, good luck. Fishing is expensive…..Especially the initial investment. Fish or no fish, a trip with a guide would provide anyone who wants to learn with priceless knowledge. If you aren't willing to put in the work or pay someone to teach you I don't see how you can ever be a steel header. Maybe hang up the rod?….ORRRRRR just be quiet and listen. No one wants to hear your rebuttals. For realizes!
Next, I'm still turning my head over this, "no turtleshell frames," comment. I gotta ask, is that a superstition, a fashion faux pas so as not to look like a dork on the bank, or some other reason I just can't discern? I'm very curious about this. Granted, I use black frames, but can't for the life of me see where that turtleshell tidbit stems from and I just gotsta know