#3 on the spey.

[steelhead_stalkers]

I'll bet I'm averaging 1 fish per 100 hours of swinging, so they don't come easy for me. I'm retired and fish a lot. Its just many many hours but I really enjoy casting so its a labor of love.

They don't come easy because its not a very good way to catch them! Presentation is everything with steelhead as you know and nothing that a steelhead eats in a river is swinging across the river. Good job getting them on the swing though as its rare and takes a lot of patience.

[imfishing]

Greetings All.

Nice Fish Charlie. Keep It Up.

[Arctic]

Nice switch of feathers in that things grill Charlie! I dig! Sour fish man. Good work!
Your catch rates will go up once you start finding that productive water, and skip the mystery water. Theres a lot of that. Water that should hold giant, wild fish, but all you get is a trout, or skunk out of the drift! Hahahaha!

They don't come easy because its not a very good way to catch them! Presentation is everything with steelhead as you know and nothing that a steelhead eats in a river is swinging across the river. Good job getting them on the swing though as its rare and takes a lot of patience.

HA!
This is true. Swingin giant silhouettes is pretty much targeting a fish with a specific attitude. But the one's that do climb on are never dower. Partially because its on the two hand fur flinger, but mostly because of sheer "ruddy-ness" of said fish that eat a piece of fur blazin across the tailout! This is why you gotta love the anadromous Rainbows.

[wfocharlie]

I enjoy your posts Ian. I always get a smile out of them and I think everything you said is true. I fished with a spey guide today and I kept saying, "man that water looks good over there" and he would say, "it sure does but I never get any fish out of there". That must be that mystery water you are talking about.

[Arctic]

Thanks Charlie! I thoroughly enjoy yours too! Always inspiring, or informative sir. Always!

There is way too much of that type of water! 'Specially on the Sandy, Clack and a few coastal criks!

[Eastcostborn]

I'll bet I'm averaging 1 fish per 100 hours of swinging, so they don't come easy for me. I'm retired and fish a lot. Its just many many hours but I really enjoy casting so its a labor of love.

Well that's better than I've done. I have never got one and I am well over 500 hours.....at least......

[Arctic]

There are definetly other methods to weilding a two hand rod that will produce fish in the areas where you cant swing a bug, proper. Indicator rigs work well in almost every medium paced drift. Especially if you like to cast big lead eye leeches, or intruders. But after that many hours, somethings gotta give, or the simple fact is... The fish arent where you are casting. I have drifts like that. Where a fish should jump out from in front of that rock and absolutely cram my intruders! But... They dont! I hate that! Hahahaha! But give a guide a try if you ever find yourself with some extra cash... Otherwise give Rob @ Water Time Guide Service a call. He can at least give you the rundown of what works where, and how to get it to the fish.

[Spade]

Charlie, keep sharing. I enjoy your stories/pictures and posts.

[wfocharlie]

Gabe I had one hit a black and blue leech today that I was swinging into a seam behind a rock and that thing got pounded so hard it rattled my teeth. It literally scared me. The fun only lasted 5 secs with giant head shakes and 13 ft rod corked. I wish I could have seen that fish. Its so dissappointing to loose a fish on a spey rod because they are so rare. When I loose one drifting I just figure I'll go get another one. Shortly after loosing that fish I fell into the water up to my neck and put a half gallon into my waders so it was time to go home.

[fisherman]

I am not going to argue that swinging flies is as productive as chucking gear but I think the statement that catching fish on the swing is rare is a bit off. I know some guys that get a fish or two every day on the water. They not only know where to be and when but they know how to fish the fly. If you get it dialed it is not rare. Yet yes if you want numbers and a easier time at it then grab a gear rod.