Steelhead Manifesto: Steelhead Rigging

Showing posts with label Steelhead Rigging. Show all posts

Friday, March 25, 2016

Preparation Meets Opportunity

What if I told you 80% of your FISH are caught from home? Many things can influence how much water a river gets every season. The rising river flow will impact the river’s clarity, the water levels and even temperature. Those factors can most certainly affect your fishing success, what tactics you use and where the fish will be. A quick rain shower or rain storms, snowmelt, openings of the dams, and even tributary activity will impact the current river conditions.

Here in Michigan, the winters of 2013 and 2014 were the worst in 130 years. Because of the abnormally cold water temperatures and the increased flows some rivers and creeks saw very few fish. Other rivers had better runs than years past. With runs, that lasted into June. Remember folks these fish do not have to run up the river. Only the right conditions will bring you a good steelhead run. Hence, why you need all the right info to help you predict where to fish and when?

Don’t even think of heading out until you have done your homework. At a minimum get the river-level information at least. In the springtime, that’s when conditions can change overnight, and blow everything out very quickly. By knowing what rivers are in shape to fish can save you a lot of grief and money. Just because you fished that river last year at that time doesn’t mean it will fish this time.

There are many Web sites like USGS and River Boss, and they are always updated. Take advantage of today’s technology and the use of your smartphone. I personally love to use the Fishead App. It’s the best $7.00 you will ever spend. Your favorite rivers can be programmed and everything is at my fingertips at a moment’s notice including the weather by the hour and moon phase.

By knowing the flows and the water temperature through a system you can predict how you fish and where. By checking NOAA’s National Weather Service and knowing the water temps in the Great Lakes you can actually predict when your favorite river will get a run of fish. Every river has its own run clock. If the river temps are warmer than the big lake temperatures and you have the right winds along with increased flows, means the fish are coming. Depending on when those events took place that will determine where the fish will be either high or low within the system.

Never been to a certain river? No worries now that you know when the fish are coming, your next search should be on google maps. Locate holes on your computer or right from your phone. Look for any dark holes, downed trees, boat launches or bridges. Where ever there is a bridge the fish will be there. Take advantage of technology and plan your trip from home. By knowing what’s going on before you even leave your house that will put you ahead of the game.

Bottom line you need a game plan before you even leave the house and remember Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Practice CPR Catch, Photo and Release!

Have a great Spring Run and may your landing nets always be heavy!

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Sunday, January 10, 2016

CALL to ACTION

ATTENTION MICHIGAN FISHERMEN:

We have a HUGE statewide political battle and we need your HELP. I received an email on a call to action and I will paste below.

Our state has a coalition made up of the (MSSFA, TU, MUCC, MEC, MCBA, Anglers of the Au Sable). Luckily for us they have began efforts to provide Senator Jones with sub language to his SB 526 that bans aquaculture on the Great Lakes and connecting waterways, which would have preserved existing aquaculture operations with stricter regulations on treating waste and flow through water.

This would have increased the chances of SB526 passing. Then, in planned confederacy, the Senate Republicans, Booher, Robertson, Shirkey and Casperson and House Republicans introduced bills (SB’s 681, 682 & 683) that virtually rewrite the “Michigan aquaculture development act” passed in 1996. Reps. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) and Triston Cole (R-Mancelona) put forward an identical package to Booher's in the House with HB 5166, HB 5167 and HB 5168.

These bills are devastating to our lakes, streams and rivers and threaten wild fish and our sport fishery’s ability to co-exist. If you read the bills (and you should) there are numerous changes that remove regulations and oversight of these operations.

The most egregious are: Shifts rulemaking power to the Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development and away from DNR and DEQ; circumvents the Public Trust Doctrine, interposes a Right to Farm piece; allows up to ten net pens on the Great Lakes; removes the ability of townships to impose authority over the operations (Right to Farm); riparian rights are impaired, tribal rights via treaty are trampled on; bottom land use at no charge; and sport fishing license statue being amended so they can collect wild fish and put them in their aquaculture facilities (Taking of Fish).

Read the paragraph ABOVE one more time. You should be alarmed and must do your part to make your voice heard. All fishermen need to ban together and fight this. Stay tuned to this blog and I will keep you posted on any developments. I urge you to contact your representatives to make your objections known and YOU MUST ask them to do their part in defeating these bills.

A FEW FISH FROM THIS PAST WEEK