More than 2,000 years ago, fishermen noticed insects that were eaten by the fish near the water’s surface. They fashioned rough imitations of those insects on primitive hooks and began catching fish. That was the beginning of fly fishing as we know it today.

The Fly-fishing technique -

From finding fish hideouts to understanding the life cycles of the different insects they eat, along with the other complexities have fascinated fly fishers for thousands of years. To become proficient in the art,  continual fine-tuning is required in addition to studying much about how to select your flies, how to adapt and blend the various materials used in the construction of a fly, how to construct a fly using defined rules in accordance with the state of the sky, the color of the water and the peculiar habits of the fish in different rivers.

You’ll find all the information you need to start fly fishing in ‘Fly Fishing for Beginners’, including getting professional pointers on finding the right stance, and information on the most common casting problems so you can avoid each one! What’s more, you’ll discover the basic equipment requirements for balancing, successful strategies for night fishing, ways to deal with weather constraints and changing water levels, plus strategies for successful lake selection.

‘Fly Fishing For Beginners’ also gives you step-by-step guidance on Tying your own flies, and shows you the tools and materials right down to the best manufacturers and proportions you need.

There is a whole chapter dedicated to hints and tips for all manner of fly fishing situations, as well a tour through some of America’s favourite fly fishing destinations (including
details of particular rivers, what fish you’ll find there and the flies to use).

In ‘Fly Fishing For Beginners’ You will learn:
* The exciting history behind fly-fishing
* Surprising beginner tips, tricks and techniques
* What fly-fishing is all about
* The necessary equipment you need – from flies to rods and accessories
* How to tie your own fly
* Types of casting and common problems to avoid
* The advantages and disadvantages of wet vs. dry fly-fishing
* The best time of day for fly-fishing – so you catch the most fish
* Fly-fishing techniques used specifically for boat or land casting
* The exhilarating practice of winter fly-fishing
* How to plan the perfect fly-fishing excursion
* The best fly-fishing locations – from coast to coast and abroad
* And More . . .

Fly-fishing is, thankfully, a life-long sport you will never outgrow. No, I do not mean that you have to wait years to catch fish! Actually, it may not even take weeks for that matter. It just takes a while to master all the elements. With a little practice, you will soon find yourself on the water hooking a fish!

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Fly fishing for steelhead really is no different than any other kind of fishing once you learn the basics and start expanding on what you have learned you will be out there catching Steelhead and be hooked just like the rest of us.

Selecting your Rod and Reel
If you’re new to the sport of fly fishing I recommend that you use the KISS system (keep it simple system). You need to select a rod and reel that will handle these large and sometimes very aggressive fish. That means you should use a heavier rod 7/8 or 8/9 weight rods are a good choice you can use the 5/6 weight but you will need to know how to effectively manipulate these larger fish therefor for the beginner I recommend going with a heaver rod.  Rod length depend on what type of river you plan to fish longer rods allow you to make longer cast but are sometimes hard to use along the river bank if there is any amount of brush trees ect along the bank.

Selecting A Reel
Your reel choice is a matter of personal preferences match it with your Rod just make sure that it is capable of holding a good amount of backing. Having a drag that will work smoothly for the beginner is a great advantage it keeps the inexperience fly fishermen from having the fish start what I call bucking and ending up getting away

Backing Lines and Leaders
The back severs two purposes one to fill your reel and second it gives you extra line for fighting the fish, any braided or Dacron line will do you could us the super braided lines if you feel you will need the extra line for fight your fish. Match the line weight to match the fish size you anticipate on catching you shouldn’t need anything heavier than 20 lb test however. I like using the brighter colored lines as it helps me watch my line when I do get down to the backing. Remember when fly fishing you are casting your line not the fly for this reason I recommend that you use a weight forward fly line there are other types out there but this is the one I use. I like this type for two reasons one I’m still able to see my fly line and yet I am able to get the fly down where the steelhead like to lay. Make sure you use a good knot to attach your fly line to your backing it needs to be a knot that will travel through the guide on your rod. One of the knots I like to use is the blood knot it’s easy to tie and works well for me. If you feel you need to be official you can buy fly leaders which come in different sizes and lengths and tippet you could really get confused with all these I still do. Normally I just use 10 up to 20 pound (depending on the size of the fish and fishing conditions) fluorocarbon. In certain situations the material can make a big difference in getting fish to strike, while also offering impressive abrasion-resistance. If there are a lot of snags as there usually are when steelhead fishing I recommend going with a heavier leader. You can then decide for your self as to the length of your leader 10 to 12 feet seems to work well.

Flies and Bait
Their are a number of different fly and lures out there we could talk about this for weeks and still not cover them all. Your best bet is to talk to someone who has fished the area and see what they recommend. I can tell you what I use and have had success with here in Idaho they are and this is my number one choice the egg sucking leach, egg patterns, wooly buggers. As for what color and size to use just follow this simple rule in stained water use brighter colored large flies and in clear water use smaller drab or natural colored Flies. To get your fly down to where the still head are laying you will probably need to place a small split shot about 12 to 18 inches above your fly you want to just touch the bottom every now and then. If it is hanging up all the  time you may have on to much weight play with this until you are getting a good drift.

Fishing Techniques
I have found that most of the time you do not have to make long cast. Fishing most of the rivers here in Idaho my cast are shorter than 25 feet. We could  discuss fly casting techniques for ever just strip off 12 to 15 feet of line pull off another 9 to 12 feet of line and let it flow through your guides now just use the normal 9 o’clock 2 o’clock small pause 9 o’clock motion and try to get a smooth flow of your line when you cast it will come with practice. Now hold your pole tip up and follow your drift keep your eye on the furthest part of your line you can see and watch for the indication of a strike. This could be your line changing directions, stopping, or sinking suddenly set the hook and enjoy the battle.

These are just the basics but if you follow them and expand and modify them for your fishing style I’m sure you will be catching those mysterious Steelhead in no time.

The best information will be of little use if it’s not able to be understood you don’t practice it and modify it to suit your needs and then start using it. That being said I hope these few pointers get you started in what I feel is one of the most exciting and challenging ways of fishing for Steelhead.

If your ready to start fly fishing for steelhead please visit my website Click Here! and check out some great deals on Rods, Reels, Lines, and Flies.

I had been planning this fishing trip for a week and thought I would let you know just how it went I’m sure you will all enjoy this. I woke up at 6:00 AM had a  cup of coffee and went out to start my truck it was snowing and the road had about 8″ of snow on it but since I had my heart set on doing some steel-head fishing I decided to go ahead with my plans.

After I loaded my fishing gear and filled my thermos I headed out the door to find the snow plow coming down the street it pushed a berm of snow right up to my bumper. Went back to the garage and got a shovel I spent the next hour digging out the drive way so I could get out. I then back out of the drive way and went to far and got stuck in the berm of snow on the other side of the street. Spent the next 20 minutes digging the d_ _ _  truck out. Still determined that I was going fishing I head out to the Salmon River in Riggins, Idaho this is normally about a 30 minute drive however do to the snow and all it took me well over a hour to get there.

I finally made it to the River only to find the wind blowing and gusting upwards of 30 miles an hour and the temperature was only in the thirties. I was able to find a spot where I could stand up with out having to hold onto something to be kept from being blown away. I grab my gear and start down to the river and I stepped onto a rock along the edge of the road which rolls out from under my foot, down the hill I go my gear flying all over the place as I try to keep from going clear into the river. Spent the next twenty minutes gathering up my gear never did find my damn bait shrimp. I realized somewhere along the way I had cut my leg and blood was now flowing down my leg into my boot. Well I go back to the truck to get out the first aid kit and wrap up my leg. The cut was not that bad but because it was so cold it just would not clot and stop bleeding. I did finally get the thing to quit bleeding and headed back down to the river.

I decide I would have a cup of coffee and relax a little since my day really was not going quit as I had planed. Set up my pole and went to make the first cast of the day yep you guessed it, I now have a birds nest like none other I just stand their and look at it for some time, this was starting to get quit humorus must have spent another thirty minutes untangling it oh how I love winter steel-head fishing. The next couple of hours are uneventful. Sure wish I could have found my bait shrimp but oh well I have caught them before with out it.

After fishing another hour or so I finally have a strike and hook into a nice Steel-head which for the time of year is putting up quit a fight I get him up to where I can see him It may go ten pounds Just then he makes another run and strips out about 20 yards of line before he turns and swims straight for me I’m reeling like a wind mill in a squall and about the time I start to get some tension back on him he slips out the hook and swims off.

Its starting to snow now and between the snow and wind I had to surrender to the elements and I pack up my stuff and headed for the truck. Once I get back to the truck I realize that when I was up here bandaging my leg earlier I had lock the keys in the truck spent an hour trying to unlock the door before I finally get it unlock by now my fingers are so cold I can hardly feel them good thing it didn’t take any longer to get the truck opened.

The drive home proves uneventful although it does take over an hour and a half because of the blowing and drifting snow. When I start to pull into the drive way I realize that the wind has drifted it full of snow and it takes another hour to clean it out before I can finally pull in and park the truck.

You Know next week may be a whole lot better Steel-head fishing maybe I’ll let you know when I get back. You just have to love this winter steel-head fishing.