A Quest for Steelhead

 A Quest for Steelhead

Doug Pullan

As the summer winds cool and the daylight diminishes, the alarm of steelheading was ringing in my ears. As with all types of fishing, getting ready for a steelhead trip is a ritual I enjoy annually. Selecting the right rods, reels, lines, flies, safety equipment, wading staff, waders and boots and the required licenses are important items to address. One item that is also an important factor is Luck. 

My brother-in-law and I have made this trek to northern BC many times to participant is this sport called steelheading. Steelhead is a name given to an anadromous form of rainbow trout with the scientific name Oncorhynhus mykiss which belongs to the trout family. Steelhead are not easy to catch. You can make a perfect cast, have the perfect fly and have the world of confidence on your side, but the fish is always the final judge. Hooking a steelhead is one thing, landing it is quite another. Skill and luck is only half of the equation, persistence is the other half. 

Upon arrival at our destination, we discovered the water conditions were less than ideal. It had been raining for a week prior which caused water levels to increase with very limited visibility. This is an example of how conditions can change during steelhead season. Sometimes your fishing is very summer like conditions wearing tee shirts with excellent water conditions. Other times it’s raining or even snowing forcing you to layer up to keep warm. 

Our trip was a mixed bag of sun but also rain creating high dirty water. You cast and swing your fly with the anticipation of a grab at any moment. Your eyes are always scanning for the best water to cast your fly as well as occasionally looking upstream not only for bears but also trees floating down that could knock you over. I also got baptized in the river due to slippery rocks coated with fine silt. Good thing for wearing an auto inflatable life jacket. I got two hookups and one battle that lasted over 10 minutes resulting in the stealhead kicking my ass. That’s steelheading for you.

They say that steelhead is a fish of a thousand casts; that’s the average. This trip worked out to a much higher number. The reality of steelheading is there is more to it than the traditional grip and grin photo.  The scenery is quite lovely with all the autumn colours. Fellow steelheads are mostly friendly and always willing to share their stories of successful hookups and loss battles. Some people say that steelheaders are half insane who relish the tug being the drug, the adrenaline rush of the battle and to touch that beautiful fish as icing on the cake: finally releasing the fish to continue its journey to spawn and then return to the ocean. That’s the magic of steelheading.

To be a steelheader is to accept the disappointments and savor the victories when they happen. Fishing for steelhead isn’t easy even at the best of times; it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s mine.