Steelhead
With over 70 documented Steelhead streams Prince of Wales Island
is a Steelheader's paradise. Realistically there are about 8 major
drainages that you can focus on. With those streams and their
tributaries you have about 15 different options that are easy to
access. Most of those streams are accessed via the road system and
a short walk. The season runs from mid-April through early June
depending on the weather. May is prime time for these magnificent
fish.
The Steelhead on the island average 6 to 10 pounds, with some fish
reaching over 20 pounds. The your fishing gear has to be strong
enough to handle these strong native fish. We recommend using no
less then 10 pound test monofilament and strong hooks in size 1 or
larger. We prefer to use heavier line and larger hooks but that is
personal preference.
Example:
1. Our standard spinner setup is a medium-heavy casting rod with
a casting reel loaded with 12 pound monofilament. On the end of the
line we use a swivel to connect to a size 4 spinner with a 1/0 siwash
hook. Trust me on the siwash, I have spend a lot of time researching.
2. Our standard fly setup is a 9 or 10 foot, 7 wt. fly rod and large
arbor reel loaded with 7 wt. weight-forward fly line. We don't use
factory sink tip lines because most of them are too long for most
situations on the island. We use a long leader with a heavily
weighted fly, or a loop-in after market sink tip with a short leader to
an unweighted fly, size 1 or larger.
3. Our standard jig setup is a med-light to medium action 9 foot
spinning rod. A size 2500 spinning reel loaded with 20 or 30 pound
braided line, or 10 pound monofilament. The bobber is set on the
main line 18 to 30 inches above the jig. If you use a braided main
line you must use a swivel and monofilament leader so you can avoid
cutting the fish with the braided line. We use at least 12 pound mono
leader, sometime as high as 20 pound. Remember these fish are not
line shy. The reason we don't use heavier mono when the mono is the
main line is because the mono is much thicker than the braided line.
The thicker mono creates a lot of resistance and tends to drag the
bobber and jig making it harder to fish effectively. Most of the jigs
we use are 1/8 or 1/4 oz on a sharp 2/0 hook.
Good quality hooks such as Owner or Gamakatsu are hardened and
chemically sharpened and are well worth the extra expense. You will
need strong hooks for these incredibly strong fish.
For those of you that are willing to hike there are endless
possibilities. There are times during the season that we find
ourselves fishing to native Steelhead that have never seen a fly or
lure before. It is the purest form of fishing I have ever experienced.
is a Steelheader's paradise. Realistically there are about 8 major
drainages that you can focus on. With those streams and their
tributaries you have about 15 different options that are easy to
access. Most of those streams are accessed via the road system and
a short walk. The season runs from mid-April through early June
depending on the weather. May is prime time for these magnificent
fish.
The Steelhead on the island average 6 to 10 pounds, with some fish
reaching over 20 pounds. The your fishing gear has to be strong
enough to handle these strong native fish. We recommend using no
less then 10 pound test monofilament and strong hooks in size 1 or
larger. We prefer to use heavier line and larger hooks but that is
personal preference.
Example:
1. Our standard spinner setup is a medium-heavy casting rod with
a casting reel loaded with 12 pound monofilament. On the end of the
line we use a swivel to connect to a size 4 spinner with a 1/0 siwash
hook. Trust me on the siwash, I have spend a lot of time researching.
2. Our standard fly setup is a 9 or 10 foot, 7 wt. fly rod and large
arbor reel loaded with 7 wt. weight-forward fly line. We don't use
factory sink tip lines because most of them are too long for most
situations on the island. We use a long leader with a heavily
weighted fly, or a loop-in after market sink tip with a short leader to
an unweighted fly, size 1 or larger.
3. Our standard jig setup is a med-light to medium action 9 foot
spinning rod. A size 2500 spinning reel loaded with 20 or 30 pound
braided line, or 10 pound monofilament. The bobber is set on the
main line 18 to 30 inches above the jig. If you use a braided main
line you must use a swivel and monofilament leader so you can avoid
cutting the fish with the braided line. We use at least 12 pound mono
leader, sometime as high as 20 pound. Remember these fish are not
line shy. The reason we don't use heavier mono when the mono is the
main line is because the mono is much thicker than the braided line.
The thicker mono creates a lot of resistance and tends to drag the
bobber and jig making it harder to fish effectively. Most of the jigs
we use are 1/8 or 1/4 oz on a sharp 2/0 hook.
Good quality hooks such as Owner or Gamakatsu are hardened and
chemically sharpened and are well worth the extra expense. You will
need strong hooks for these incredibly strong fish.
For those of you that are willing to hike there are endless
possibilities. There are times during the season that we find
ourselves fishing to native Steelhead that have never seen a fly or
lure before. It is the purest form of fishing I have ever experienced.
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Thorne Bay Lodge, Alaska
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