Re: Re(2): stilly

[Jere Crosby]

A topic of conversation every season with me has been the identification of winter fish vs. summer fish.  It is not easy to differentiate winters from summers.  We get late summer fish.  The dept. of game, several seasons ago, told me they were calling some fish, caught this time of year, "SWINTERS".  Not really either one.  That was the result of their taking eggs from early returners and establishing an earlier return of winter fish.  I have seen hardware fisherman, over the years, bonk many steelhead, at this time of year, that they defined as winter fish that, in my means of identifying, were not winter fish.  Steelhead do not turn "dark", or black in color.  The bucks will be ID'd with a red stripe, but the hens show little color change.  Many of the summer fish caught, at this time of year, are hens and the best ID, for me, is that they are thin looking.  Their checks are pinkish.  The fooler, after the first of the year, is the hens that have spawned and now brighten up and actually start to form new skeins of eggs on their way out to sea.  The bait guy will often ID this fish as a bright, winter that hasn't fully developed its eggs.(actually, these can be spawned out winter, hatchery hens also)  I like to look at the belly as see if it is tight and no indentations.  From across the river, to see a fisherman land a steelhead and try to ID it is difficult. I was happy to see the lure guys that fish the "Big Eddy" below Tokul, on the Snoqualmie, and who fish it regularly and catch lots of fish after Dec. 1,(when there is a decent run of winter fish) ID anything but a bright winter as an "ol boot"  and consider anyone who keeps a summer fish as an outcast. I really miss the opportunity to fish for steelhead on the runs that I once did, but I am presently studying several Frank Amato publications on, what is now, my local waters; the South Fork of the Snake and the Henry's Fork and learning other spots from local fly shops here in Idaho Falls. Recently, I visited Hyde Boats and had a salesman show me their boats. He grew up in Seattle and steelheaded many of the same beats that I fished.  I've gained information from the Clakacraft boat people also. It won't take me long to feel comfortable with Southestern Idaho's waters.  Anyone that happens to be in the area next season, give me a call at (208) 227-0692 and maybe we can get together for an enjoyable outing.  Jere    ----- Original Message ----- From: Keith Ayers To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2000 9:55 AM Subject: Re(2): stilly I stopped by Fortson Friday morning(Dec. 1) on my way to work. I counted 51 guys fishing on both sides of the river. In the time it took me to drink a cup of coffee I saw 4 or 5 steelhead landed and a few more lost. I didn't see anything that looked like a winter run. Most fish were pretty dark and would have made excellent crab bait. The mood of the river definitely changes when it goes to gear. Oh well, December is a good month to chase dollies on the Skagit. Does anyone in the group have much success with winter hatchery fish on the Stilly? I admit that when the winter fish show I usually chuck gear at them and don't bring out the fly rod again until the natives are in the river.