The idea of this post is to ask several questions. Yes, each question could be a new topic, but it would be much easier for you to read one post and answer. I'm sure most of you would agree, so I'm going to post all of them here. It will be a longer reading, so just skip to the questions that interest you and come back later for the others. Hopefully, I’m not the only one who will learn from these questions.

1) This first questions mainly applies to spinner and spoons. You can fish a silver blade and body for maximum flash and black oxide parts for the opposite affect. Adding tape or tubing in green, pink, orange, etc. can be the trick for attracting more fish. Now, when using color with metals, you use a color appropriate to river water levels and clarity (dust like drift fishing). My question, is if there is an exception to these "rules". In Jed Davis' book, he basically says to stay away from green and blue although these colors produce. He also tells a story of how black tape is his highest produce lure on a certain stream. Is there a certain color work better on local streams? Is there a time when you use green, pink, or orange not based upon water conditions?

2) Let me set an environment. You are fishing high in a river, usually a canyon. The banks are steep, narrow, and the bottom is deep. The flow of the current through this channel is constant from top to bottom with no large boulders for steelhead to hide behind. Imagine a constant sloped bottom as well with no dips or humps.
Question A) Do steelhead hold in here, or find a section of river upstream?
Question B) If they hold in here, how do you fish for them? Backbounce? Lets say the water is 40’ deep. Is that too deep for steelhead?
Question C) Same question as A & B except, they apply to salmon.

3) As a beginner steelheader, how do you identify male from female steelhead? From my readings, I have learned only slightly on this topic. Obviously when they are fresh from the ocean and chrome there isn’t any color differences. How do you determine them, by they shape of the head, belly? When the fish are higher in the river and have some color, what are the characteristics? The males have a red band along the lateral line and a red gill plate? How about the females?

4) I have heard of some steelhead fighting with all their life, while others are just dormant. I experienced this the other day when I caught and a fish in a deep tailout of a pool drifting eggs. It didn’t hit the eggs hard, but seemed like more of a slight pull. It was hooked in the roof of the mouth (where I see a lot of fish hooked), but didn’t give much of a fight. I reasoned this with the fish being tired after having to run heavy rapids and large falls. As I have learned, the tailouts are resting and feeding places for fish. How many of you have experienced the same thing? Is there a way to determine when fish are resting or feeding? What do you think?

5) I read a lot about seems or creases and the importance of them. Correct me if I’m wrong; but they create a resting spot for fish in high waters, provide security in all water conditions, have a “warm” edge in cold conditions, allow easy holding with a good current supplying food, and have good oxygen. These seems hold fish in almost any condition; winter or summer. How many of you always target seems while your fishing, or are there times when you pass them up?

6) During my time on the river I usually carry two rods, one spinning and one baitcasting. I know some others here do this as well. While your fishing how many of you will switch from say drifting to spinners, and work your way downstream fishing everything? Obviously fish have to go through every part of the river, and on their journey, they might lie behind a boulder or in a five-foot slot. Most of the time people will stop by the major “honey-holes”, that are well know and receive lots of pressure. These holes might hold more fish, but are also more reluctant to bite. In this case the fish that are hiding behind that un-fished boulder or sunken log might bite on the first cast. How many of you take the time to fish every “nook and cranny”, and should I be doing this?

7) Another question, is the spawning times of steelhead and salmon locally. Summer steelhead enter the system anywhere from May-Aug. and don't spawn until Jan-Mar. Fall salmon enter the system Aug.-Dec. and spawn Dec-Feb. Winter steelhead enter the system from Nov-Apr. and spawn Apr-May. Spring salmon enter the system Mar-Jun. and spawn Jun-Aug. Are these dates some-what accurate?

That’s all the questions I have for now. Maybe a ”part 2” to come later.

Matt