Had a chance to practice many different rigs yesterday and gain some confidence in using my new level wind reel (I LOVE it!!! Can't believe I waited SO long!!! What a pansy I am!!!). We were on the Green for 6 hours...hiked to the truck just past sundown! Absolutely BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!

So now some QUESTIONS FOR THE MASTERS!

DIRECTION TO FISH A RIVER:
The guy I fish with always starts at the BOTTOM of the river and works his way UP! My thinking would tend toward just the opposite! The logic being that if I'm hiking UP the river, I'm spooking the fish BEFORE I get to a good drift! Does it make a sizeable difference???

RIGGING SANDSHRIMP:I think it was Bob that said he ties his hooks with more wraps so he has better contact for the squirmy little things...so do I, but I'll be DARNED if I can get the line to lay over their body and cinch down! What's the trick???

GEAR MANAGEMENT:I don't have a fishing vest yet, (remember, I've been fishing on the Sound! Don't need one out their!) I used a large fanny pack for most of my gear and had my backpack for the bulkier stuff! Do you use the binders for you pre-tied leaders??? I don't have a setup that's very user friendly on the rivers...my stuff is too time consuming and awkward! VERY INEFFICIENT!!!

LANDING A FISH:
As I stood ankle deep, knee deep, and butt deep in water yesterday, I'm thinking...HOLY HECK, if and WHEN I DO get a decent fish on, I could SERIOUSLY be in trouble! THEN WHAT??? I mean it's all well and good to be trying different jig setups, pink worms, sandshrimp, etc., but eventually, SOMEONE'S gonna visit my hook. So...whilst I'm standing in the current and DO make contact what's your advice for NOT going for a swim and STILL LANDING the fish??? I use a STICK to stay upright getting out there NOW, so how the HECK am I gonna control my retrieve AND land a FISH???

SOFT WATER AREAS:
There's a spot on the Green that's like a pond...beautiful place...little waterfalls trickling down the hillside calm water on a bend. One of the most important things I think I've learned this season regarding Steelhead is that they are TROUT! Duh!?!? You may all be saying, but before this year I had always thought they were in the Salmon category! Bob's, "about the fish" section finally got me to see the err of my thinking! Soooo...since I started out my love for fishing by TROUT fishing, and did very well at THAT, I think I can get this Steelhead thing...eventually!!!

NOW to the slow water...it seems to me that pond like places at the end of a run of white water could be a productive place! Is that bogus thought, or is it valid??? Part of my frustration when I'm trying out techniques is WHERE I want to get my gear...and then...of course...HOW to get it there. On the rivers I find deep slow areas of water, and my instincts tell me that this should be trout territory, but if I'm wasting my time, let me know! Also, I fished at the DOWN side of a good sized waterfalls...is that a GOOD idea???

GUYS WITH SPOONS:
NO...not guys waiting for a bowl of Chili to warm their bones...yesterday there were a couple guys casting spoons on the Green...they seemed like they knew what they were doing...never saw that before! They were pretty good sized spoons! What up wit' dat???

I'm sure I have a ton more questions, but I don't want to tax the "MASTERS" too much!!! Thanks for any light you are willing to shed!!!

Hope you're enjoying the weekend!
L

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"Great spirits have always encountered opposition from mediocre minds!" Albert Einstein