Webs of Silver

It’s often said that 10 percent of the fisherman catch 90 percent of the fish in the world of steelhead. The logical question to follow is: "How do The Steelyard Boys work to enter that top 10th percentile?" The answer is simple: network and adventure.

Networking is a life skill. It often times is the difference between feeling “stuck” in a profession or elevating your career. In the corporate world, we spend copious amounts of cash traveling to conferences, sitting in seminars, and building our network in formal and casual settings.

The world of steelheading is no different. The strongest bonds are those forged in silver. Facebook groups and online forums offer information. Some good, some you wish you’d never have read. Instagram is a great tool for keeping up with the adventures of fishing friends across the country (not to mention keeping up with the @steelyardboys). However, spending time conversing over a cup of coffee in a bait shop, or better yet stream side with a fellow angler, will shorten the learning curve of any up-and-coming steelhead fisherman. The last step in moving your steel dial towards that upper percentile is putting the pieces together. Call friends/contacts for reports and trip ideas. Venture to new waters together. Spend hours, days, hell sometimes months, drowning baits and snagging logs without so much as a sniff of the steelhead that swims beneath the rivers surface.

FROM PAPER TO POWERDRIFTING:

Branches and Bigwater received a call to action this March. Branches had organized a day on the water with a coworker whom he had shared many stories of his Ohio steelhead trips. Pro-tip on steelheaders: we’re always looking to talk about our most recent catch or adventure. Better yet, we’re always up for company on a river venture. Like many avid steelheaders Alex, without hesitation, offered to show us the ropes of the Big Manistee River on his beautiful Stealthcraft Powerdrifter jet boat….a necessity considering the river often drops to 15 feet in depth just off its banks, making shore fishing nearly impossible in most stretches.

Friday evening found the boys packed into the car pointed due west across the Ohio State Line, heading straight for the Big Manistee River. The Big Manistee is to steelhead as Slyman’s is to corned beef sandwiches, and Jim Thome is to homeruns. We were heading into waters of steelhead legend, hoping somewhere in it’s timber laden depths there lay a willing fish ready to make our day.

As we left metropolis in our rear view, the scenery changed. The potholes disappeared, concrete gave way to sand. Our path was framed by the jack pines, paper birches, and the specimen elms of Manistee National Forest.

Alex was already out on the river, and the reports were good. Branches and Bigwater wasted no time in hustling to drop our bags at the cabin, strap on the waders, and head down to the nearest access point to try and get an appetizer of steel with the thirty minutes of remaining sun. Two things became apparent: we were in the steelhead’s arena, and the game was on. Sunset came and went without a tug, but with high hopes for the coming day we regrouped at base camp for an evening of conversation, planning, laughter, and of course snacks and frosty beverages.

Sunrise came but warmth didn’t. “This is steelhead weather,” wandered through our heads as we launched the rig with a temperature of 13 degrees. We all have a passion in life. Whatever it may be, indoors, outdoors, anything. Find it, chase it, and don’t stop. With our hearts pumping we set off upstream, numb to the frigid temperatures. Ready for the bobber to drop and a chrome steelhead to rise.

Alex struck first, second, third….all the while giving us the tips and tricks he’s gathered through years of fishing Michigan waters. We stayed the course and fished hard, capping the morning with a gorgeous 11 pound buck steelhead that took us about a quarter mile from his home pool before finally accepting our offer of a net, a picture, and a release.

Returning to the boat launch to grill steaks and set the afternoon plan, we reflected on a good morning for the boat - watching, learning, and trying to emulate Alex’s strategy. We re-rigged our rods, changing from egg sac presentations and instead opting for 10 mm steelhead beads as the “gooey-bob” presentation from the morning had yet to account for a fish.

Afternoon. Crunch Time. We anchored on our first hole of the post-morning session. Stomachs full of steak and potato salad, hearts ready to be warmed by silver heat. Bigwaters float made it 20 feet downstream on his first cast before plunging to the depths. Wow. 6 hours of morning fishing, not a nibble. A switch in presentation and bam, is it really that simple? Why hadn’t we changed tactics earlier? Old habits die hard. Well, three strong head shakes was all it took for that fish to spit the hook, and as quick as it had started, it was over. But now we had the right program. Confidence in your presentation, whether it be bait, fly, or lure is everything in steelhead fishing. Three casts later saw another dunk of the float, this time Bigwater kept tension, and managed to bring a beautiful 8lb hen to hand. By mid-afternoon branches had hung up the fly rod and switched over to a center pin reel with a bead presentation. Dial it in and run with it.

Alex boated a few more with the help of branches on the net. We decided to set up on a stiff run with strong current towards days end. Most of the fish we had caught throughout the day had been in typical winter water, slow and deep so as to conserve energy but we wanted chrome. Our hopes were to find some fresh fish moving up through the system. Alex and Bigwater did just that, hooking into a pair of 6 lb fish we could’ve sworn were over 12 lbs by the long runs and acrobatic displays they put on.

What a day. One of the most scenic areas of the United States. Some of the best company you could ask for. Big winter steelhead just to cap it off. In typical fashion, the evening was spent discussing what worked and what didn’t, telling fishing stories past (some true, most not), and planning our next adventure.

Some write about the need to refocus, regroup, or rewrite a to do list but from the SYB’s perspective, it’s about finding that, which energizes. Leaving Manistee National sleep deprived and frostbitten, we spent the drive back discussing which rivers to fish next week, next month, and next year. Calling those in our “Web of Silver” to recap the trip and share the knowledge gained. Manistee National, we will most certainly be back.

-Sincerely yours,

The Steelyard Boys (Author: Tim Matty)