HRO Steelhead Trip to Salmon River in Nov '08

For those of you who might be interested, I cut & pasted this from our website-

I'm in the process of trying to put together a Great Lakes Steelhead trip to the Salmon River in upstate NY for the latter part of November, I'll post details as soon as the dates, pricing & info are all set. We will have room for 6 anglers, there will be a guide with us, as well as myself (Torrey) and also probably Aaron in attendance. The fee for the trip will be modest and will cover the cost of the guide & lodging, we will all be responsible for our own meals, flies, NY fishing license, etc. We will prob do some sort of orientation one night the week before to help prep you for the trip, going over basic flies, tackle, rigging, clothing, etc.

Yes! Mike and I are interested in that trip. I'm sure the 5 wt nymphing rods we have would easily handle anything they have up there in the DSR but just in case, does the HRO shop rent equipment?

Magnet: You can rent equipment up there. When I was up there last week I went into Whitaker's sport shop and they rent equipment. They will rent you the rod and reel, waders and korkers if you need all of that. My buddy rented a pair of korkers for two days. I'm sure most of the shops up there do this.

Mike

Thanks for the info Blackghost. My son Mike and I have never been steelhead fishing. We saw your pictures and needless to say are very "psyched" about making a trip up there.
You know whats funny black ghost? Up until I reached 50 I would always say about things I was interested in doing,"some day I'd like to try that." Most of the time that's as far as it went. My time and resources always seemed to go into family,home, paying for college, etc. I'm sure you know the deal. I'm not complaining. Its been a great life. I guess my thinking has evolved to where I'm now gradually compiling a list of things I'd like to experience and places I'd like to go before I die. Ones perception gradually changes over time. Each day becomes like each trout netted and released, a precious gift.

Magnet -
All I can say is that once you hook a steelhead you are in for the ride of your life and after you leave the river you will be counting the days until you return.

I was up last weekend and Whitaker's is a great place and the guys there are very helpful. Go for dinner at Eddy's, just down the street toward town - great food and the prices are very reasonable.



Enjoy your trip.

Mike -- Looks like you had a great time with Loren!

Magnet-

You can "get by" with a 10' #5, but esp. if you haven't done this type of fishing before you may find yourself undergunned, esp. in the playing fish department. I would say a #6 would be the lightest I'd recommend, and a #7 would prob be even better. We don't rent rods for that type of fishing, but we do sell the TFO's in the 10' lengths that retail for $195- either that or you can try renting them up there as Mike suggested. I would also recommend bringing some kind of back-up rod in case you break one, it's easy to do up there! Your 10' #5 would be a possible back-up rod that you could use in a pinch. Just remember that it would be more susceptible to breakage and it will be tougher to land your fish with it, due to the size of the fish you will be hooking & playing (and hopefully landing!).

5 weight for steelhead ? ??? :P :'( dont do it man ) eight weight all the way !

Magnet: I hear you on the "some day i'd like to try that". I think just about everyone says that at some point. As far as what weight rod you should use, I don't have alot of experience in fighting these powerful fish, but I do know that I would have felt undergunned using my 9' 6wt T&T rod.(I can't remember the model). Alain was kind enough to let me borrow a 10' 7wt. Reddington and a 10' 8wt. Orvis. The day we fished with Loren, I was using a 10' 7wt. Orvis Clearwater and I did not feel undergunned. Like Torrey said, if you don't have alot of experience in fighting these fish, go with the 7wt. until you get the experience.


ruby river: yes, we had a great time with Loren. I not only caught some chrome, he taught me what type of water to fish for the fresh steel and what type of water to fish for them later in the season. There were a few spots we fished and hooked fish in that I would have walked right by.

Mike

Here are the latest trip details:

Looks like the date will be December 6 & 7, we will stay & eat at the 1880 House, and including guides, lodging, 2 breakfasts & 1 prime rib dinner, the cost will be about $480-500. I have room for 6, and it looks like it's half full already, so contact me ASAP if interested. Also included with this will be an orientation in the shop some evening before the trip for about 2 hours with myself, Torrey, to help you prepare for the trip and make sure you have what you need in terms of flies, tackle, clothing, etc., as well as tips on rigging and fishing techniques we will use up there.

Sounds like a good time, I'll be on the river the whole week of thanksgiving.

Who is the guide? A friend of mine is a guide up there, I beleve he guides for the 1880 house. If it's John you'll have a good time he knows his stuff on the river.