by JD on January 26, 2012
The X82MS is a sweet steelie catching tool...but it's also great for several other applications!
Ok, so
Lamiglas’ new X82MS spinning stick, (8’2″, rated for 6-12 pound line) has quickly turned into one of my favorite all-around rods. It’s really a steelhead rod but I’ve found it does quite a few other things well too…
Now, in the interest of full-disclosure here, I’m going to come straight out with it and say that I helped design this rod (along with the slightly heavier X711 MTS), but I can also tell ya that I didn’t receive payment for the process — I simply asked them to build a couple rods that I needed that weren’t in their lineup.
Short Stick Side-Drifter
My main concept for the X82MS was for side-drifting steelhead. There’s been a trend, particularly in the Northwest, for many years towards very long, limber side-drift rods. Up north, a lot of folks like parabolic 9’2″ or even 9’6″ rods rated in the 4- to 8-pound class for this technique. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that thought process, but I just feel a shorter rod is easier to handle in a boat — especially in the confines of a drifter. [click to continue…]
by JD on February 20, 2011
More California Chrome!
Until Feb. 3, 2011, Mark Koehn had never caught a steelhead over 10 pounds. Now, thanks to this 37″x19″ wild buck he caught & released while fishing the Eel River in Northern California, his personal record is going to be quite a bite harder to beat in the future.
For his efforts, Mark is entered into our February Hawg of the Month Contest in which he has a chance to win some schwag from the
Pautzke Bait Co. If he advances, Mark will get to compete in the Hawg Bowl Playoffs at the end of the year and maybe, just maybe win a trip with Bill Swann of
Swanny’s Guided Fishing. Click to
ENTERby JD on February 8, 2011
Not since the invention of the Slinky has there been as big revolution in drift fishing sinker technology as the “Sploosh Ball.” Over the past 10 seasons, these big plastic bombs have slowly been replacing other forms of lead on Western steelie waters.
And it’s easy to see why…they cast great, glide like a dream and are super snag resistant. The only real drawback is they aren’t the greatest bank fishing tool…when side-drifted, however, they are tough to beat. The venerable Plunk-N-Dunk got the “sploosh” movement going and now Mad River Manufacturing has entered the arena with their Mad River Drifters. But can they improve upon an already good idea?
We aimed to find out… [click to continue…]
by JD on February 4, 2011
Quit while you're ahead, brother! It's gonna be tough to top this one!
Would you believe that this 25.9-pound, 40 1/4x 26-inch steelhead was the first one ever for Mick here? He caught the jumbo hatchery beast while side-drifting Pautzke’s cured eggs in Northwestern Washington with our pal guide
Bill “Swanny” Swann. That’s the good news.
The bad news is it’s probably time for Mick to take up golf…table tennis…antiquing…cubist painting…French cooking…whatever. Because, when you start your steelhead fishing career off with a fish like that, there’s really nowhere to go but down…
by JD on January 28, 2011
Doubles as a solar oven!
MMark Scatchard did a little steelie fishing in Northern California and ended up with a tan and this incredibly beautiful and extremely chrome hen on Jan. 27 while side-drifting eggs and a Fish Pill. Mark says the battle included a backflip, a cartwheel and a whole lot of long runs. After the quick grip and grin, the bright lady swam off in great shape. He didn’t have a scale handy but estimated the fish to be between 15 and 18 pounds. Any way you slice it, that’s a huge hen! I’d like to see her boyfriend…
As our latest Hawg of the Month Contest entry, Mark will get to do battle at the end of the month with the other monthly entries. The January winner gets some
Pautzke’s headgear and a shot a winning a fishing trip for two in the Pacific Northwest with
Swanny’s Guided Fishing.
To enter your big fish, click
HERE 
Klar (left) and Moore with a little New Year's Magic!
Talk about a way to get your year kick-started! Curtis Moore of Healdsburg, CA (fishing with guide
John Klar) just this morning, Jan. 4 at 9AM, caught and released this beautiful 20-pound wild steelhead in the Smith River.
Klar, via “boat phone,” said that they hooked the beast at the top of Jed Smith Park. “It was an epic fight,” say Klar. The fish jumped several times and just tore holes in the water.” You can tell what Klar was talking about when he called the fish “flawless.”
Moore hooked the big daddy on a peach Fish Pill, some orange yarn and a small cluster of eggs. Nice work!
by JD on December 10, 2010
Okay, I swear this actually happened several seasons back at Rossmoor Bar on the American River. I had a couple clients out side-drifting for steelhead and we ended up hooking this black bra. I must admit that women’s undergarments aren’t an everyday catch…and it occurred to me that this shot would make a most excellent “Fill in the Blank.” So, without further adieu, used the comments section below and let us know what you think may be being said here…
Okay, so what do Jessica Alba and a driftboat on B.C.’s Kitimat River have in common? Well, aside from a nice fantasy I just had…nothing. It’s just that we’re going to talk about sinkers for drift fishing this time around and I knew I had to get you sucked in somehow! Sinkers aren’t exactly the most exciting topic on the planet, but there’s a lot you really need to know.
So, my cheap advertising campaign aside, let’s get down to it. A lot of getting a proper presentation when drift fishing stems from your sinker selection, so you really need to pick the right stuff. In the old days, choosing which sinker to use was simple – there was pencil lead and, well, pencil lead and that was it. Now, we’ve got quite a few options to choose from. Let’s take a look at the three I use and the pros and cons of each. [click to continue…]
