Steelhead Nymphing Strategies

Steelhead Nymphing Strategies

ニンフを用いたスティールヘッド釣りの戦術

By Andy Simon and Mike Davidchik

http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/forum/index.php?threads/steelhead-nymphing-strategies.77165/

Nymphing is a fun and effective way to take steelhead under many different conditions. Knowing how to nymph effectively will open up water to a fisherman that they have never been able to cover before.

While we know that mature steelhead do not metabolize food while they are in freshwater, it has been proven that they feed, extensively. During my own research, stomach samples of steelhead have turned up nymphs, most commonly caddis, followed by mayfly, and rarely stoneflies. Eggs, small fish such as sculpin, and adult October caddis have also been observed.

　ニンフ釣りは様々な状況で，スティールヘッドを釣るための面白くて効果的な方法だ．ニンフ釣りを知ると言うことは，釣り人に以前できなかった釣りに可能性を開くことになる．淡水で野生のスティールヘッドは餌を食わない，ということは知られているけれど，広く捕食していることは証明されている．私のリサーチではスティールヘッドの胃袋のサンプルから，幼虫，最もおおいがトビゲラ，続いてメイフライ，そして稀にカワゲラが出てくる．卵，カジカのような小魚，トビゲラの成虫も観察される．

on the issue; Some sub-species of steelhead in rivers like the Rogue in Southern Oregon and the Feather and Trinity in Northern California have steelhead that come back to freshwater each year. These fish, called half pounders, are very aggressive fish and actually feed while in freshwater. These steelhead return each year of their life cycle and feed while they are there. The first year they return, they are trout sized and can be very aggressive; however they are not mature enough to spawn yet. Their second year they are sexually mature, however they still carry their instincts of feeding in freshwater and can be very aggressive to a well placed nymph. Rivers such as the Upper Rogue can at times have many steelhead in them. However the river is not suited well for the traditional wet fly swing. This is why the nymph fisherman has an advantage. Fishing from a drift boat here is the most effective way to catch steelhead. Matching the hatch comes into play and can lead to multiple fish days.

　マイクがこの議論に加わってきた．北カリフォルニアのFeather川やTrinity川，南オレゴンのRogue川のスティールヘッドように，毎年，川に戻ってくるスティールヘッドはいる．half pounderと呼ばれるこれらの魚は大変攻撃的で，淡水でも餌をとっている．これらのスティールヘッドは毎年，そこで捕食しながら彼らのサイクルで戻ってくる．最初の年は鱒サイズであるが大変攻撃的だ．しかし，産卵できるほどまだ成熟していない．２年目には成熟しているが，本能的にニンフをよく捕食し攻撃的だ．Upper Rogueのような川ではときどき沢山のスティールヘッドが遡上する．しかし，伝統的なウェットフライに適してない．これがニンフ釣りの利点だ．ドリフトボートの釣りは最も効果的な釣りだ．マッチザハッチがうまくいく，様々な魚の釣りが可能になる．

A natural presentation can be important when targeting steelhead. These fish have seen hooks during nearly every part of their journey in life except the open ocean. Sometimes a bright colored pink fly, fished deep, will do more to spook a steelhead than entice it. Contrary to popular steelhead fishing methods, my friends and I do a lot of dead drift nymphing with small nymphs and soft-hackles in the size 8-14 range. Dark, drab, imitative flies, fished, as a nymph would naturally drift along the bottom will often pick up wary fish when they snub more intrusive offerings.

　スティールヘッドを狙うときは自然なプレゼンテーションが大事だ．海を除けば，その生涯の旅のほどんどすべての期間でフックを見ている．ときには明るいピンクカラーのフライ（深場の魚に対して）は誘き出すというより，スティールヘッドを脅えさす．ポピュラーなスティールヘッドの釣り方とは反対に，私と友人は8-14サイズの小さなニンフとソフトハックルでデッドドリフトをよく使う．ニンフのように，川底に沿って自然なドリフトで，ダークで茶色なフライが，それを鼻で笑うようなときでも警戒心のある魚を釣ることができる．

As steelhead move further away from the ocean, they begin to revert back to their old habits as stream trout, both in appearance and behavior. Many believe that this fish feed compulsively not as a way to obtain calories, but simply as old instinct, and as a way to entertain themselves. Stories of atlantic salmon playing with weeds drifting in the current and steelhead bumping sticks as they float downstream add credence to this theory.

　スティールヘッドは海洋から遙か遠くに移動すると，その姿と行動の両面に変化が生じ，渓流の鱒の昔の習性に戻り始める．多くの人はこの魚はカロリーを取るためでなく，衝動的にまたは単に本能的に，楽しむために捕食している，と信じている．海流を漂う海藻と遊ぶアトランティック・サーモンや下流域に漂う木っ端に当たってくるスティールヘッドの話はこの考え方を信じさせる．

Techniques

Steelhead nymphs can be fished many different ways, from static dead-drift to a fast paces downstream swing. I have even caught a couple fish stripping rubber legged flies upstream in preparation for another cast.

However, the most effective techniques for my friends and I has been the static dead-drift. This is accomplished much the same as one would nymph for stream trout. When using a strike indicator, I will usually cast upstream using a tuck cast to bring the nymph(s) under the indicator. Upon landing, the flies will not be affected by drag from the indicator, causing them and the leader to sink very rapidly. Fishing along the bottom is very important in most situations, so keeping your flies there longer adds up to more fish hooked.

わざ

　スティールヘッドのニンフには，静かなデッドドリフトから早いペースのswingまで沢山の釣り方がある．ゴム製足のフライを加えた魚を，かつて上流で別のキャスト方法で釣ったことがある．しかし，ほとんどの有効な方法は静かなデッドドリフトだ．渓流の鱒釣りと同じくらい，この方法は有効だ．ストライク･インディケータを使うときは，TUCKキャストで上流にニンフをキャストする．この方法ではランディングのときインディケータにドラッグが生ぜず，そしてニンフとリーダをすばらく沈めることになる，川底に沿った釣り方は重要で，フライをより長く底に留めのでよく釣れる．

Mending is another very important facet of the technique. A drag free drift will help keep your nymphs in the strike zone longer and looking more real while they are there. If you notice the line is pulling the indicator downstream at an unnatural speed, pick the line off the water and flip it upstream of the indicator. Drag is a common occurrence while fishing a seam where your flies are on the slow current side and you are standing in fast water, trying to slow your drift down. Often, the indicator will be downstream of you and the line will be moving slower than it, causing the indicator to drag and the flies pulled out of the strike zone to the surface. This can be remedied by flipping line downstream of the indicator or by simply feeding more line out of the guides, and piling it above in the indicator with an underpowered roll cast. Keeping the flies drifting unhindered by the current is of utmost importance, so by default, you must be a confident and skilled mender.

　メンディングはもう１つの重要な技術上の側面だ．ドラッグフリーのドリフトはフライをストライクゾーンに長く留め，本物らしくみせる．もし，ラインが不自然なスピードでインディケーターを下流に引っ張っているようならラインを上げ，インディケーターを上流に反転キャストせよ．ドラッグはあなたが早い流れ側に立ち，フライがゆっくりした流れ側にあり，ゆっくりドリフトさせようとしたとき，その境界で生じるのが普通である．インディケータが下流側にあり，ラインがそれよりもゆっくり動いているとき，しばしば，インディケーターがドラッグを起こし，フライがストライクゾーンから外れて水面へ引っ張られるようになる．インディケーターを下流側へ反転すること，または単にガイド以上からフライを出すことで，微力のロールキャストでインディケータの上流側へラインを打ち込むことで修正できる．フライを水流で速度を落とさないでドリフトさせることは，非常に重要だ．無論，自信ありの，上手な改善者である必要がある．

Mike elaborates on the technique: The strike may be subtle or just a slow movement of the indicator. Although summer fish may be aggressive and hammer you fly, winter fish on the other hand often just peck at the fly. Cold-water conditions slow their metabolism, so winter steelhead are slow to move to a fly. When these sluggish fish take the nymph, the indicator may just wobble a slight bit out of its normal trajectory. However nymphing for steelhead in cold water is a very valuable technique. As stated winter fish are slow to move to a fly because of decreased metabolism. Due to this, steelhead will be more likely to take a fly that is placed right in front of them. They will not have to move as much as a fly that is swung to them with the wet fly swing. This is why nymph fisherman frequently catches higher numbers of steelhead then fisherman swinging traditional patterns.

　マイクはこの方法に精通している．アタリはインディケータを微妙にゆっくり動かす．夏の魚は攻撃的で猛烈だ．他方，冬の魚はフライを口でくわえる程度だ．冷たい川が新陳代謝をゆっくりにするので，冬のスティールヘッドはフライに対してゆっくり動く．この不活発な魚がニンフを捕食するとき，インディケーターは通常の軌跡から僅かに外れて揺れるだろう．しかし，冷たい川でスティールヘッドに対してニンフ釣りは非常に有効な方法だ．すでに話したように，冬のスティールヘッドは低下した新陳代謝ゆえにゆっくり動く．それゆえ，スティールヘッドはその眼前のフライを食う可能性が高いのだ．ウェットフライを流すとき，フライをたくさん動かす必要はない．ときどき伝統的なフライパターンでたくさんのスティールヘッドを釣り上げるニンフを使った釣り人がいるが，その理由はここにある．

Small water often lends itself to nymphing, but tactics will need to be modified to fish it effectively. When fishing small water less than 30 feet wide at most spots, I often forgo the use of an indicator and instead tightline nymph. This method requires careful line control as most strikes are felt with the rod, rather than seen. While tightline nymphing is easier than indicator nymphing, if you have never done it before, it is a challenge.

　小さな川では当然ニンフ主体になるが，効率的に釣るために改良が必要になるだろう．小さな川の大半のスポットは川幅が30フィート以下で，ときどきインディケータを使うのを忘れてしまい，代わりに堅目のラインでニンフを使う．この方法ではアタリが見た目以上にロッドに感じるので，ラインコントロールに注意が必要だ．もし，以前やったことがなく，１つのチャレンジなら，堅めのラインでのニンフはインディケータのニンフよりやさしい.

Cast your flies (usually heavily weighted, more so than with indicator nymphing) upstream with the same tuck cast, and as the flies land, instantly come tight to the flies with your rod and guide them downstream through the drift with your rod. You want to start the drift with your rod pointed directly upstream, and finish the drift with the rod pointed directly downstream. Because of the heavily weighted flies, you should feel bottom during most of the drift. You don't want drop the rod low enough that the flies snag over bottom, but low enough so they periodically tick rocks. The hook set is accomplished by a wrist snap directly downstream, followed by a burning reel and screaming fisherperson.

　TUCKキャストでフライ（重いオモリ入りのフライ）を上流にキャストせよ．フライが着水したとき，すぐにロッドでフライをキツくし，下流へ誘導せよ．ロッドで直接指した上流からドリフトをスタートさせ，竿先の下流で終わらせたい．非常に重いフライなので，ドリフト中は川底を感じるべきだ．フライが川底に引っかかるほどロッドを低くすることは望まない．だから低すぎないか？ときどき岩をチェックせよ．フックキングは手首のスナップで直接下流方向に行い，その後，リールが焦げ叫ぶことになる．

Swinging can be an effective technique during certain situations, and Mike has put the method to use while fishing nymphs more often that I. Here is what he has to say: When using your indicator, you can also swing you flies at the end of the drift. Your flies will rise to the surface at the end of the drift, just like during a wet fly swing. At times this natural movement of a bug emerging to the surface is all it takes to get a fish interested. Aggressive summer steelhead will often be enticed when added movement its put into the equation.

　フライを泳がすこともある状況下では有効だ．マイクはニンフも使う．これは彼が教えてくれたことだ．インディケーターを使うとき，ドリフトの終わりでフライを泳がすこと出来る．ドリフトの終端ではフライは水面に上がってくるが，そこでウェットフライのように泳がすのだ．ときには，水面に羽化した虫の自然な動きは魚の興味を引く．攻撃的な夏のスティールヘッドはこの動きを加えたとき，ときどき誘惑される．

Sometimes fish will not respond to a dead drift fly for reasons unknown to man. However, this is most commonly seen under overcast skies. During these conditions, I usually remove the indicator if I am using one and swing slow and deep with the same nymphs. This technique proved deadly on the Grand Ronde later last year, and my buddies and I noticed many spey fishermen converting to more imitative flies, which improved catch rates. As usual with the swing, a strong hook set is not needed. When you feel the strike simply tighten up on the line until you establish a firm connection.

　ときどき魚がデッドドリフトにまったく反応しないことがある．しかし，それは曇り空のときに見られる．そのような状況では，私は普通インディテータを取除き，同じニンフでゆっくり，そして深く流す．この技は，仲閒と私が昨年の暮れ，Grand Rondeで上手くいった．スペイの釣り人が精巧なフライに変え，釣果を上げたことに気が付いた．スウィングでは強靱なフックは不要だ。アタリを感じたとき，しっかりした感触が得られるまで，単にラインをピーンと張れ．

Reading the Water（川を読む）

The ability to understand where steelhead lie during given conditions is undoubtedly the most important skill in a steelhead fisherman's arsenal. Anadromous fish do not use the same lies as fluvial (stream and river resident) fish. Fluvial fish will select lies than allow them to feed easily, and are willing to fight a little more current and expose themselves a little more than anadromous fish to accomplish that. Anadromous fish, on the other hand, will commonly lie where the current is soft, and where they have shelter, regardless of how much food is available to them. Steelhead favor deep slots and seams, which provide cover in the form of large rocks and deep water. Long slow tailouts are also a favorite lie because of the moderate currents available. Log-jams, root balls, and undercut banks all harbor steelhead, but keeping one out of the snags while hooked can be a huge challenge. A simple rule of thumb is; if a system holds bull trout and steelhead, they will often use the exact same spots in the system. If you see bull trout or are catching them, at any time through the year, remember the spot, because it is likely to be holding steelhead, or will be holding steelhead during some time of the year.

　この状況下で，スティールヘッドがどこにいるか？を読む力はスティールヘッド釣り師にとって，最も重要であることは疑い無い．遡上魚は川に棲む魚と同じ隠れ家を使わない．川に住む魚は簡単に捕食されないように隠れ家を選ぶ．すこしキツイ水流に逆らうので，遡上魚よりも露出しやすい．他方，遡上魚は流れが穏やかなところや日陰のあることろで休む．どれだけ捕食できるかにかかわらず．スティールヘッドは大きな岩や深い場所で隠れ場になる深い筋(slot)や縁(seam)を好む．長くてゆっくりしたtailoutも，穏やかなので好みの場所だ．倒木の塊，根っこ，えぐれた岸，このすべてはスティールヘッドの隠れ場になる。ヒットしている魚を流木から引っ張り出したままにすることは、大いなるチャレンジとなる。経験則では、もし岩魚（bull trout）とスティールヘッドが入っているなら、正確に川の同じスポットを使うだろう。もし年中岩魚を見つけそれを釣っているなら、その場所を覚えておけ。そこにスティールヘッドが居着きそうだし、いつか居着くだろう。

An interesting exception to the deeper water rule regarding steelhead is riffles with larger bolders. These are areas where fish can hold behind rocks, where the current is really mellow. While they might be sitting in water than is only a foot and half deep, there will usually be deep water close by in case the fish is spooked. I tend to favor this type of water for nymphing because you can easily work different pockets, and the fish tend to be very aggressive. During the warmer months of the steelhead season (September, October, March, and April around Walla Walla) the fish are often extremely eager to engulf a nymph or egg, and the fight is usually amazing. A hookup followed by a warp-speed retreat downstream into deep water accompanied by a few jumps is commonplace. The landing ratio in this type of water is often low, but each fight leaves you breathless.

　スティールヘッドについて、より深い場でのルールで興味ある例外は大きな玉石のある急流だ。岩の影に魚が居着くことのできる場所だ。そこでは流れは実際は穏やかなのだ。魚は1.5フィートの水深にいるかもしれないが、魚が神経質な場合、普通近くで深い流れになっている。ニンフ釣りではこのような流れが好きだ。と言うのは、違ったポケットを簡単に試すことが出来るし、魚は非常に攻撃的になるので。水が温かい期間のスティールヘッドのシーズン（９、１０，３，４月）では、魚はニンフやエッグを咥えようとし、ファイトは素晴らしい。急流で喰った魚は数回のジャンプを伴って、深場の下流へ逃避することが普通だ。この種の流れでランディングの割合はしばしば低くいが、各ファイトは息が出来ないほどだ。

Covering Water（水域をカバーする）

When fishing a larger system such as the Deschutes, Clearwater or Grand Ronde I often place multiple drifts over the same spot because fish will sometimes be stacked tight into certain areas and will sometimes be lying at different depths. On the other hand, when fishing small water less than 50 feet wide on average, one or two drifts over a likely spot is almost always enough, and will tell you if there are fish in the area. In skinny water, steelhead hold in defined areas, and almost always on the bottom. I have also noticed that steelhead in small water are more aggressive, and usually take on the first or second good cast.

On a large river, fishing through a long run more than once can often pay. I will often times start at the head and work to the bottom, focusing more casts on the pockets and slots. If I get a hookup I will usually move through the run a few more times looking for additional takers. On small water however, I have seldom taken more than one fish from a section of holding water during the same day, however I find it hard to pass by water I have just taken a fish in. One exception is if you hook a steelhead and it comes off just as the fight is getting started. Often times you can get this fish to come back, either right away or on your way back through the pool later in the day.

Des chutesやClearwater、Grand Rondeのような大河で釣りを行うとき、魚はしばしば特定のエリアに留まり、様々な水深に居るので、同じスポットを何度もドリフトすることにしている。他方、川幅50フィート以下で釣る場合は、スポットを１から２回のドリフトで十分、魚が居るかどうか分かる。水量の少ない水域ではスティールヘッドは特定のエリアにいて、通常は川底だ。小さな水域のスティールヘッドは攻撃的で第１投か２投目で喰ってくることに気が付いた。

　大河ではできるだけ長い流れを数回流す。ポケットとスロットを中心に、上流からはじめて川底を試す。もし合わせ(hookup)があったとき、更なるアタリを期待して、流れ(run)を数回以上移動する。しかし、小さな川では同じ日に魚が居着いている場所で一匹以上釣ったことが無い。でも、その釣れた箇所を通過することは難しいことは知っている。スティールヘッドを掛けてファイトが始まるのなら、それは例外だ。時々、直後に、また一日後に戻ってきて、その魚を釣ることができる。

Hooking, Fighting, and Landing Techniques（フッキング，ファイト，取り込みの技術）

Hook-sets are not to be taken lightly when targeting steelhead. These fish have large, tough mouths, so a firm hook-set is key to setting the stage for a successful battle. If at all possible, try to set downstream of the fish by lifting the rod sharply downstream while stripping line. This combination strip-strike has been my most successful setting method. If the nymphs are downstream of you, do not set by lifting the rod, but instead by sweeping it to the side. Lifting the rod will pull the fly upstream and out of a steelhead's mouth before it can establish a firm connection.

　目標がスティールヘッドなら、フックの仕掛けを軽視すべきでない。そういった魚は大きく、口が堅い。だから、しっかりしたフック仕掛けがいいバトルのためための用意の重要なキーになる。もし、可能ならできるだけ、ラインとロッドを一直線(strip in line)にしながら、ロッドを下流方向に鋭角に上げて、下流の魚を狙え。strip-strike(ラインとロッドを一直線状にしてアタリを待つ)方法は非常に有効だ。もしニンフがあなたの下流側にあるなら、横方向にさっと引きずらないで、ロッドを上げるな。ロッドを上げることは、しっかりしたフッキングの前に、フライを上流へ、スティールヘッドの口から引っ張りだしてしまうことになる。

Keeping solid, smooth, heavy pressure on the steelhead, as with any large fish, is the best way to land them. Many fish are lost by people who don't tighten up properly, causing the hook to simply drop from the fish's mouth.

Steelhead are large and powerful, and they will do what they wish while on your line. Trying to stop a fish from running or turning downstream often equate to a lost fish. When the fish is doing its thing, lay off. It will most likely stop before that backing knot, and when it does, start reeling.

　スティールヘッドのような大きさ魚にしっかりプレッシャーをかけ続けることは、捕獲の一番の方法だ。ラインをしっかり結ばず、フックが魚の口から外れてしまって逃げた魚は多い。スティールヘッドは大きくパワフルだ。だから、掛かっている間も、魚が望むことをできるだろう。下流へ逃走師、方向を変える魚を止めることは、逃げた魚に等しい。魚がそうしているときは、手を休めろ。バッキングラインが見えるまで、それは止まらないだろう。魚が止まったらリールを捲け。

Often these great fish go air born, which is cause for deep concern to the angler. Loosing a steelhead in mid-air has happened to nearly all experienced angler, but many times this can be avoided. I try to ease up on the pressure when a fish is in the air. Bowing the rod towards the fish has been most effective method in my experience. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not, but it is the best method I have tried for jumping fish.

　すばらしい魚はときどき空中へ躍りで、釣り人に深い心配心を生む。空中でスティールヘッドを逃がすことは経験者でもよくあることだが、多くは避けることのできることだ。私は、魚が空中に躍り出たとき、緊張を和らげるようにしている。ロッドを魚の方へ曲げことが、経験上もっとも有効な方法だった。この方法は上手くいくときもあれば、だめなときもあるが、試した中ではもっとも有効な方法だ。

Besides the hook-set, the most common place to loose steelhead is during landing. The fish is tired and stressed, however steelhead posses uncommon endurance, and usually manage one more run when you are convinced they are finished. In a fly fisher's haste to land the fish, they often up the pressure, which leads to some sort of tackle failure and a prematurely freed steelhead. Holding the rod high above your head can provide a big angle change on the hook causing it to pull free. I have done best by keeping the rod to my side and walking the fish back into shallow water. This way, it receives smooth, solid pressure, and the angle of the line pulling on the hook stays the same as during the fight.

If I am not going to keep the steelhead, I try to keep it in the water and remove the fly quickly for release. Photos of fish in the water look great, but lifting a fish out of the water for a few seconds carefully also does little harm. While reviving the fish, support its belly under the water with on hand and keep a gentle hand on its tail. Move the fish into the current and face it upstream. Do not move the fish back and forth in the water; instead just hold it steady until it kicks off.

　フックの仕掛けにかかわらず、スティールヘッドを逃がしてしまう最も多い原因は、ランディングの最中である。魚は疲れストレスをうけるが、スティールヘッドは非常に忍耐力を持っている。あなたが釣れたと確信したとき、通常、数回走り出せる。魚を早くランディングしようとフライ釣り人の焦りで、プレッシャーをアップし、タックルの一部の故障になり、スティールヘッドを未熟で逃がしてしまう結果になる。ロッドを頭上高く保つことは、自由に引けて、捕獲できるチャンスを高める。私はロッドを自分側に引き、魚を浅瀬に誘導することで最善を為した。このように、スムーズでしっかりしたプレッシャーをかけることが出来る。魚とのファイティング中、フックを引くラインの角度は同じに保つ。もし、スティールヘッドを生かしたいなら、魚を水中に留め、フライを素早く外せ。魚を水中に留めて写真を撮ることは素晴らしい方法だ。注意深く短時間に魚を水中から取り上げることも、ほとんどダメージを与えない。魚を蘇生しながら、水中で魚の腹を手で支え、尻尾を優しく手で支えよ。魚を水流に移動して、上流に魚を向けよ。水中で、魚が離れていくまで、そこに留まらせるかわりに、魚を前後に（move it back and forth)に移動させよ。

Nymphing Gear（ニンフ用釣具）

Rod: I like a slower action stick, as they seem to mend very well- a 6-9 weight depending upon the size of the river and size of the fish. Lengths from 9 to 11 feet are perfect because the longer rods mend more effectively. A spey rod is also ideal for nymphing, but that's a whole different game.

ロッド：スローアクションの竿先が好きだ．川と魚のサイズよって，#6-9が上手くメンドできので．長さは9-11フィートが一番良い．長い竿はより効率的にメンドできるので．ニンフに対してはスペイ・ロッドが理想的だが，それは全く別のゲームになってしまう．

Reels: I think above anything a true large arbor reel is very important in steelheading. The ability to pick up line fast and keep that all-important pressure on the fish is key. Also, when a fish is taking line the spool spins more slowly with a large arbor, leading to less knuckling busting reel encounters. I've put a healthy burse on my hand from a spinning reel handle that made it tough to double haul for a few weeks.

リール：スティールヘッド釣りではラージアーバーのリールがなにより大事だ．ラインを素早くピックアップし，魚へのプレッシャを保つ機能はリールのキーになる．魚がラインを引き出しているとき，ラージアーバのリールはゆっくる回転する．高速に回転したとき手にぶつかる可能性を小さくできる．

Line: A high floating line with a long belly is the most important aspect of a nympher's gear. Sure, you can get it done with a standard weight-forward or double taper line, but having a line with a thick, heavy, high floating head will make mending easier, not to mention casting a cumbersome rig. I really like the Rio Nymph line for this application, it just fishes well, and casts relatively unburdened compared to other lines even with split shot and large flies attached.

ライン：長いベリーの髙フロートラインがニンフで最も重要な点だ．通常のウェイトフォワードやダブル・テーパードラインでいいが，太くて重く髙フロート・ヘッドのラインはメンディングが容易になる．複雑な仕掛けのキャスティングについて述べているのでは無いが．RIOのニンフラインが好きだ．よく釣れるし，スプリットショットや大きいフライを付けた場合でさえ，他のラインと比べて比較的軽い負荷でキャストできる．

Indicators - I have used everything from dry flies to store bought red and white plastic bobbers (to enervate some local spey freaks) as indicators. Here are a few of my favorite:

The Macram Yarn Indicator - Great for light flies and lighter biting fish, will respond to the slightest of strikes. However, these can be hard to cast in larger sizes, also can be hard to see because heavy flies or split shot can sink even large ones with ease. I use this indicator on smaller waters mostly and during low water periods where heavy flies fished deep and long drifts are not needed.

インディケータ：インディケータとして，ドライフライから赤と白のbobberまで使ってきた．私の好きなものを２・３紹介する．

Macram yamインディケータ：軽いフライ，すこし軽い釣り向きで，細微なアタリにも反応する．しかし，より大きなフライのキャストには向いていないし、また見るのも難しい。というのは、大きいフライやオモリは簡単に沈むので。わたしは、大きいフライや長いドリフトが不要な小さな川と浅い川の区間でインディケータを使う。

The Corkie - A favorite for big water, these things can float an anvil in bigger sizes, and even when sunk are very visible. I don't so much care if my indicator sinks, but I need to see it, no matter where it is. Corkies get the vote for big water and big flies fished deep. However, Corkies can be tough to cast on smaller rods. Also, it is sometimes difficult to get these to stay put on your line. Rather than fussing with toothpicks, I usually keep about a foot long butt-section in my leader made of 30lb amnesia, which I tie the Corkie to with a single surgeons loop, keeping it in place for good.

コーキー：大きな川で使うのが好きだ．大きいサイズの金属も浮かせる。インディケータが沈むかどうかに、そんなに心配しない。それがどこか？見る必要があるが。コーキーは大河で、深場を釣る大型フライで支持を得ている。小さなロッドでコーキーをキャストするのはかなり難しいかもしれない。また、

思い通りに留めるのも難しい。爪楊枝で固定してイライラするより、私は30ポンドのリーダー１フィールあたりのバッドセクションあたりで保持させる。コーキーをシングルサージャントで結び、決まった位置に長く保つ。

The Large Dry Fly: early in the season large dries such as October caddis adults and big grasshoppers make great indicators. They will not stay on the surface or be very visible with large nymphs attached, but for lighter nymphing they are the ticket. You also have the chance of a steelhead eating your dry, which happens more than one would think.

大型のドライフライ：シーズンはじめは、８月にカディスの成虫やキリギリスなどの大型ドライフライが効果的なインディケータになる．それらは水面に停滞しないか，大きなニンフで視認性がとても高い．軽いニンフでは必要なものだ．ドライを喰うスティールヘッドを釣るチャンスもある．これは想像以上に起きるのだが．

Leader: I normally just use a non-tapered piece of 15lb Maxima or 20lb Rio Flouro-flex plus, from 4 to 12 feet in length depending upon the depth of the water I am fishing. A non-tapered, thin piece of mono or flouro used for the leader will sink much faster than a tapered leader. A tapered leader's thick portion rests at the surface of the water, which is a problem. The current at the surface of a river is always faster than the bottom current, so these thick sections of leader cause the flies to drag in the slower bottom currents, and rise to the surface.

リーダ：私は水深に応じて15lbのMaximaか20lbのEio Flouro-flexを4から12フィート，非テイパーのティペットとして使う．リーダにモノかフロロの細いラインで，ティペットより早く沈みやすいラインを使う．ティパーなリーダの太い部分を水面上に残すと問題を起こす．水面の流れは川底より速いので，リーダの太い部分は川底の遅い水流ではフライにドラッグをかけることになり，フライを水面へ上昇させる結果になる，

Tippet: I never go less than 8lb test while targeting steelhead and normally use either 10lb maxima or 15lb fluorocarbon. Stronger, thicker tippets roll out better, and let you play fish quicker and more effectively. Since steelhead have a high tolerance for thick line compared to most trout, using heavy tippet usually does not decrease catch rate. Connecting your fly with a loop knot will solve the problem of thick tippets dampening a flies natural action

ティペット：スティールヘッドなので，8ポンド以下は使わない．10ポンドのmaximaか、15ポンドのフロロカーボンのどちらかを使う．より強く，細く，よく曲がり、素早く，効率的に釣れる．スティールヘッドは他の鱒より太いラインに寛容なので，ヘビーなティペットでも釣りに問題ない．ループノットでフライを結ぶと，太いティペットはフライの自然な動きの邪魔になるという問題を解決してくれる．

A Quick Word on Knots

The kind of knots one uses for steelhead are very important because breaking strength changes hugely from knot to knot. Also, a given knot may work better with one type of line than another, with fluorocarbon needing special care because of the possibility of reduced knot strength. My favorite fly to tippet knot is the uni-knot, for its speed of tying and strength. I use a double uni-knot for attaching tippet to leader also, because it is much stronger than a blood or surgeons knot. The Pitzen knot is a favorite of mikes because of the higher strength rating. This is a great knot to attach dropper lines with because of it is stronger than the uni-knot.

ノットに関する一言

　スティールヘッド釣りで使われるノットは非常に重要だ．と言うのは，破断した強度はノットからノットで，著しく変化するので．あるノットはあるタイプのラインで上手くいくかもしれないが，ノット強度を減少させる可能性があるゆえに，フロロカーボンは特別の注意が必要だ．私はリーダとティペットのノットではダブル･ユニノットを使う．と言うのは，サージャントやブロッドノットより遙かに強いからだ．ピッツェン（Pitzen）ノットは，強度があるのでマイクの好みだ．それはユニノットより強度があるので優れたノットだ．

Some Notes on Flies

Fly selection for steelhead depends greatly on time of year and location. Since I am covering techniques mainly used on the Snake and middle Columbia river strain steelhead, my fly patterns are somewhat specialized.

Early in the season (August to November), I mainly focus on patterns imitating food found in a steelhead stream. As the season progresses and the fish move towards spawning time, flies imitating the eggs of steelhead increase in effectiveness. Also, as the season nears spawning time, steelhead drop eggs at an increased rate. Even well before the fish will spawn hens will be dropping eggs, which show up in the drift. It seems steelhead reflexively will go out of their way to eat an egg, so it is important to capitalize on this opportunity.

フライに関する注意

　スティールヘッドに対するフライの選択（８月から１１月）は，私の場合その川で見かける餌のイミテーションパターンに注視する．季節が進み，魚が産卵時期へ移動するにつれて，スティールヘッドの卵を真似たフライが効果を発揮し出す．シーズンが産卵期に近いづくと，スティールヘッドは結構な割合で卵を落とす．産卵の前でさえ，雌は産を落下させる。そして卵が漂うのを見ることができるようになる．そしてスティールヘッドは反射的に、ことさら卵を捕食し始めるように見える．このチャンスを掴むこと(capitalize on the opportunity)は重要だ。

This list includes the flies I most commonly use for steelhead in my area. Most major categories of nymphs and attractor patterns are represented.

このリストは、私のエリアでスティルヘッドによく使うフライだ。ニンフとアトラクターの主なだったものを載せている。

The Copper John

        ◦        Hook: size 4-12 caddis nymph hook, 2x heavy

        ◦        Tail: 2 Biots, splayed from hook

        ◦        Body: Copper Wire, in brass, olive, red, or purple

        ◦        Wingcase: Thinskin, with a coating of UV knot sense

        ◦        Legs: Centipede legs

        ◦        Thorax: pure mylar dubbing or ice-dub

        ◦        Weight: Gold or Tungsten Gold bead, and lead wire under Thorax

        ◦        The Copper John is my most effective pattern, probably because it imitates so many different bugs at once. The red and olive versions alone cover most caddis, stone, and mayfly nymphs. Heck, if you put enough bright red dubbing in the thorax, it would probably pass for an egg. Thank you John Barr, I owe you a few steelhead fillets or something.

Wired Stone

        ◦        Hook: size 2-10 straight or curved shank nymph hook, 3x long

        ◦        Tail: 2 biots

        ◦        Body: Variegated wire, most useful in black/red or copper/red

        ◦        Wingcase: 3 pieces of thin skin, cut to shape

        ◦        Legs: 3 sets of biots

        ◦        Thorax: pure mylar dubbing or Gartside secrete stuff (not ice dub, needs to be more spikey)

        ◦        Weight: Lead wire through thorax, and gold or black bead

        ◦        I don't follow the recipe exactly for this one, but my version has always worked well for me. The profile of a stonefly is represented shockingly well in this fly. Fished with an egg, this fly completes the perfect steak and eggs breakfast that steelhead like so well later in the season.

Prince Nymph

        ◦        Hook: size 4-14

        ◦        Tail: 2 rubber legs or biots

        ◦        Body: Peacock ribbed with gold tinsel

        ◦        Wingcase: Two white biots layed flat along the body

        ◦        Legs: Brown hackle swept back wet fly style

        ◦        Weight: Glass or Gold bead, lead wire optional

        ◦        This is my favorite low water steelhead fly. The attractive, general profile this fly gives looks like a whole lot of bugs, both terrestrial and aquatic. I think the white coloring of the biots is very important, something that steelhead really like. I have also had success fishing this fly on the swing with a dry line.

The Short Buser

        ◦        Hook: size 2-4 4x long streamer hook

        ◦        Tail: Black rubber legs, cut long

        ◦        Body: Very buggy mylar dubbing

        ◦        Legs: 3 sets of very long black rubber legs

        ◦        Weight: Brass bead or lead eyes, and a gross amount of .30 lead wire

        ◦        The Short Buser is a very large, very heavy pattern. It is the only fly that I have ever caught a steelhead on my first cast of the day with, so I like it. This fly is stupidly easy to tie, nothing more than a dubbing brush and a lot of rubber legs. The Buser is usually my point fly when fishing high water. It will sink the other flies without the use of split shot. The Buser presents a big profile and a lot of movement, while hugging the bottom in large currents. I loose a lot of these flies, so it important to be able to tie them fast. You can pound off one of these babies in around 2 minutes if you weight and bead a batch of hooks before you tie. This fly makes a loud crash when it lands often times, sending scowls of disproval from fellow fishermen, until they see you set the hook midway through the drift.

The generic egg:

        ◦        Hook: egg or saltwater gamagatsu

        ◦        Body: krystal egg or glow bug yarn, spun and clipped

        ◦        What can I say- super simple fly that takes fish, one of the best for late in the season. Beads fishes as a simple tube fly will also take fish when egg flies are working.

Double Bunny

        ◦        Back hook: Gamagatsu octopus or siawash hook, size 2-6

        ◦        Front hook: 3x long streamer hook, size 6

        ◦        Connection: 40lb super line, doubled

        ◦        Body: Two rabbit strips, connected with bunny's milk

        ◦        Head: Purple Polar Chenille and lead eyes

        ◦        The Double Bunny is a great leach/minnow imitation that really slithers through the water. I think it is a simpler tie than the MOAL leach, while being equally effective. Purple, black, and olive/white are my favorite colors to fish the double bunny in. Steelhead dislike minnows, so this fly will sometimes get slammed when the fish pass up other nymphs. Putting a pink or deep orange bead in front of the bunny loose on the line can up the catch rates, and has for me.

A Balance

Steelhead are very hard to catch in most cases. This is not because of the intelligence of the fish, but rather the low number of fish per mile. We should be grateful that the Fish and Game Department does not publish fish per mile counts concerning steelhead. Depression is widespread enough, and fishermen on prozak are a sorry lot.

バランス：スティールヘッドは何回キャストしても釣ることが難しい魚だ。これは魚が知的だからではなく数が少ないからだ。政府漁業狩猟省がスティールヘッドに関してはその数を公表しないことはありがたいことだ。その減少は広範囲に十分広がっている。釣師には残念だが。。。

Nymphing will help increase the catch rates of fisherman, but I have only felt it was unfair a few times in a few hundred trips. When there are low water conditions, it is possible to take large numbers of fish from a pool that is difficult for steelhead to pass until the water rises. On small rivers, it has gotten to the point where I have taken the same wild fish more than once. When things like this start happening, it is time to move on and give these fish a rest. I don't much care if they are hatchery fish, but in my mind things change when there are wild fish in the equation. Around here, true wild fish run much larger than hatchery fish, posses deeper bodies, fight harder, and are often in better conditions. I would rather take one 12-lb wild fish than ten 5-lb hatchery fish. For this reason, I do my best to minimize my impact on wild fish, because I just really want more of them to be around. I suppose I could stop fishing rivers where they frequent, but I think there are better ways. I feel like I am preaching to the choir, but doing things like helping out with your local Fish and Game branch or conservation groups with either time or money, picking up trash, and helping stop poaching makes a big difference. There are much bigger issues that are, for the time, out of our control. However, anything done to help is infinitely better than nothing.

　ニンフ釣りは釣れるチャンスを上げるが、それはたくさんの旅でときどき不公平であると思ったことがある。川の水位が低い状態なら、水位が上がるまでスティールヘッドが越えることが難しいプールで、沢山の魚が釣れる可能性がある。小さな川で、同じ魚を何度か釣れる場所に行った経験がある。このようなことが起きたとき、魚が移動を繰り返し休息する時期だ。魚が放流魚かどうかに関心無いが、野生のスティールヘッドが居る時期を変化させるものに興味がある。この周辺では、真の野生のスティールヘッドは深みのある魚体で、激しく暴れ、ときどき状態の良い放流魚よりも沢山の遡上がある。５ポンドの放流魚よりも、１３ポンドの野生魚を釣りたい。このため、野生のスティールヘッドへのインパクトを最小限にするように最善を尽くしている。と言うのは、その周辺にもっと魚がいてほしいので。そこで釣りをやめる選択肢もあるが、もっと良い方法がある。我々は合唱を広めているようなものであるが、地元の漁業狩猟事務所や保護グループを時間とお金で支援し、ゴミを拾いし密漁を無くすことは、大きな違いになる。これらは我々が制御できない大きな問題であるが、手助けとなる何かは、何もしないよりも間違いなくいいだろう。

Enjoy nymphing for what it is, a difficult, engaging, fun and effective method for taking steelhead. If it objects to your moral or traditional fundamentals, by all means pass it by. The object of fishing is to have fun, so do what does.

　スティールヘッドを釣るための、難しく、魅力的で、面白く、有効な方法がなんであれ、ニンフ釣りを楽しめ。もし、あなたのモラルや価値観に反対するなら、何としても乗り越えろ。釣りの目的は楽しむことだ。だからそうせよ。