ROD & CREEL 49 



CHAPTER XII. 

 TROLLING FOR STEELHEADS 



IN many of the big lakes of the interior there are numbers 

 of fine big trout, locally called salmon, but which are 

 really steelheads. As a general thing they are found away 

 out in the lake, sometimes as much as a mile or even more from 

 shore. Up to the present time, so far as I have been able to 

 ascertain, they have never been caught by any other method 

 than trolling, in fact, I have never even heard of anybody try- 

 ing any other way. It is, however, quite possible if a man 

 studied the water carefully, so as to get an idea just where to 

 fish, he might meet with some success with a fly, as the indica- 

 tions are that they are not lying at very great depths. 



The outfit needed for this sort of fishing can be quite 

 simple. A rod similar to that used for cohoe salmon will do 

 very well. The handiest reel is a Nottingham, which is capable 

 of holding 125 yards of good stout line such as No. 15 Cutty- 

 hunk. 



The trace should be at least four feet, of strong, single or 

 twisted gut. Wire traces are dangerous as these fish do a lot 

 of jumping and a kink is very liable to occur. 



The bait generally used is a 3-irich silver or brass Stewart, 

 or some similar shape, sometimes a mother-of-pearl spinner will 

 take well. No lead is used, but 100 yards or more of line is let 

 out. The boat should be rowed at a fair rate. These fish are sel- 

 dom caught near shore, they seem to frequent certain areas of the 

 lake which can only be learned by experience or the advice of 

 those that know. 



When a fish is hooked, he almost invariably celebrates the 

 fact by making from three to six splendid jumps. The jumps 

 are followed by a rush straight up to the boat, during which 

 time you are bound to get a slack line unless you have a boat- 

 man to help you by pulling away. Sometimes a fish will come 

 so close to the boat as to be almost within reach of a long- 

 handled net or gaff. This is the dangerous time, as it is really 

 the beginning of the fight, so you had better look out for 

 another jump followed by a dive under the boat. 



The majority of the fishing is done in the late fall, winter 

 and early spring months, though in some lakes like Kootenay a 

 good many fish are caught in summer as soon as the freshets 

 begin to subside. 



