Part 2

No one is more qualified to tell you how to go about catching steelhead than a guide who makes part of his living getting them into his net.

In my last column I told you about one such guide.  If you read that column you know the guide I’m talking about is Chris Roney, of Richland, Washington.  Chris has been guiding on the Columbia River for steelhead and salmon for the past seven years.

Guide Chris Roney used a Mack's Lure Rock Dancer jig to boat this beauty.  You can see the lure still pinned to the jaw of the steelhead.

I also mentioned that the lures Chris uses for his Columbia River steelhead fishing are Mack’s Lure Rock Dancer jigs.  He trolls 3/8th-ounce Rock Dancers in purple or purple and black colors.  It’s one thing to know what lure he ties on.  It’s something else to know exactly how he uses it.

Roney does most of his Columbia River steelheading on the river’s big impoundment formed by McNary Dam.  “The first thing I do each trip,” Chris says, “is use my electronics to determine the depth at which the fish are holding.  I found that depths from 8 to 12-feet are usually a good depth at which to start.”

While that might be a good depth to start, he doesn’t hesitate to change.  “Sometimes,” he says, “I’ve found them as shallow as 6-feet. On other occasions they’ve been 20-feet down.”  Like other experts, the Richland guide stays flexible in his approach.  If one approach isn’t getting hits he seeks out the combination that does.

Boat speed is another important factor that gets his attention.  “I’ve found,” he says, “that I usually have the best results when I’m trolling just fast enough to keep the slack out of my line.”

There’s nothing involved in the way Roney rigs up for his steelhead trolling.  The rods he provides for his clients are all G.Loomis.  The specific 9-foot rods he employs are the G.Loomis STR1084C.

“I really like these rods,” Roney says.  “They have a very sensitive tip but sufficient backbone to let you set the hook when a steelhead picks up your jig.”

Chris fills his reels with 12-pound test monofilament.  He uses about 18-inches of 15-pound fluorocarbon leader between his main line and his jig.  He gets his jigs down where he wants by fishing them beneath a slip bobber that’s slid onto his main line. 

He can determine how far he wants his jigs to drop by how far up the line his bobber is placed.  He accomplishes that by using one of those handy Mack’s Lure Stop Knots on his main line.  The Stop Knots are especially designed for slip bobber fishing. 

Here's the rig guide Chris Roney uses when he trolls for Columbia River steelhead.  A slip bobber is used on his main line to control the depth of his lure.

Chris does something else that he considers a key element in his consistent angling success.  It’s using a shrimp that he slides on beneath the bucktail skirt of his Rock Dancer jigs.  These aren’t just any old shrimp.  Roney dyes those he uses with his own secret formula.

“I’ve had fishermen want to buy my shrimp,” he says.  He’ll tell you that his shrimp are usually died a purple or red shade, but I doubt you’ll find out a whole lot more than that.

Roney chuckles if asked how he’s able to determine when a steelhead has picked up his jig.  “They don’t leave any doubt,” he says.  “The instant your bobber disappears, the rod in your holder just goes nuts!”

As I’ve mentioned, Chris operates his own guide service.  I’ve just told you about the way he goes after steelhead.  He’s just as expert at catching Columbia River salmon.  The name of his guiding business is Mid-Columbia Excursions.  You can reach him at his Richland telephone number that is (509) 430-5790.

Finally, there are a couple of other things to remember if you want to line up a trip with him.  One is to give him a couple of weeks lead time to be sure you get to go out when you want.  The second is to bring the proper clothing.  It rains a bit in that region where the big Columbia divides the states of Washington and Oregon. 

Chris provides all the fishing gear and carries spare rainware but he rightfully points out that you’re better off bringing your own foul weather gear if you want to be completely comfortable.  From personal experience, I’d also recommend you bring clothing that will keep you warm as well as dry.

Like I said at the beginning of the first of these two columns about Chris Roney and his Mid-Columbia Excursions guide service, he a guy I’m going to contact if and when I get into his area of the Evergreen State.

You’ll be wise to do the same.

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