Steelhead behavior

[Brian]

I found this post over on Washington Fly Fishing and found it to be an interesting read. I never thought about the feeding schedule for young hatchery steelhead, but can say that I have experienced the increased "bite" around 9:00, 12:00 and 4:00. Here is the link to the complete thread if any of you are interested.  http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/board/showthread.php?t=28824

Over the years observing steelhead, both hatchery and wild, I've arrived upon a theory that may make some sense. For me, this theory is self discovered, I've never read or heard anyone propose it before, but like most things, someone else may have already written about it. So, that being said, I'm going to offer it up and see if anyone else has observed the same behaviors and/or see if anyone see's any flaws in this theory.

First of all, a little background. Like many steelhead fisherman, I started out as a trout fisherman, fishing both spring creeks and freestone rivers around the western states, primarily Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. One thing that was/is immediately noticeable is that those fish that are found in spring creeks and/or tailwaters, i.e., water that remains fairly constant in temperature, has minerals/structure conducive to large amounts of insect life, tends to produce trout that are much more selective. This makes sense because with all of the food available, the trout have plenty of time to observe and decide whether or not they are interested in feeding on each object as it floats down the river.

In contrast, those trout found in high mountain rivers, and/or rivers where insect life is somewhat scarce, produces trout that are extremely aggressive toward anything that remotely resembles a food source. In some cases, I've watched trout move nearly 10 feet to take a royal wulff as it floated down stream. This aggressive behavior makes sense because food is somewhat few and far between, and a trout that has any ability to survive is going to take advantage of any potential food source. Because these fish are so "non" selective, almost any pattern can be used to great success.

Now, with that said, let's again visit steelhead behavior. Hatchery fish, having been raised in a cement tank and given as much food as they desire, tend to develop traits that more closely resemble "spring" creek fish. Their behavior is a learned one, they're able to sit back and wait for their daily feeding routine. As I understand it, most hatchery fish are fed 2-3 times daily. Some fly fisherman who fish hatchery fish will state that there is a noticeable "bite" that take place about 9:00 a.m., then again around 12:00 p.m., and another around 4:00 p.m., the thought being that these are the basic feeding times of hatchery reared fish.

Again, in contrast, wild fish are not fed on a schedule, and because our streams (especially coastal streams) do not have much insect/food sources, young steelhead must learn to be aware of anything in their aquatic environment that resembles food, prior to smolting and heading off to the ocean. Their behavior resembles those same trout that are reared in mountain streams. They learn to be aggressive at a very early age, their survival depends upon it.

[Fish]

I know in my early days fishing mainly the Cowlitz, the timing was  like that, only add the 2:00 bite also, Hmmm make sense now.

[rvrfshr]

 The 9:00 and 12:00 bite has always been good to me on hatchery fish and a 2:00 bite has been pretty reliable for natives. I always just kind of figured that the little warm up had something to do with it ? But I could see the logic in this observation to a good degree.

                                                   Joe

[Sturzman]

I can see how this might be true, but based on my experience I've hooked both nates and brats at all times with no particular time being more productive.

Like John said maybe it has an effect on fish that are stacked up like the Cowlitz area, but hatchery fish in a natural holding water setting I can't see a fish passing a nice jig up because it's 3 in the afternoon.

[zonker]

A very interesting post. It explains things I have observed as well.

z~

[Andrew]

Definitely some food for thought, but I can't say I've observed the distinct bite timing that is suggested here. I seem to catch most of my summer steelhead between 6 and 11 am, while winter steelhead are totally variable. I always think it most important to get first water... you may pass up the occasional fish that isn't "ready" to bite by fishing early, but I'd rather get the first crack at a fish by fishing early than wait for a specific time later in the day after a couple other fishermen may have already been through the drift.

I also think the fly bite is different from other bites... Hardware fishing, for example, you're not really appealing to the feeding instinct at all, but rather the aggression instinct. I don't see how when a fish got fed in a hatchery would affect when it gets pissed off a thumping piece of metal. Other presentations like jigs and pink worms I'm not so sure, as I don't think anybody can definitively say whether its feeding or aggression that makes the fish hit... but I personally tend to think that bright, pulsating colors are probably appealing more to aggression so I would again question how much hatchery feeding times would affect this bite.

A chunk of bait, or, probably even moreso, a finesse nymph presentation, well, that's definitely feeding, so I can see the connection. Unfortunately, I don't really use bait or flies to have the experience... not even in conjunction with prawnholders. 

Andrew