From: johnf@Auspex.COM (John Fereira)
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing
Subject: Re: Small Outboard Advice Desired.
Keywords: TOP TEN
Date: 11 Nov 92 23:45:24 GMT
Organization: Auspex Systems, Inc.

In article <1992Nov09.155857.2055@ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM> keith@clodii.Columbia.NCR.COM (Keith Boyd) writes:
|In article <1992Nov5.151606.14703@ncsu.edu> plheron@eos.ncsu.edu (Pat L. Heron) writes:
|
|[Stuff about motors deleted]
|
|>I ended up with a '93 Mercury 15hp, got it for $1700.
|>Fish beware, you are on notice!!!
|
|Nice motor, but do you really think the fish care how much you spent??

I don't know about motors but I've figured that you have to spend around
$500 on gear before you catch your first steelhead.

First you need, a graphite rod and level wind reel (that is, if you're
going the cheap route and not flyfishing).  $160 minimum.  

Next, your going to need lures, various bits of terminal tackle, and of
course fresh salmon roe.  Since the steelhead will always be hitting
what you aren't using you`ll need spin-n-glo's and other similar lures
in every possible color and size.  You'll also need at least a dozen
spinners and mini-flatfish.  You'll also need *lots* of hooks, and pounds
of lead for weight.  This is just for just one trip as you'll lose most
of it on the bottom on every other cast.  This assumes that you are going
the economical route and are not flyfishing.  $150 minimum.

Next you'll need something to carry all the tackle in.  A tackle box with
neither be big enough nor would any steelheader with any sense of sportsmanship
allow you to share his hole if you're carrying a big yellow tacklebox.  No,
what you need is a fishing vest.  Not any vest will do,  you can't go
down to you're local K-Mart and plunk down $19.95 for one.  It's gotta
have lots of pockets and hooks.  It also needs a drying patch, even though
you've gone the economical route and decided not to try flyfishing for
steelhead.  It you actually want to share a hole that has fish in it it should
be at least a Cortland.  If you want that fish to be something other than
a sucker it should be an Orvis or better known brand.  $80 minimum.

Of course, you can't get near that hole unless you have waders.  Again, in
order to blend in with the rest of the steelheaders (otherwise, the fish
will notice and become wary because you aren't "matching the hatch") you
can't be wearing anything but brown neopreme waders.  You're old sneakers
won't do for wading boots (that's the first thing the steelie will see). You
need real wading boots with felt soles.  Of course, to get into the best
holes you need neopreme matching gators.  Total $200 minimum.

You're almost ready.  You can't see the fish unless you've got UV sunglasses
($90 minimum).  Now, your ready, or so you think.  You deftly wade into
the pool, attach a little corkie and a fresh piece of roe, and toss it to the
head of the pool.  Cast after cast and you get no takers.  The wiley old
steelie can tell you're only a neophyte steelheader, has just spent lots of
money on gear, and the chances are one in a thousand that you are going to
be a C&R fisherman at this point.  How can he tell?  You don't have any
"stuff" hanging from your vest.  Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize.  You'll
need a hook hone, forceps (you can find them in that little wooden box 
in the bottom of the closet marked "1967"),  line clippers,  and a leader 
straightener at a minumum.  $50 minimum.

You're ready.  It seems that no matter how early you get up though there's
always someone at the good spots.  So the the next morning you plan to get
up early.  It's been getting real cold lately you you go down and buy a 300wt
fleese jacket, and neopreme gloves with velcro attached fingertips ($150).
You reach the river at the crack of dawn and amazingly there is nobody at
the hole where the guy said he "got a 12 pounder here yesterday."  You deftly
wade into the hole and proceed to lose three lures in three casts.  Finally,
you toss on a nightcrawler with a split shot and heave it into the pool.  BAM!
FISH ON!  You fight the the fish for several minutes as you see a man walking
up the shoreline.  As he approaches you successfully beach your first 
steelhead, a beautiful fresh 10 pound steelie.  

"Nice fish", the man said as he showed you his Department of Fish and Game
badge, "Did you know that steelhead season ended yesterday?"

Next year you'll take up flyfishing.

-- 
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| John Fereira        | Auspex Systems | "Ask me about my vow of silence." |
| johnf@auspex.com    | Santa Clara CA |                                   |
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