TECHNIQUES
Just as the Clack can be divided into jet-boat and drift-boat sections, it can also be divided by fishing technique.

The upper river, from River Mill Dam down to Carver, is friendly to flyfishers because of the more compact nature of its holding water. It is easier for flyfishers to probe likely holding spots on the upper river. It's easier to wade, and there is more room to single-handers to accomplish a backcast without interference from streamside vegetation.

The stretch from Feldheimer to Barton has good fly-friendly water, which continues up Eagle Creek as well.

Traditional steelhead fly-fishing technique involves casting across the current and letting the fly swing down and across. In winter, the tool of choice has been a heavily weighted fly or a sinking line in order to get the fly down to the bottom-hugging steelhead.

That system certainly catches a ton of fish, but doesn't work in certain water conditions such as small streams or when fish hold in narrow slots, hug the bank, or hang under ledges. For these conditions, often found on the Clack and almost exclusively found on Eagle Creek, fly-fishers need to change their tactics to catch fish.

Traditionalists will brand me a heretic, but if you want to catch fish that don't give a rip about tradition, put away your sinking line, take out the floater, add a long leader, and then attach a strike indicator. Now you can dead-drift a heavily weighted nymph in, around and through pocket water where the fish are. Some fishers use corkies, pinned on the leader with a toothpick, as a strike indicator. Others prefer polypropylene yarn dressed with floatant.

Stoneflies and other big nymphs, caddis and salmon eggs are the best patterns. Try Teeny Nymphs in black or brown, Prince Nymphs, Green Rock Worms and Glo-Bugs. When the river conditions dictate using a traditional wet-fly swing, use the Articulated Leech, Egg-Sucking Leech, and a prawn imitation like a General Practitioner.

It's OK to use bait throughout the river sections that are open to winter steelheading, according to the current regulations. Popular baits for the Clack include egg clusters and sand shrimp, both of which seem to produce best in the low-light conditions of early morning. "Do what the other guy is doing" is often the rule of the day, but it amazes me how few bait-fishing steelheaders use night crawlers, particularly in off-colored water.

Gear fishers have the whole panoply of tricks available. They can pull plugs, run diver-bait combinations, drift jigs, toss spinners, plunk corkies and yarn. Sometimes the biggest challenge is first deciding what to use and then fishing it effectively, rather than changing rigging after a few minutes of no fish. The key to catching fish is fishing with confidence.

To help narrow your gear choices, the favorite plug colors include green and blue Pirates made by Luhr Jensen or something that combines chrome and fluorescent colors. Smaller plugs work better than bigger ones.

If you use Kwikfish, sizes 13 and 14 catch more fish than the larger ones. If you previously wrapped them with shrimp, sardines or other bait, make sure you wash them thoroughly to remove the old-bait stink before using them again. Steelhead, unlike catfish, are repelled by strong smells.

Jigs fished under a float are becoming more popular on the river for two reasons:

• First, they're easier to fish than many other methods, and
• Second, they flat-out catch fish.

Use the lightest jig for the water conditions, either an 1/8- or 1/4-ounce, in bright pink, red or pink and white.