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I've never fished for steelhead before but looking to start. People are catching them a few miles from my house in a local river. I was told on spawn bags and plugs. I was also told they aren't hitting the salmon eggs just the steelhead eggs that are illegal to sell. There lies the problem. Seems the guys fly fishing and wading in aren't getting any. The only fish I saw pulled was by a guy and his sons. Real tight lipped about the plugs, like I was infringing on his fish. Can anyone recommend certain king of plugs or alternative methods? Any info greatly appreciated.
I have never fished the rivers, but here it is big creeks. We do good on live minnies, small jigs tipped with maggots, eggsacks and single eggs. When they are in the lake staging for the run, I do real good on spoons, little cleos and crocodiles. The secret over here when they have made there way into the creeks is to go small on presentations and line. They are a different animal when they come in out of the big water and spook easy.
How do you work the jigs, let it roll down the bottom, whip it back? How small are we talking about the jigs? Most of the guys are using bobbers, but I found the current to be too swift and I didn't want the bobber to spook the fish. I also made up some leaders with some vanish line. Oh, and what color jigs?
How do you work the jigs, let it roll down the bottom, whip it back? How small are we talking about the jigs? Most of the guys are using bobbers, but I found the current to be too swift and I didn't want the bobber to spook the fish. I also made up some leaders with some vanish line. Oh, and what color jigs?
Jim
If the Water is calm, yes you use a float, real small, 1/2 inch or so. If your fishing the fast water, no float, a splitshot and let it bump the bottom. The jigs are small, 1/32 or 1/16 or 1/8 ounce. Try different colors. White, brown, black. I included a url and there are some pictures at the bottom of the WCO update showing the size of our creeks. The last picture is nursery waters and off limits to fishing. http://www.fishusa.com/FishErie/WCO/Updates/ http://www.fishusa.com/fisherie/
I live in the state of Washington and we do a lot of steelhead fishing over this way. Although with 28 straight days of rain, with more coming, it has been difficult to find a river not overflowing its banks lately. I suggest trying a float and jig combo, they are easy to fish and are very effective, if done correctly. The trick is to use the proper rigging so that the jig floats as straight up and down from the bobber with the current. Also just is as important is to keep the bobber from dragging on the surface, this is done by keeping your tip high as possible and mending as necessary. Another is to use a drift set-up with a Pink worm, I know, people might look at you funny, but they won't for long after you hook up on a fish!
Here are a few great boards with lots of info on steelheading, I visit them daily( okay, hourly), http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/u...ultimatebb.cgi and Ifish.net.
Here are few pics from Alaska and Washington with jigs in the fishes mouths.
Steve Ng
__________________ Please practice Catch and Release on all Wild Steelhead
Since I have owned a Jetsled....I like this quote by LOUCAP "Random quote: If you haven't run aground, you haven't been around..."
tinmarine
As you can see from my name steelhead are one of my greatest passions. I have been fishing steelhead in NY and PA streams for the past 10 years and there are about as mant different ways to fish them as there are streams. The most effective method changes with the time of year fished. But if I had to pick just one method it would be spawn sacks under a float. There are several clear floats out there that dont spook fish, they have only a top spot of orange or yellow. One of the best sites I found for info is www.yankeeangler.com Randy Jones is one of the most respected guides fishing NYs Salmon River. His site is very informative and detailed in his posts.
This time of year I am fishing very small fly patterns, scuds in pink, orange chartruse. Stone flies, cadis and many other smaller patterns. There is so much more to it it would take a week of typing to even get half of it out, like using something totally different then anything in the water, ive had some great days with a fly my buddies laughed at but by the end of the day were begging for. The only way is to get out there and give it a try. If you want more info on gear or anything else pm me
Steelhead tips 
