That Time Again: PWV Status Reports: Steelheader.net- Steelhead, Salmon and trout fishing

Unfortunately, not all worms are created equal. The worms I had the best luck with, are no long available. Still, I recommend short pink worms for steelhead in particular, although the big brutes dont seem to spook by a long worm.

During the mid day, switching to white is a good choice. But the worm is not always my first choice. Fact is shrimp and egg colors work well in feathers and they make up the bulk of the market for a reason. I did take a piece of thick yarn and tie it in a knot for lack of gear. The fish was under the rock I stood on at Reiter.

I never had a problem with large 1/4 oz heads and I stay away from light wire hooks. I prefer to cast up stream with a spinning reel and retrieve all the slack line without draging it. If I want to continue the drift below, then a let line out as it goes. The farther out the bobber gets, the harder it is to control the line and mend it. Straight down stream, its hard to tell what the bobber is doing if its ticking bottom or dragging. I generally start short and move the bobber or the stops about six inches at a time. 10# test leader is what I use, even in summer.

Hooksets behind the fish will get hooked dead center in the top jaw/nose and its a solid hook set. I think distance from the bottom will depend on how far the fish is willing to move. I seem to have better results when the jig has a moderate rate of snagging up. Likewise when side drifting, the bait doesnt float that high off the bottom.

I never pinched weights on the leader and I will use six feet of leader under the swivel/bead/egg weight, if the water is deep enough.

I fish the seams where the river speed is different or the eddie trails off. I have yet to find a fish up tight to a large rock, more likely down in edge of the eddie, or in front of the big rock. People often overlook the big rock they stand on or under the bank. From looking at fish under the bridge at Tokul Creek, it shows, the fish dont care which way the current is moving, its cover first. There is a spot under that bridge and the fish face downstream. Since steelhead often reside in better lure water than jig water, you may have to run a short leader and heavy jig two feet under a small bobber, or switch to drift gear, which requires the hook located near the belly of the fish, with a number 3 ? bead to keep the hook from getting buried in the worm.

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