Let’s face it, there are times when steelhead just go off the bite. Maybe they’re getting pounded by boats or are reacting to a something like a sudden change in barometric pressure. Whatever the reason for the lull, you can sometimes turn stale fish back on by showing them a little something different.
One of our favorite old tricks under these circumstances is side-drifting with F7 Flatfish. I know, sounds kinda crazy, but it works!
We drift these little plugs pretty much like you would a chunk of bait: A Slinky or pencil lead for weight, a 3- to 4-foot leader and then the lure. F7’s are very well suited to boondogging and freedrifting and you can be pretty sure that nobody else on the river will be fishing with them. Don’t expect a typical plug take-down when a steelhead picks up a drifted Flatfish, however. You’d think the fish would murder them like they do Hot Shots and Wiggle Warts, but the take is really a lot more like a bait bite – soft and spongy. That’s not to say that you won’t get your arm yanked off from time to time, though!
This technique actually works well in most conditions – even when there isn’t a lot of other angler pressure. It is also worth trying when big native steelhead are present. These fish are generally much more aggressive than their hatchery-reared cousins and will angrily chomp down on a plug when nothing else is working. Just be sure to replace the stock hooks with a size No. 2 or 4 Gamakatsu siwash hook attached via a quality barrel swivel — or run the risk of potentially losing the fish of a lifetime.
Silver, gold, chartreuse and fluorescent red are all good basic colors to have onboard though F7 Flatfish come in a huge assortment of patterns, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
Most grabs come as the plug starts swinging down and away from the boat. Make sure the plug is still wobbling as it swings…hold it back a little with a crank or two if it starts to stall out.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
my mistake, I should have been more specific….I'm not fishing from a drift boat. I'd be strategically & stealthaly (is that a word) wading in my toasty neopreme's…..Any tricks you could share for me would be great…..you da man, thanks for all you do for this unmatched sport!!!
Oh…okay. From shore, you can simply slow-crank the ol' flatfish when it starts to stall out. But, the impact zone will normally be right at the apex of the swing…and you shouldn't really have any problem with lack of wobble at that point.
JD, your giving away my secret……lol
Question When drifting flatfish, on the downstream, or swing drift, or more specifically how can I be sure that the flatfish is shaking perfectly the way I want it to??? Do you absolutely have to feel that shake, wobble? Of course my line is tight but how can I be sure there is always ACTION on the F7??? Please help – thanks bud
Yea, you really need to feel that thing wiggling…though even a slight pump is fine. You have to modify your boat driving a bit…hold back a bit more on the oars (or kicker) so you always have tension and you should feel the thing kick…and then WHAAAAAAM!
Yea, you really need to feel that thing wiggling…though even a slight pump is fine. You have to modify your boat driving a bit…hold back a bit more on the oars (or kicker) so you always have tension and you should feel the thing kick…and then WHAAAAAAM!
J- Deezey! I would like to use HI-VIS mainline what would you recomend sir? Something that is reliable and won’t break the bank….you know, affordable.
I appreciate your website, thanks Man!!!
Suffix clear/blue or Trilene Big Game XT Solar…