Here’s a little video I shot to kinda get you started understanding how float fishing for salmon & steelhead works…
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Steelhead
Plugging for steelies...the lost art???
There’s no denying that drifting eggs will almost always produce more steelhead than any other method, but pulling plugs does have its moments. They can be a real day saver in high, off-colored conditions but also often yield spectacular results when things are low and clear as well. In tight quarters, you can sometimes put a plug into a spot that no bait drifter could reach – and, generally speaking, plugs also give you your best shot at a really, really big fish. In addition, plugging is a cool way to get people who maybe can’t wade or cast all that well — kids or older folks — into some steelies.
But all of that’s really just a bonus. [click to continue…]
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Lately, my wife's been saying maybe I should have married yarn instead of her
For step by step directions, read on… [click to continue…]
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Fishing solo out of the boat is a challenge but it can be done!
Here’s a good Ask JD question, coming to us from Rob, who’s looking for a way to catch some steelies while fishing solo from boat.
JD, I’m looking for a solo technique to fish for steelhead from a small raft on the Smith in Northern California. What do you think about adding a float to the side gliding technique and bobbergliding? I was thinking of using a 10′ 5″ rod with power pro and setting my rod holder to be almost vertical to keep as much line off the water as possible while I row. Since there are too many boats to anchor up whereever I’d like, it would be nice to have a solo technique to cover the runs in between where I stop to float fish or throw spoons.
Thanks for any advice in advance, Rob.
Rob, my best advice would be to talk one of your buddies into buying a drift boat and have him row you around (you never want to be the friend who owns the boat!). Short of that, [click to continue…]
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Okay, so what do Jessica Alba and a driftboat on B.C.’s Kitimat River have in common? Well, aside from a nice fantasy I just had…nothing. It’s just that we’re going to talk about sinkers for drift fishing this time around and I knew I had to get you sucked in somehow! Sinkers aren’t exactly the most exciting topic on the planet, but there’s a lot you really need to know.
So, my cheap advertising campaign aside, let’s get down to it. A lot of getting a proper presentation when drift fishing stems from your sinker selection, so you really need to pick the right stuff. In the old days, choosing which sinker to use was simple – there was pencil lead and, well, pencil lead and that was it. Now, we’ve got quite a few options to choose from. Let’s take a look at the three I use and the pros and cons of each. [click to continue…]
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Okay, all you budding steelhead anglers out there, here’s a little quiz for ya: Say you’re pulling plugs for steelies with a guide on a drift boat. The guide hands you and your buddy these two plugs with the same paint scheme to snap onto your lines. Which would would you pick?
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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!
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While roe will always be the number one bait for steelhead, the Poor Man’s Glo Bug (aka “yarn tie” or “yarnie”) will hold its own in most drift fishing situations.
Really, what’s not to like? They look great underwater and have an almost translucent look to ‘em. Poor Man’s Glo Bugs also hold scent very well and drift in an extremely natural way. PMGBs are super simple and easy to tie — and you can do it right on the river bank. Here’s how:
Start with several 3-4 inch strands of Glo Bug yarn:
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