| Drift fishing is the most common method used for | | | | in clear slow moving pools but you need to have a |
| steelhead; it is also one of the more difficult to | | | | rod matched to this. Normally you will want to use |
| become skilled at. You need to have the right gear, | | | | line in the 10 to 15 pound test range. |
| know what type of water steelhead hold in, and the | | | | Braided or mono lines is a matter of your preference. |
| hardest part is learning the difference between | | | | Lures |
| bouncing over rocks and a steelhead strike. | | | | This is where steelhead fishing gets tricky and |
| How tough can drifting a piece of lead and hook | | | | experience comes into play. What you will be using |
| along the bottom bouncing over rocks and knowing | | | | will again depend on the water conditions, low and |
| the difference between a rock and a steelhead's bite | | | | clear keep your lures and bait small and pale. If the |
| is. Well I have been a Steelhead fisherman for over | | | | rivers are up and murky you will want to use a larger |
| 40 years now and there are times where I just end | | | | lure and dark and bright colors. Sometime just using a |
| up hooking a fish without even realizing I had a strike. | | | | small piece of shrimp or a small cluster of eggs is |
| For being such a large fish steelhead have one of the | | | | what you will need. You can check with the locals |
| light bites and until you fish for awhile it is hard to | | | | and see what they are using for the conditions. As |
| explain just what you need to be watching for. All I | | | | for the color of lures this is any bodies guess so |
| can tell you is that there is a different feel to a strike | | | | make sure you have a good assortment to choose |
| and the bottom and once you fish for awhile you | | | | from as this changes continually even through out |
| learn to detect these subtle differences, once you do | | | | the day. |
| then you are on your way to becoming a true drift | | | | Bait |
| fisherman. | | | | Steelheads use their excellent sense of smell as well |
| Let's look at what you need to start drift fishing: | | | | as their eye site they also have an uncanny scents |
| The Rod | | | | to detect movement. When the water is so muddy |
| Your Fishing rod needs to be sensitive enough to | | | | you can't see any thing in the water, steelhead can |
| give you a good feel of the bottom as you bounce | | | | find your bait by movement and smell. Some of the |
| over rocks and gravel, and at the same time it needs | | | | most common baits are shrimp, eggs, night crawlers, |
| to be strong enough to give you a good hook set | | | | and sand shrimp. Some fishermen combine these |
| when you have 30 to 50 yards of line strung out | | | | baits giving they feel this gives them a little edge |
| across the river. Your rod choice will be the most | | | | over other fishermen. |
| important piece to the drift fishing equation so | | | | Swivels |
| choose wisely. | | | | Barrel Swivels and three way swivels are used to |
| Here are some things to consider when you are | | | | attach a lighter leader to a heavier main line. This |
| selecting your rod: | | | | allows you to quickly change your rig to water |
| 1.What's the size of lure or bait you will be using | | | | conditions and it reduces your mainline loss due to |
| (heavy, light, ultra light?) | | | | snags and helps keep your line from twisting from |
| 2.The type of reel you will be using on rod (spinning | | | | the lure action. |
| reel, or bait casting) | | | | Hooks |
| 3.What is rod made from (graphite, fiberglass ) these | | | | Your hooks will range in size from 12 to 3/0 |
| will determine the feeling and strength of your rod | | | | depending on the type of lure and bait you are using. |
| 4.Rod action this is the bend in the rod (Fast, | | | | Make sure that they are strong enough to hold a fish |
| Medium, Slow). | | | | without bending when they make their runs. They |
| 5.What size of line you plan on using (2 lb, 6 lb, 10 lb, | | | | need to be kept sharp for a good hook set, and it is |
| 15 lb, 30 lb test) | | | | a good idea to have a hook file or stone to touch |
| 6.The length of rod, if your casting from the beach | | | | them up when needed. Check the point of your hook |
| or open area and need to make long cast you will | | | | often or it may cost you a fish. I'm not much on the |
| want a longer rod 8 feet or longer, if you are going | | | | double hook theory however many Steelhead |
| to be fishing from a boat or where there is a lot of | | | | fisherman swear by them and is a choice you can |
| brush you may want 7 foot or shorter. This will | | | | make. |
| determine what type of reel you use to keep a | | | | Lead |
| good balance of your rod. | | | | Lead weight come in a number of styles and shapes |
| 7.What type of warranty does it have (Rods do | | | | for drift fishing I prefer to use either a pencil sinker |
| break when fishing these large fish) | | | | or what is called a slinky. Pencil lead comes in sizes of |
| The Reel | | | | 1/8' 3/16" and 1/4" diameters and is usually used with |
| The reel is the second most important part of your | | | | surgical tubing. The slinky is lead shot inside if |
| gear it needs to match your rod having a well | | | | parachute cord and is flexible this seems to keep it |
| balanced rod is the key. My personal preference is a | | | | from snagging as much as the pencil weight but you |
| bait casting reel (some fisherman call these level | | | | are unable to trim them quickly should you find you |
| winds) they do take some getting use to however | | | | have to much weight. |
| they are very effective when drift fishing, the bait | | | | Lead weights can be tied a number of different way |
| casting reel will allow you to release line while | | | | either fix or sliding I prefer the sliding weight as I feel |
| maintaining control and you can follow the drift longer | | | | it is easier to feel the strike with a sliding weight, |
| you want to stay where the fish are holding. | | | | however a fixed weight will get you to the bottom |
| The spinning reel works well for drift fishing also and | | | | faster. |
| is preferred when cast light lures or fishing along | | | | Leaders |
| banks with heavy brush. | | | | Make your leaders from a little lighter test than your |
| Choosing a reel: | | | | main line. This will allow your leader to break off |
| 1.Matches the style of fishing you intend on doing | | | | when you become snagged instead of your main line |
| 2.The amount of line the reel can hold (if you are | | | | which leaves a long piece of line in the river for you |
| fishing big water you will want more line) | | | | to snag onto the next time you cast. It will also |
| 3.The type of line you are going to use (braided lines | | | | prevent you from have to go home early because |
| can cut into the metal of a reel) - (newer reels use | | | | you for got to bring extra line for your reels. An rule |
| titanium for the new lines). | | | | I use successfully is that the clearer the water the |
| 4.Look for a quality manufacturer as your reel will be | | | | longer the leader normally I use a leader 18" to 24" |
| tested by these big fish | | | | long but you will find that sometimes changing this will |
| 5.Make sure the drag system works smoothly | | | | pick up more fish don't be afraid to experiment. I |
| Line | | | | seldom us a leader shorter then 12 inches though and |
| The line you use should match the rod, reel and the | | | | I have used leaders as long a 4 feet. |
| conditions you will be fishing. The Rule here is that | | | | My next article will cover likely holding water for |
| the clearer the water is the lighter the line you want | | | | Steelhead and how to fish them so keep in touch! |
| to use. I have gone as light as 2 lb test when fishing | | | | |