| Float fishing with a jig for salmon and steelhead is | | | | The reason for a longer than normal rod becomes |
| one of the most popular and productive methods for | | | | apparent when you are jig fishing and attempting to |
| pursuing salmon and steelhead because of the many | | | | minimize the drag on your float, and while attempting |
| advantages. Less gear is lost to the bottom and | | | | to keep your line off the water. A rod in the 10 foot |
| snags than other methods of steelhead and salmon | | | | range will help you immensely with your line control. |
| fishing, and jigs often times out produce other | | | | The benefit here is the ability to mend, or adjust |
| methods. When other methods are failing, jigs are still | | | | your line on the water as well as pick it up and get a |
| producing strikes. The underwater pulsing action of | | | | solid hook set when a fish strikes your jig. When |
| marabou jigs drives salmon and steelhead to strike | | | | float fishing with a jig, a strike simply looks like your |
| jigs oftentimes on the first or second pass. | | | | float stopping its downstream motion, or going |
| The methods outlined in this article can be used to | | | | underwater. The general rule is that anytime you see |
| help with your success when jig fishing for Steelhead | | | | your float go underwater or behave unnaturally, set |
| or Salmon. We like to use these jig fishing methods | | | | the hook! |
| with a marabou or schlappen jig when fishing in the | | | | Many anglers use spinning reels while fishing jigs while |
| Pacific Northwest rivers for Salmon and Steelhead, | | | | others prefer casting reels. It is simply a matter of |
| but these methods will work anywhere you choose | | | | personal preference. Generally we will use a lighter |
| to fish including the Great Lakes and more. | | | | spinning rod outfit when fishing smaller jigs in micro |
| First off, to rig up for jig float fishing there are | | | | sizes or when fishing lower flowing or smaller water. |
| several specific pieces of gear you will want to use. | | | | When using larger jigs or fishing larger water we like |
| You will want to use a long rod in the 10 foot range, | | | | to use casting outfits because of the ability to free |
| which will be explained later in further detail, a good | | | | spool line out downstream while controlling the spool |
| sliding float, a float stop, a lead alternative sinker like | | | | with the thumb. Whatever your choice, it is important |
| brass, steel, or tungsten (or lead depending on where | | | | to choose a reel that free spools easily to help in |
| you are fishing), and a jig. | | | | feeding out extra line. |
| Some anglers prefer inline sinker weights when fishing | | | | It is extremely important to minimize drag on your rig |
| jigs but you can also use slip on weights of various | | | | when float fishing jigs, which again brings us back to |
| sizes tied to or between barrel swivels. The use of a | | | | the use of long rods and floating lines. Throughout |
| sliding float is helpful because you can adjust the | | | | your drift you may have to free spool line out to |
| depth that you are fishing at very easily to match | | | | keep the float standing straight upright in the water. |
| the depth of the river. To adjust the sliding float you | | | | If your line starts to drag and the float turns on its |
| will need to use a float stop which is essentially just a | | | | side, you aren't getting a good presentation and |
| piece of yarn that is slipped onto the line, tightened, | | | | aren't fishing your jig correctly. To help fix this |
| and trimmed. It can be moved up and down your | | | | problem throw a downstream mend in your line, like |
| main line to adjust the depth you will be fishing at. | | | | you would while fly fishing, to decrease the drag on |
| This is especially useful when jig fishing lots of varied | | | | your line. This may sound confusing but once you get |
| stretches of water in a day. Usually, you will want to | | | | on the water this method will be intuitive and you will |
| fish your jig 1-2 feet off the river bottom, so it is | | | | understand why it is necessary. You can free spool |
| important to be able to adjust the depth you are | | | | line out when drifting downstream but don't go too |
| fishing to match the specific run or hole you are | | | | far because if you let too much line out you will have |
| fishing. Thill and Beau Mac make good sliding floats | | | | trouble setting the hook and playing your fish back |
| that offer excellent cast-ability and are easy to spot | | | | upstream to where you are fishing from. |
| on the water. | | | | Fishing with jigs for salmon and steelhead is an |
| A definite must for float fishing is a floating line like | | | | immensely popular method, and it is only growing in |
| Pline Hydrofloat line which is designed specifically for | | | | popularity as the benefits become apparent. Less lost |
| float fishing or another floating braided line. This lets | | | | rigs to snags, and the fact that fish love the action |
| you see and manage, or mend, your line on the | | | | of marabou and schlappen feathers underwater |
| surface and will help you with stronger hook sets. | | | | make jigs a great option. |