This article describes the basics of freshwater Steelhead and salmon fishing for the beginning angler. River drift fishing is probably the most common method used for steelhead and salmon. As and drift fishing salmon are very similar you can apply them when steelhead drifting and salmon drift fishing. It is intended only as a beginning, and is not meant to cover every aspect of salmon drift fishing, or steelhead drift fishing. After you get your feet wet, you can and should constantly search for additional information to improve your abilities and skills.
Freshwater salmon fishing and steelhead fishing can be done from the shore or a boat, and the drift fishing method described can be used either way. Boat fishing affords anglers some opportunities not available to the shore anglers.
Steelhead Drift Fishing And Salmon Drift Fishing:
These techniques will work well when either drift fishing for steelhead or drift fishing for salmon. Drift fishing is a common method used to catch both steelhead and salmon. The angler casts their line upstream, you then let the line drift down through the run or pool. Once your line reaches the end of the drift you then reel in the line to start the drifting process over again. Drift fishing is normally done from the shore or an anchored boat.
Generally, the idea is to have enough weight for your setup to bounce along the bottom, touching every foot or two. Ideally, it will drift at approximately the same speed the current is moving. More weight will slow down the speed at which your bait drifts downstream, and less weight will speed up the drift.
The best strategy is to work the entire run from close to the shore and working your way out with each following cast. Once you have covered all the water, you can reach from where you are standing move down a couple of steps and repeat the process. If you get a hit or catch a steelhead or salmon try to make a mental note of where you caste and where the fish hit. Steelhead and salmon use what are called runs so if you catch one it is likely that you will be able to catch more at the same location.
Figure 1. Diagram showing standard strategy for drift fishing a run or drift on a river.
When fishing in crowded conditions, you may simply have to work your way into a line of anglers and fish right where you are, without moving. Cast upstream at a 30-45 degree angle and let your bait bounce along until you reach a 45-30 degree angle downstream. Reel in and do it again. Your goal is to bounce your offering along the bottom until a fish picks it up with its mouth.
Beginning anglers often have trouble telling when a fish picks up the hook or when their gear has caught on a rock. Over time, you will develop a feel for the difference and learn when to set the hook and when to gently coax the gear off of the rocks. You should always remember that when in doubt, set the hook.
Typical drift fishing gear:
- For a good steelhead drift rod or salmon drift rod you will need a 8 ½ or 9 foot rod rated for 10-30 pound line.
- As for a drift fishing reel either a bait casting reel or a spinning reel will work I prefer a bait casting reel on large rivers and a spinning reel on smaller rivers and streams.
- For larger fish, like chinook salmon, use 20-25 pound line. Depending on where you are fishing you may need even heavier line.
- For steelhead drift fishing, you will be using 10-15 pound line most of the time.
You will find there is an endless variety of weights, lures, floats, and/or baits that anglers can use while drift fishing for salmon, and an even larger variety when drift fishing for steelhead.
A standard setup for drift fishing:
One example of a steelhead drift fishing rig using standard salmon drift fishing gear:
1. A snap swivel at the end of the mainline,
2. A leader ranging in length from 12” to 48”
3. A single hook tied on with an with egg loop
4. A corky on the line above the hook, and yarn on the hook
5. For weight, push the snap swivel through a 2.5″ long piece of rubber tubing and then push a pencil lead into the tubing, or simply push the snap through the parachute cord of a slinky weight.
6. Bait and/or scent can be added to this rig.
• Salmon roe and sand shrimp are the most popular baits to add to this setup when drift fishing for salmon, but many others are used.
• Roe, bait shrimp, and night crawlers seem to be the preferred baits for steelhead drift fishing.
7. Instead of a corky and yarn setup, you can also substitute a winged bobber or other drift bobbers, for the corky or just fish bait alone.
The weight and corky setup can be replaced with spoons or spinners, bouncing them along the bottom and slowly retrieving them.
Before you head out drifting for steelhead please visit our shop at Steelhead Anglerwhere you will find all the steelhead gear and salmon gear you need. We have a number of way in which you can pay for your fishing tackle paypal, check or credit cards are accepted by most of our vendors with paypal being preferred by many.
