The Steelhead Angler

Learn How to Become a Better Steelhead Angler

Do you want to learn about steelhead fishing, well the next several post will take you through the steps you need to know before you head out for the river.

We will be discussing what equipment you will need from the right rods, reels, lines, and baits. We will also discuss some of the most successful ways we have found to catch these sometimes frustrating fish.

Have you ever wondered why you can stand next to some one fishing the same hole using the same bait and casting into the same seam, and have them pull steelhead right out from under your nose. Well we are going to do our best to show you the techniques that we know work and have produced steelhead regularly for us.

Follows us as we discuss why many steelhead angler become frustrated at the sport and learn what you can do to become one of those seemingly lucky anglers that can catch fish while every one else is struggling just to get a hit.

My partners and I have been fishing for this magnificent species for over forty years now we have learned many tricks and patterns over this time that produce well for us and we are going to share them all with you.

For the serious steelhead angler we ill discuss drift fishing techniques, we will also show you how to use a more relaxing plunking technique that produces steelhead, we will explain them all. Learn how we set-up for float fishing which is probably the easiest to learn and even the most product method of catching steelhead today. We are going to share with you as much information as we can remember and after over forty years of steelhead and salmon fishing there are some items that we have not used for years but we believe will still produce fish when used. We hope to pull from our minds some of the first tactics we used for steelhead and we will be trying them again to see just how productive they still are once we can get back on the river. (Right now, here in Idaho the recent cold spell has pretty much iced us out.)

We will even tell you where you can find these fish around our area, and for those of you that just can not wait for the ice out we will tell you a couple of place you can try if you want to get out on the river soon. You may want to bookmark our site so you can follow us at least for the next couple of weeks while we discuss these steelhead-fishing techniques.

Stay tuned for Updates soon.

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:

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.

Much like the picture above, while you are Steelhead fishing it is very helpful to have both, patience and wisdom.You arrive at your fishing spot, you want to charge right down, and get started fishing. That may not be the best option for a number of reasons. Charging right in could make your whole day unpleasant.

Take some time to look over the area, has it changed any since your last visit. Is there someone already fishing from your favorite rock? Has the ground been covered with snow or ice, or has it rained making the trail down to your fishing area slick and muddy. May be the river level has changed so much that the hole you fished a couple of days ago is not even there now. Any of these items may ruin your day if they catch you off guard.

I always like to look around the area before I jump into something that I was not expecting. Perhaps like the dog above I had to be burned a few times before I learned to do this before I start fishing.

It has always been easier for me to read the river when I am standing above the river then it is to try to read it when I am at the rivers edge. The seams will stand out, normally I can tell where the deeper portions are, and I can see rocks that are submerged that I would not see otherwise.

If some one is fishing there, I like to watch and see how they are fishing, where they are fishing, and if they are having any luck. I have fished several holes over the years from the same rock not knowing that had I moved up or down steam some I could have caught twice as many steelhead. By watching other you can learn a lot about a river, steelhead, and where and how to fish them. Spending ten minutes watching someone else, fish could save you hour’s maybe even days of trial and error.

Having the patience’s to look around, watch, and learn from other will gain you some wisdom that may help you become successful at steelhead fishing. Of course having lots of luck never hurt either.