08-09-2013, 07:42 AM
There are dozens upon dozens of books written on how to catch steelhead. Look for them at your local library. You can also learn a lot about different techniques by watching videos online. Fishing from shore you generally have the option of drift fishing, float fishing, plunking or casting spinners and spoons. You can also use plugs, but plugs are usually fished from a boat. If you really want to try that, you can use planar boards but it's a hassle. The type of water you choose to fish in will determine which method works best.
The most important thing about fishing rivers for steelhead is learning to read the water and thinking like a fish. Just like any body of water, 20% of the water holds 80% of the fish. Finding those spots where the fish congregate will do more to get you bit than anything else. They stop feeding when they enter fresh water. If the water is warm, they might give chase but in most cases you need to put your lure or bait right in front of their face.
Steelhead usually sit on the bottom of the river in holes when they are holding. The water is slower near the bottom due to drag, which means they don't need to work as hard to keep their place.
If they are on the move, they will seek the easiest possible route upstream. Look for places where a fish can stop and rest, like behind obstructions that break the current, or places where they can move with the least possible effort like areas where slower water meets faster current.
Oh, and avoid three-way swivels. They suck. If you need to make a three-way rig, get two snap swivels and connect the snap on one to one of the rings on the other.
As far as flies go, get some heavy wire jig hooks, some big brass or chrome beads and stainless steel straight pins. Then you can make your own hand-tied jigs. You can also use normal poured leadheads. Most steelhead jigs use marabou, schlappen feathers and rabbit strips along with some flash. Combinations of pink, white, black, chartreuse and purple all work well at times.
Here are a couple of informative videos to get you started:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvDdjVd574w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS8mrfLUvww
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBylG88SpfA
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The most important thing about fishing rivers for steelhead is learning to read the water and thinking like a fish. Just like any body of water, 20% of the water holds 80% of the fish. Finding those spots where the fish congregate will do more to get you bit than anything else. They stop feeding when they enter fresh water. If the water is warm, they might give chase but in most cases you need to put your lure or bait right in front of their face.
Steelhead usually sit on the bottom of the river in holes when they are holding. The water is slower near the bottom due to drag, which means they don't need to work as hard to keep their place.
If they are on the move, they will seek the easiest possible route upstream. Look for places where a fish can stop and rest, like behind obstructions that break the current, or places where they can move with the least possible effort like areas where slower water meets faster current.
Oh, and avoid three-way swivels. They suck. If you need to make a three-way rig, get two snap swivels and connect the snap on one to one of the rings on the other.
As far as flies go, get some heavy wire jig hooks, some big brass or chrome beads and stainless steel straight pins. Then you can make your own hand-tied jigs. You can also use normal poured leadheads. Most steelhead jigs use marabou, schlappen feathers and rabbit strips along with some flash. Combinations of pink, white, black, chartreuse and purple all work well at times.
Here are a couple of informative videos to get you started:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvDdjVd574w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS8mrfLUvww
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBylG88SpfA
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