Bank Fishing Technique for Steelhead

Ok so I have been talking a lot about fly fishing lately so I thought I would change subjects and talk about some of the techniques that I use when I am bank fishing. I know a lot of hard core Fly Fisherman will have a fit to hear that I do still use a spinning real for catching fish but I just love fishing of any kind. Taking many of my less experienced friends and some for first time Steelhead fishing I have found a way to get them hooked into a fish without much coaching. This technique is simple to learn and if done properly losing gear is at a minimum. This is great for the first timers or the less experience because it lets them spend more time fishing and less time tying up riggings. This system is also very productive if done properly and I have caught quite a few steelhead using this method myself. Using a slip bobber or float is one of the easiest ways to take steelhead that I have found for the bank fisherman this method is also used by boaters since it is so productive. With the slip bobber you are able to adjust the depth of your jig or bait so that it drifts just off the bottom of the river. I have seen this method used by fishermen fishing off of a jetty or pier and they too had very good success while using this method. One of the best place to use this method is in a slow flowing section of the river the depth of the hole is not important since you are able to adjust the depth of the jig easily. As long as the current is slow enough to allow the jig or bait to drift naturally and the depth remains constant at least through a portion of the hole it should be a good place to try this method. Knowing where the steelhead like to lay is the key to this system as with any fishing technique, and the easiest way to find this out is to watch where others are fishing if any are around. Once you learn how to read a river you will be able to use this technique in a number of spots, learning how to read a river will come with time. If you are new to the sport most fisherman will be glad to give you some pointers just be courteous when joining your fellow fishermen on the river. When you find that place where you are going to fish the technique is simple cast upstream from where you are standing watch the corky once your line hits the water. Make sure the corky is on top of your float if it’s not you may have to give your line a sharp short jerk to get your jig to flow freely through your float. Let your float drift naturally through the hole and keep up the slack in your line. Most of the time when a fish hits your jig your float will go under, however watch your float closely and if it should make any unnatural movement set the hook. Items Required: Slip bobber Barrel swivel Jig Egg Sinker Corky Bobber Stop Setting up your line: 1st slip on the bobber stop then bead and run it up the line about 5 feet or so 2nd Thread on the corky 3rd Thread on your float 4th Thread on the Egg Sinker 5th Now tie one end of your swivel to the end of your line. (I like to use the double cinch knot) 6th Take your jig and tie it to your leader which should be between 12 to 18 inches long. The leader should be lighter then you’re main line. 7th Tie the jig and leader to your swivel. Once you have this tied up it should look the following link to example! Example Link http://www.steelhead-gear.com/Float Fishing If you are having trouble with this system or just would like some more information on this technique you may email me and rrsmith1@steelhead-gear.com and I will try to help you out. By: rrsmith http://steelhead-gear.com/wordpress http://www.steelhead-gear.com