Winter float & Jig fishing for Steelhead (my observations)

by NUTS4STEEL

All of the jigs I use are homemade and consists of marabou, schlappen, hackle or rabbit fur, or, a combination and range in size from 1/16 oz. to 1/4 oz. My favorite colors for winter fishing are red, pink/white, white, orange /white & Black / orange. Other colors work but these are the ones I fish with most of the time in winter. Late this past winter I started experimenting with bead jigs with yarn or marabou tails.

I fish my jigs using a slip float for ease of adjustment and many times I fish the jigs only eight to twelve inches below the float. You can catch steelhead in shallow water so don’t overlook fishing the slow current seams near shore. Always start shallow and increase your depth if you are fishing deeper runs. Remember that you will want to present your jig at least a foot or two off of the bottom.
An example of this would beif I were fishing in four feet of water I would set my jig eighteen inches to two feet below my float. Fish generally wont look down for baits, so you will want your bait to drift above the fish. However will come up to slam a jig, even during the very cold water conditions we encountered during the winter.

Fish the entire water column:

I normally start off high in the water column so I don’t spook suspended fish and then begin to adjust down until I’m a foot off the bottom.
Longer rods are excellent for this type of fishing. A good float rods in the 10' to 15' in length will normal be just about right for this type of fishing. The advantages of longer rods is that they help keep your line off the water surface,thus reducing drag allowing you to achieve a drag free presentation. This drag free presentation is one of the keys for success when float fishing. Although a longer rod will help dont let only having a smaller rod discourage you, it is still a matter of personal preference, use equipment you are comfortable with. (Run what ya got!!)
The float & jig technique allows you to cover water that can't be fished very effectively with drift gear. Difficult holding waters such as a narrow slot of slightly deeper water right next to shore, along a nasty brush-covered bank can now be fished using floats. Water like this can now be accessed from a position drectly up or downstream. A cast made directly up or downstream, above the slot, and allowed to drift downstream through the slot l often producing a strike. (Remember keep the rod tip high to keep line off the water. Another advantage is that you can positioning yourself downstream of the holding water is to avoid spooking fish during low, clear river conditions, such as during an extended cold dry spell in winter, the upstream approach will prevent the fish from being spooked by the angler's presence. Fish cannot see directly behind them, and if your lucky you can spot the fish before they see you.
Another advantage to fishing floats is it can cut down on down time caused by breaking off and retying. Seldom will you lose your jig if you have your depth set properly. Always Remember, you want your jig floating above the fish, at least a foot or more off the river bottom regardless of the depth. Steelhead will come up off the bottom to take your jig. By decreasing your down time you increase the amount of time your offering is in the strike zone, thus increasing the chances of a strike.
Change jigs before moving to the next hole: If your sure the hole or run your fishing is holding fish and you can’t get a strike, try changing up. Sometimes this makes all the difference!!
If making your own jigs, duplicate each jig you make so you have more than one. There’s nothing worse that hooking a fish or two on a particular jig only to loose it to a break-off !!
Now if fishing from a boat (my favorite) this is where I prefer to use my center pin, you can quickly and quietly position yourself upstream of likely holding water, toss your gear over the side and get a long drag free drift thru the hole. Quickly retrieve your offering and do it again working from the shoreline out to mid river.
Tackle: Well there’s a lot of opinions out there and I didn’t sit here a type this to start a debate, so all I will say is to use what your comfortable with and can afford.
Float fishing can also be used for floating bait, such as eggs, flies, night crawlers, etc, this requires terminal tackle not covered here, I’ll write up a little something in the future with a shot pattern pic to help explain it..
Note: I have a lot to learn about this steelhead fishing addiction I have but, These are just a few of the observation’s I made while float fishing with jigs this past winter. Hope you can pick up a tip or two…

For more information on the author or on Great lakes Steelheading visit
www.steelheadfishingthegreatlakes.com