TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD

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CHROMENUTZ
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2014/10/16 14:37:21 (permalink)

TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD

THIS YEAR FOR SOME REASON I CANT SEEM TO CATCH ANY STEELHEAD OR EVEN
GET THAT MANY HOOKUPS IM FISHING RIGHT BESIDE GUYS WHO ARE HOOKING
UP AND LANDING LOTS OF FISH.IVE TRIED CHANGING UP MY SET TO EXACTLY WHAT
THESE GUYS ARE USING RIGHT DOWN TO THE SAME LINE,SAME WEIGHT,SAME DEPTH
AND THE SAME BAIT AND I EVEN HAD A NICE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA WHO CAUGHT
AND RELEASED 30 FISH IN ONE DAY SET IT UP FOR ME AND STILL NO FISH I SIT THERE
ALL DAY LONG AND NOTHING AND THEY ARE CATCHING FISH ALL AROUND ME, ANY IDEAS 
BECAUSE ITS STARTING TO GET FRUSTRATING TO THE POINT OF GIVING UP FISHING
FOR STEELHEAD ANY IDEAS OR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED
 
#1

19 Replies Related Threads

    SteelSlayer77
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/17 21:49:51 (permalink)
    Easiest way to catch a Steelhead in my opinion:  Use 4-6lb fluoro leader with a size 14 or 16 treble hook, tie a loop on the end of your line and thread on a small live minnow with a needle, then put the hook back on your loop and shove the shank up into the minnows belly.  Stand just upstream from pod of steelhead, preferably in moving water/current but any water will do, first dead drift the minnow right by fish or through hole a half dozen times, then proceed to swing minnow down and across current in front of fishes face if you can see them, not through fish just in front of them, as close to in front of their face as you can get it, over and over and over.  Minnow should be spinning/flashing in the water.  You'll catch steelhead!  Even if they aren't biting in low clear water, you'll pis them off to the point where they will start aggressively striking if you do it long enough.  When they strike out of anger you won't even need to hook them, they will hook themselves and take off like a rocket. 
     
    Good luck, and whatever you try just keep doing it persistence is the key!  If you can go out when the water is up and off-colored just slightly and drift any kind of live bait or small egg sacks on light tackle with the same speed of the current, then you'll catch something for sure in those conditions.
    #2
    fisherofmen376
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/17 21:54:48 (permalink)
    No need for treble hook. Ever.

    "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
    Matthew 4:19
    #3
    SteelSlayer77
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/17 22:05:13 (permalink)
    fisherofmen376
    No need for treble hook. Ever.

     
    Well that sure is great advise that will help the O.P. catch a steelhead. 
     
    I use tiny trebles all the time and never snag fish or have problems with them swallowing it. A size 10 single hook will snag a fish 10x easier than a size 16 treble filled up with a minnow on the shank. 
     
    post edited by SteelSlayer77 - 2014/10/17 22:06:28
    #4
    countryfisher
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/18 06:12:29 (permalink)
    I'm no pro but sounds like more of a drift problem, which I have been getting better at myself and have dramatically increased hookups just by going deeper, using more shot, and making better mends. The clean drift presentation seems more important than what's on the end of the line. Plus fishing water a lot of people walk right by.
    #5
    Porktown
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/18 08:18:12 (permalink)
    H3Fisher
    Watch your indicator only... The fish take n spit bait so fast people miss the hits. I've watched people miss so many possibly strikes talking to people or looking around.

    If fishing the same set ups as others and getting a good drift, this is likely it. If your bobber slightly goes under, moves unnaturally to the side or anything that looks like a minnow is moving it, set the hook. You don't need a home run set, little twitch or raise of your rod is all you need to tell if it is a fish. If fish, then "finish" your hook set.
    #6
    adyak
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/19 12:18:07 (permalink)
    step 1:  Buy a centerpin outfit.                                                                                                             
    step 2: Rig it up properly
    Step 3: Start outfishing everybody
    #7
    steelie85
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/19 20:29:15 (permalink)
    ^ can i get an Amen?
    #8
    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/19 21:11:33 (permalink)
    As the old saying goes; "Ten percent of the fisherman catch, ninety percent of the fish".(old adage)


    I learned from a very wise angler that there is plenty of 'jerks' around so, take some fishing. Never guess just 'JERK'.

    I agree with Porktown (please keep that under your hat) if ripples just appear around the pin 'JERK'.

    Good luck and tight lines.......

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #9
    johnthefisherman
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/20 11:20:33 (permalink)
    Call me against the grain, but anyone ever consider fishing without an indicator, primarily in low runs? 

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    #10
    steelie85
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/20 11:22:40 (permalink)
    It would be super hard to get a drift as your bait/lure would smack bottom and possibly get hung up
    #11
    FishinGuy
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/20 11:39:20 (permalink)
    Gotta use less or no weight. I do it with my fly rod successfully.
    #12
    D-nymph
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/20 13:02:12 (permalink)
    johnthefisherman
    Call me against the grain, but anyone ever consider fishing without an indicator, primarily in low runs? 




    I don't think that's been considered.
    #13
    SteelSlayer77
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/20 13:18:03 (permalink)
    I never use bobbers when fishing minnows or single eggs, and can't believe the number of people I see using them on the tribs.  Seems like 9 out of 10 anglers most days.  Get your weight right and bobbers (indicators or floats if that makes you feel better) are not needed.  I like my tackle to be as light and nondescript as possible, it can't help to have a huge strike indicator / bobber / float going down the stream right above your offering in low clear water.  Not saying you won't catch a fish with them, just saying it can't help to catch more fish when your doing everything else right.
    post edited by SteelSlayer77 - 2014/10/20 13:23:47
    #14
    johnthefisherman
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/20 14:41:20 (permalink)
    Yea, I hain't saying that indicators are bad, they are valuable tools, and should be used the majority of the time in Erie, especially in deeper pools, when the water has prime color, when you want to set your bait/ fly at a certain depth, etc. I'm more saying that one should know how to fish with and without an indicator. For low/ clear runs, when you have a visible yet finicky concentrated pod of fish, and generally need as stealthy of a presentation as possible (as has been the case almost all of this season thus far.),  I've seen even small indicators hit the water, and the disturbance alone causes several fish to spook and run for the hills. Further, I had one guy ask me how I know if I have a fish without an indicator/ bobber, and explained that either A) You see the fish take your bait/ fly, or B) Keep your rod tip high, and wait for your line to stop. You either have a fish or the bottom, either was, gotta give the hook a set. 

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    #15
    D-nymph
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/20 15:19:03 (permalink)
    Bobbers are required by law, it's on page 46 of the regulations book.
    #16
    World Famous
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/20 17:28:45 (permalink)
    It should be illegal for some people to use bobbers..WF..Watch Deetz fish. The man is deadly with a float
    #17
    adyak
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/20 18:46:40 (permalink)
    If you are fishing correctly your offering is presented before your float.Some people call this "checking" your float.
    #18
    johnthefisherman
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/21 08:47:10 (permalink)
    Oh hes right, it's right there on page 46, "it is unlawful for any angler to fish in an Erie tributary without a bobber on his/ her line." I sure done hope Mr. Greenpants haint waitin' for me in the Walnut parking lot when I come up this weekend.

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    #19
    D-nymph
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    Re: TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD 2014/10/21 09:57:49 (permalink)
    johnthefisherman
    Oh hes right, it's right there on page 46, "it is unlawful for any angler to fish in an Erie tributary without a bobber on his/ her line." I sure done hope Mr. Greenpants haint waitin' for me in the Walnut parking lot when I come up this weekend.




    Thanks for verifying for me bud.  Real sportsman right there, folks.
    #20
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