TROUBLE CATCHING STEELHEAD

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.

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. 
 

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.

^ can i get an Amen?

Call me against the grain, but anyone ever consider fishing without an indicator, primarily in low runs? 

Gotta use less or no weight. I do it with my fly rod successfully.

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.

Bobbers are required by law, it's on page 46 of the regulations book.

If you are fishing correctly your offering is presented before your float.Some people call this "checking" your float.

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.