Wordhog61
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Steelhead Fishing Rod
I'm due to go fishing for Steelhead for the first time. I only have Bass rods...the biggest is a 7 foot medium heavy, Spinning Rod. I have multiple 6'6" Rods, some medium heavy, some medium. Some are spinning rods, some are casting rods, I love Baitcasters. My question is, for my first time will any of these work? If so, which ones?
Thanks
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Guest
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Re: Steelhead Fishing Rod
2019/11/04 09:45:53
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Kinda depends what you'll be using on the end of your line.
If you're chuckin hardware - spoons, spinners, 1/8 oz or heavier jigs, flatfish, Rapalas, etc - your medium action rods will be just fine.
If you're looking to drift fish with eggs or egg sacks, minnows, worms, etc, it'll probably be a little more difficult to get a good cast with 4 or 6# line without a noodle rod, and also difficult to get a good, drag free drift through the hole or run. But there are also plenty of places where you don't need a long cast or a long drift, and you'd be fine with the shorter rod.
When I started out, the first couple years I caught steelhead on a 6'6" medium action trout rod, but getting a noodle rod made everything easier - casting small offerings, getting good drifts, fighting fresh fish. You can get 'em at Poor Richards for about $35.
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Porktown
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Re: Steelhead Fishing Rod
2019/11/04 10:45:42
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FishUSA.com for best selection of steelhead rods. Give them a call. They will hook you up in the right direction. They are ridiculously fast on delivering items too.
Rsquared hit the nail on the head for info.
Check out YouTube for how to set up and drift properly. Use light line and set drag light. Set the hook on anything that remotely looks like a bite or just stops your float. These are not fish to be patient with to take your bait before setting the hook.
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fisherofmen376
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Re: Steelhead Fishing Rod
2019/11/04 13:24:44
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Shimano noodle rods are awesome...I’ve had em for 15 years!
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19
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solitario lupo
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Re: Steelhead Fishing Rod
2019/11/04 17:23:34
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Put 6lb line on one of your medium spinning setup. You can run a 4lb leader if needed for low clear waters.
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CAPTAIN HOOK
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Re: Steelhead Fishing Rod
2019/11/05 07:23:33
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These Erie creeks are so small about anything will work ....a broom handle with 6 ft. of line is what I use ...you'll only need one boot too ....just put your other dry leg one in the guy next to you !
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DrewB
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Re: Steelhead Fishing Rod
2019/11/05 09:17:10
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One of my buddies fished with a bass rod for awhile you can’t reach as far with the rod for line control and might break some off or else you could get a shimano rod from fish USA for like 80 dollars
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worldbfreebase
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Re: Steelhead Fishing Rod
2019/11/06 15:09:52
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do not use a baitcaster. your offerings will be too small and light and you will have to constantly adjust your cast control and drag.
Use your spinning rig. you can at least leave the bail open and allow your bait to drift. longest, softest tipped rod you have.
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Porktown
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Re: Steelhead Fishing Rod
2019/11/06 22:59:58
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☄ Helpfulby FiveMilePete 2019/11/09 21:38:41
I personally would not leave the bail open to let out line. You need to set the hook quick. If bail is open, then slow hookset. Look up how to properly mend fishing line on a drift. The longer rods help the most with this as it keeps more line out of the water. Fly fishing is even easier to do so, and much easier to do the repeated casts. No need to double haul or other long casts on the tribs. Fishing the lake is different, but the creeks are almost all roll casts of very light baits. Fly rods are just much easier to do over and over.
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genieman77
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Re: Steelhead Fishing Rod
2019/11/08 21:49:37
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☄ Helpfulby FiveMilePete 2019/11/09 21:40:28
use you 7ft spinning rod
String it with 6# test
use weighted floats if needed to cast
..L.T.A.
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FiveMilePete
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Re: Steelhead Fishing Rod
2019/11/09 21:46:06
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☄ Helpfulby genieman77 2019/11/10 09:03:28
What Genie said. If you get into steelhead fishing often, get a 9 to 11 foot Noodle rod. Fishusa has several, under 50 bucks. Also Poor Richards. You can use the same spinning reel you use for bass.
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