Float float fishing also referred to as bobber fishing is the most popular and if done right, the most effective way to target steelhead in the river. Just getting the right gear and everything you need to get on the water can be overwhelming and when you get there it can have you asking yourself a lot of questions. Getting this style of fishing dialed in will take time and it definitely isn’t something you should plan on mastering in a day. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t be effective and start catching fish in a short amount of time.
First, you need a rod and reel that can handle the task at hand. For rods you can view my article (Selecting the Best Steelhead Float Rod) to get well equipped as there is a lot information to cover to get the best rod for you. Reels aren’t a huge factor, whether fishing baitcaster or spinning reels,I’m looking for a smooth drag and enough line capacity for 12-15lb mono.For a spinning reel most 3000 series reels are plenty and 200s for bait casters. Once you have the right rod and reel you need the gear to get fishing.
We will start at the top of the rig and work our way down to the hook. The first thing going into your rig is the float, there are several different kinds but two major choices, slip float or fixed float. In my opinion the only need to run a slip float is when targeting really deep water that would be difficult to get down to with a fixed float. I don’t want to dive into this too much because most situations you can fish a fixed float which is easier and more effective. To attach your fixed float all you need is float tubing (surgical tubing works as well) in size 1/16th and 3/32th if you have only have 1/16th thats fine too. Put the tubing almost all the way over the float stem and cut it, slide those pieces over your line and attach the float. There are several sizes and this will be covered more in depth in a later article. However starting with an 11g Raven FD float is a great middle ground and safe for most situations.
Next is your weight, the debate is shot pattern or bulk weight. We aren’t going to talk about shot patterns because bulk weight is the better option in almost every scenario anyways. Inline weights are great for the bulk weight option because you don’t have to worry about swivels as they are apart of the weight. If you don’t have any and cant get them, any bullet weight or egg weight will work, stacking split shot right above your swivel also works.
Now we get down to your bead or spawn bag. If you don’t have eggs to work with, tying spawn bags isn’t an option. This doesn’t mean you’re in trouble, it just means you have to fish with beads and a lot of the time they are just as effective. There are countless colors and options when it comes bead colors and size is a factor as well. You will want a good selection of a variety of both sizes and colors. The best place to start is oranges, peaches, yellows and a few pinks in both 8mm and 10mm beads. The slightest color change can make huge difference. Fish your beads or bait with 6 inches of the bottom and you will be catching in no time. Visit this article later on for more attached links to in depth articles and Steelhead Float Fishing 101 Part 2.
John Wielinga
269-277-9293
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