Northwest Fishing Reports

I'm new to steelheading. Every time I learn about a new spot or technique I'm quick to jump on it and give it a shot! Recently learned about Tokul Creek and the Big Eddy. Seems the creek is not open beyond the Fish Hatchery Rd Bridge yet, otherwise I'd have tried it out by now!

Anyhow, I fished the Big Eddy at the mouth a couple of times. Tried floating some eggs, but I'm not sure if the depth of my float's correct. I hear the Big Eddy can be quite deep. Does anyone know how deep it can get? Current gauge height as per http://waterdata.usgs.gov" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is 3.00 as of today (12/19).

I ran my terminal gear about 3-4 feet below the float. My understanding is that you want your terminal gear floating about 10-12" above the bottom. How will I know if I have the proper depth?

Thanks in advance!

When floating jigs or bait, a good rule of thumb is to keep increasing the depth you're running until you start to see your float lay over as your offering bumps the bottom, then raise your offering under the float by 6" -15". That way you know you're in the zone. To really dial in the proper depth on any float/drift requires the risk of losing some gear sometimes.

thx bentrod! feel silly not thinking of that myself! :P

along with eggs, i'm thinking of floating jigs and pink worms. will report back if i'm successful!

I do like BentRod with my jigs, but I bobber dog my eggs. let that weight tick across the bottom with a 20 inch or so leader. I also use stick weights for this, a ton less drag on the bottom.

I'm Still confused as to what Bobber Dogging is exactly. I have read and heard the term many times before... Can anyone shed light or have a link to more info on what Bobber Dogging is and when and where it would be applicable? I've got Jigs under a float, Drifting, and Throwing Spoons and Spinners down... now I just want to keep adding more techniques to my repertoire.

bothellfisher wrote:I'm Still confused as to what Bobber Dogging is exactly. I have read and heard the term many times before... Can anyone shed light or have a link to more info on what Bobber Dogging is and when and where it would be applicable? I've got Jigs under a float, Drifting, and Throwing Spoons and Spinners down... now I just want to keep adding more techniques to my repertoire.

Basically..
Float fishing = Float, weight, leader, lure (eggs, whatever) setting the lure to hover about 6"-24" off the bottom.
Bobber dogging = Float, weight. leader, lure with the weight ticking the bottom and the lure free floating downstream of the weight (kind of like drift fishing with a float).

With bobber dogging you want to use nuetrally boyant lures (eggs, beads, yarnies, etc.) not weighted lures (like jigs)

bobber dogging is just drift fishing but with the use of a bobber above the weight set to the depth you want to drift fish whether right on the bottom or a foot of the bottom what ever but the nice thing is that you can extend your drift however far you want to versus w/o float you can't really feel the bite as easy plus the float is a strike indicator too.

I like bobber dogging because the visual indicator for newbies is really helpful. Feeling a bite drift fishing is still a challenge for me.