Northwest Fishing Reports

Hey guys, im preparing for my first serious season of steel head.

I'll have both, but im just curious- what do you guys find gets steel to bite better on?

Cured eggs, or jigs?
Thanks in advance!

I prefer eggs honestly. Almost every steelhead I've ever hooked, or caught have been on eggs or something that looks like eggs. But I think its more of a preference. Both work well.

eggs

I let the fish determine which one but normally jigs with prawn, not as messy and just as effective if not more at certain times but eggs have been known to catch a fish or 2, you going to fish the skok for steelhead they are planting them pretty heavily in there.

Eggs are the only thing I've seen catch steel but it's only been two seasons.

Fishing during the day for sure jigs.

I personally have had more luck with jigs. I think a lot of it has to do with where you are fishing though.

Its all good but I havw found steelhead prefer a borax cure over any sulfite cures. When it's cold and the water is clear, its hard to beat a jig tipped with prawn.

Im pretty much 50-50 but it really depends on the water flow and structures. Like tomorrow, I plan to do more bobber doggin then floating jigs. I always bring setups for both. I will say that I have hooked more fish with jigs.

IMO It's all about what you are confident in. I have yet to hook a steelhead on eggs. But then I use my eggs for coho and haven't fished much with them for steelhead either. This year I took what remained of my coho eggs, cut em up into smaller chunks and made a batch of steelhead candy and am itchin to try em out.
Steelhead are going to prefer a smaller presentation than salmon when fishing eggs and (from what I understand) they have a sweet tooth and less of a taste for sulfates..

Steelhead love eggs. I haven't noticed much of a difference between sulfite or borax, but fish mainly borax, they're cheaper to make. Bring both - that way you're prepared. There are places where a jig is unfeasible to use, but bobber dogging roe is perfect. Bring the box, and see what they want. It takes a little time and experience to know when to switch up, but after a while you'll know. There is no one technique that will work more than another all around, the most successful angler will tailor the method to the conditions they're given.

A couple weeks ago the guy next to me on the Hump landed a beautiful chunky 12 lb hatchery steelie just drifting two small red beads. The fish slurped them right up.

Looking for my first steelie as well. It's gonna happen! I've got all kinds of techniques and baits lined up.

All about where and why. Certain heights and water colors fish prefer one or the other. Certain drifts fish prefer one over the other. Certain rivers they prefer one or the other. Totally depends on a million things and the only way to learn is to fish A LOT and learn through experience. Try both and go get em!

Don't over think it too much, fish aren't that smart. They will bite almost anything you put in front of their nose. That being said, certain baits can be better depending on conditions like everyone else said. You shouldn't have a problem catching fish with either

Don't over think it too much, fish aren't that smart. They will bite almost anything you put in front of their nose. That being said, certain baits can be better depending on conditions like everyone else said. You shouldn't have a problem catching fish with either

mizm05 wrote:A couple weeks ago the guy next to me on the Hump landed a beautiful chunky 12 lb hatchery steelie just drifting two small red beads. The fish slurped them right up.

Looking for my first steelie as well. It's gonna happen! I've got all kinds of techniques and baits lined up.

was that guy drifting those beads or floating. Beads are a great switch up bait, they did a nice article on them in the northwest sportsman though the authors rigging didn't make that much sense

Sandshrimp tail!

Brat Bonker wrote:

mizm05 wrote:A couple weeks ago the guy next to me on the Hump landed a beautiful chunky 12 lb hatchery steelie just drifting two small red beads. The fish slurped them right up.

Looking for my first steelie as well. It's gonna happen! I've got all kinds of techniques and baits lined up.

was that guy drifting those beads or floating. Beads are a great switch up bait, they did a nice article on them in the northwest sportsman though the authors rigging didn't make that much sense

He was drifting them on the bottom. My buddy took a pic of his fish...LOL...here's his prize. You can see one of the beads right on the lip...the other was almost inhaled. And it was his first steelhead ever. Lucky guy.

Love me some beads, when the water is right.

Depends on the day. Gringo had the gist of it. I've caught 'em on the darndest things.