Here is the first Steelhead I ever caught, and it was on a jig.
This particular fish is what started my obsession not only with Steelhead, but with creating my own Steelhead slaying jig creations. There is a great satisfaction that comes with hooking fish consistently on jigs you hand tied on your vise. Knowing that your creation was good enough that a Steelhead couldnt just let it drift by without eating it. There is no greater sight than seeing that brightly colored maribou jig hanging out of a Steelhead’s mouth when sliding it into the net.
I think I love float fishing so much because it is such a visual technique. Making that perfect cast to an ideal looking seam, mending your line, that float standing straight up indicating a perfect presentation. Watching the float drift down stream, seeing it slip under the water, setting the hook, the rod bending to the cork, and feeling the heavy surge of a lively Steelhead….. GAME ON!!!
Float fishing has its place and is such an effective tactic. You can fish water that you could not effectively sidedrift or run plugs in. Many times the jig has saved the day on an otherwise slow outing. There is nothing that can imitate the presentation of a properly fished jig, and sometimes on any particular day that may be all they want. Many times we would make several passes sidedrifting through really good holes with really good baits or yarnies with no takers. Run back up and put the jigs through the same run……….FISH ON!!! Repeatedly!!
To say I am a float and jig fishing fanatic would be an understatement. More often than not, you can find me walking the bank with 2 or 3 float rods, or standing in a drift boat or a jet boat mending line and pursuing that perfect drift!! If the rivers are blown out and I am not at work, I am usually behind my vise tying more Metalhead Magnets!!
Tight lines, Bent rods, and screaming drags to all!!
