My new digi cam has me like a little kid with a new toy. Here are some things to try for this season's good steelhead run, when the water is better:

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1432992&a=10739464&p=57078348&Sequence=4[/img]

Top row left to right:
- A chartreuse bass jig that I tied a stinger hook to for a combo of drifting and retrieving the pink worm for 'hos and steelies - notice the chrome propeller .
- In the upper right is a walleye rig with the pink worm for the same purpose.

In the second row from left to right:
- This is how Mark and I fish the pink worm on a shallapen feathered jighook. This one has a transparent purple worm for real clear water use. Black with a small chartreuse tail worm is also a good one in a wide range of water conditions.
- Next is the new Thill 'Steelheader' snap on float. It's great for instantly swithcing back and forth from drift fishing to fixed float fishing when you come to a snaggy hole.
- To it's right is the new Lindy curved and plasto-coated lead weight with a tine off the end. It is almost as snag resistant as the slinkies but you still get the traditional pencil lead tap tap feel. It comes in many sizes to snap on.
- On the right of that is a black Vibrax spinner that I put a flame red arrow shaped lure tape on and a fisheye also. I like to do this with many of my plugs and hardware. I do believe it helps the success rate in many cases.

Bottom row from left to right:
- First Cast Jigs jighead hook with white shallapen hackle that I mostly use for the deadly pink worm - but on this one I have hot pink Smelly Jelly rubber eggs impregnated with salmon egg scent. It really gives the pink worm a run for the money in this application. Both deadly effective. And they are egg savers too.
- In the right corner is a regular size tadpolly in the chrome with red herring bone pattern. I taped one half lengthwise and painted the other half metalic green, on top and bottom. I have noticed over the years a little better success rate with plugs and Kwikies painted in this 'baitfish' type manner; rather than the stock front half/back half type patterns. Add one fisheye underneath and it likely looks a little more like a baitfish to salmon and steelhead. It works!

RT

Mr. RT,
couldt you please explain how you would rig that float and jig with the eggs on it.
I am thinking it would be good for clear water.

Thanks

[ 12-04-2001: Message edited by: EggsGuy ]

RT you will always amaze me. Great Lures and Info. Have a great holiday.

Thanks for the kind comments Swami - Happy Holidays.

EggsGuy, I like to tie the jighook with feather's, or simulated or real eggs or worm, right on the end of my mainline (although a small black swivel and 30" +/- leader is fine). Then use the Steelheader snap on fixed float with it; and you can take the float off and drift fish Mark's worm/egg jigs (in less snaggy water) because the nickle plate brass heads don't chip and the hook points up so it doesn't dull often when drift fishing it. It's a great way to cover a lot of various water.

RT

Nice pics RT.
One thing I'd like to add is,be careful fishing the eggs clusters in no bait waters,and worms too,make sure you're using non-scented baits.

Also I've had much better luck fishing a single egg cluster,must be profile or something.

I've been fishing this style of Jig for years,
I prefer to run my worm straight off the back of the jig hook,I prefer to keep my worm about 3" in length.
I don't see the advantage of the angle,but thats just me I guess,there's lots I don't see .....Os

[ 12-05-2001: Message edited by: Osprey ]

RT,

The walleye jig with blade also comes in pink... it seems to work better than the yellow.

Looks like you have been looking through your Bass Pro Shop catalog.

Do you try out your new gear when fishing is hot or when nothing else is working??

Todd

Great post, RT!

Can anyone post where they stock the Thill "Steelheader" float. I don't find them at SportCo, in Fife, or anywhere else I've looked in Tacoma. I would appreciate any information. Thanks in advance.

Hey Rt
Is your'es always bent like that

Mine's always straight
......always .....Os

[ 12-05-2001: Message edited by: Osprey ]

Hey Os, that's because I don't play with my worm as often as you do. Actually, I like the bent worm tail on a jighook because it gets a little more action when the float is going over riffles and especially rollers; imparting a flapping worm tail action. This rigup also gets quick strikes closer to the hook. ... It works well with them straight too of course.

Todd, I use these less common things in both situations - when it's hot fishing to find out their comparitive effectiveness, and when it's slower fishing to show lethargic fish something different to see if it will induce them to strike.

T-D, www.firstcastjigs.com carries both the 'Steelheader' and cork floats. You can order them for shipment on that site. I think some tackle shops carry them also. The one thing it needs is another size larger, and one of Lindy's managers answered to my inquiry about it that they are working on it. In the present sizes they tend to go under a little too easily with much weight. But they are great for jigs, and light lead and egg combos in lower flows; especially when you want to alternate between driftfishing and floatfishing.

RT

It would be nice if Thill would come out with a 1 1/2" or even a 2" Premium steelheader float. These are very versatile and work great as a fixed float.

Mark

Great post RT, as a long time drift fisherman, but a jig and worm virgin, I really appreciate the photo. Let the floating begin!

RT, or anyone
The jig with the pink worm in the 1st row on the left and the jig with the pink worm in the second row on the left. As a standard practice are these fished under a float, or are they tosssed out and retrieved with a small jigging motion.

I'm glad you figured out your digital camera RT. I've always thought that a picture is worth a thousand words. I was always confused about your painting of the quickfish and tads but now I can understand. I'm off to the tackle shop to get a bunch of these steelie lures tied up now. Thank you!

Yeah, thanks for the visual, RT. Those pink worm contraptions look pretty good, but I think I'll just stick with the jigs/maybe the worm (both by themselves) for now, since after all I am a VIRGIN (beginner).

[ 12-07-2001: Message edited by: Krome Brite ]

l'thrower,

The pink worms were more commonly fished on a threaded single hook or double hook via both drift fishing and float fishing methods; with weight and a leader. Very effective. The reason I like fishing them, and many others things now also (including real egg clusters), on a jighead hook is that you won't have any line slack with a leader. The jig is attached directly to the end of the main line or the end of a leader 30" +/- from a barrel swivel. You can add extra weight if needed near the swivel. Either way the leader has no slack because of the weight of the jighead. That way you detect a strike immediately and can set it before the fish can spit the worm. And the exciting visual rush is great. really fun!

RT