Some guys were debating the effectiveness of pink worms versus jigs on another OP board. It gave me the idea of an opinion reply poll comparing effectiveness of different rigs for the majority of fishers; as opposed to specialists. Hopefully it will be particularly interesting for you begginers to learn from experienced guys that fish with all 3 things. ... For any steelheading novices with an upcoming trip that would like to know the answers ahead of whatever posts that may be shared here, send me your e-mail addy and I'll give you the answers before the poll is finished. ~~~

Do you experienced guys catch more steelhead on:

- Bait (eggs or shrimp; or corkies and yarn where bait is banned)

- Rubber worms (pink being the 'go to' color; sometimes with a little white stuff added)

or

- Jigs (pink and white often being the 'go to' colors)?

I hope this will be a revealing and interesting thread for you people.

RT

For the choices you asked for I always do good on jigs. My favorite steelhead lure is a corkie with a plastic grub instead of yarn. However, when the steelies are agressive you can't beat a #4 Blue Fox spinner, red or blue

RT, 90% of all my fish are caught on eggs. But, that what I use 90% of the time.

Fishhead5

98% on eggs....1% on sandshrimp....1% on plugs Year around!

1)Rags & Sand Shrimp
2)Tadpollies
Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I've gotten 90% on egggs, 5% on jigs, and the other five % is split between spinners, spoons, and plugs. Still a worm virign.

Aaron

Steelhead-80% shrimp and 20% hardware
Salmon 50% eggs and 50% hardware

99% of the fish are caught on what you fish with 99% of the time.

I agree w. Dave Jackson, my dad has never caught a steelie on a jig.. but then again he fishes eggs 90% of the time, with an occasion sand shrimo and red tadpolly now and then.

I get bored, I like to float a jig w/ worm, or throw the conehead at them, I like the way the hammer those worms. But my #1 go to, sure thing rod is always my egg rod. "feed'em"

TH

I will try and break this down a bit further based just on my personal observations. I have found success with both nates and hatchery fish on bait. Mostly nates on the pink worm and mostly hatchery fish on jigs. If I am on the bank I usually start with bait and move over to either jigs or worms if we are not getting any cooperation. If I am in a drift boat, I will usually start with either a worm (on the OP) or a jig (not OP) and occasionally switch over to bait/corkies/yarn if we find a nice drift to anchor up in. If I am in a sled I like to start boon doggin eggs/corkies/yarn and then switch over to jigs/worms. Over all in the big picture I'd break it down to 50% bait/corkies/yarn, 30% jigs and 20% worms.

I think this goes back to the saying "you can use whatever color you want as long as it is pink" coined by William the Impaler.

I agree with DJ on you catch them with what you use-I like to catch them on just about everything, so I would have to say they ALL work great! Got 3 Nates on Sunday w/a pink worm and 2 on a pink and white jig I have never float fished the pink worm though and I think I might have to give that a try! Shrimp/eggs and a bobber......catches alot of hatchery fin for me!

Crayfin

Most of my steelhead are caught using bait. Eggs account for most of the fish. Corkie and yarn with scent is my second best producer. Sandshrimp is my 3rd best produce, even though I havent touched a fish this year with a shrimp. I do get a few fish every year on jigs, I would probally get more if I used them more often.

Flies :p

I throw pink worms and if that doesn't work I throw pink worms. Still no hookups on the pink worms I throw pink worms. Jig head, drift fished, straight up below a float, and you can use any color of pink worm you want just as long as it's pink

Worms, Tadpollies, spoons, corky and yarn. Have some faith, RT. We don't need no stinkin' bait It would help out a lot though. Bait bans suck, but if it is indeed best for keeping hook mortality down on nates so be it.

Drifting from the bank: Corkies & yarn with some scent. I don't use eggs for steelhead because I don't kill many fish. Plus, I seem to do alright without them.

Nates: I'll use jigs, pink worms, aeroflies, spoons, and spinners when gear fishing. Last several years though, I've gotten more into flyfishing for them.

From a driftboat: Metallic tads or warts 1/2 the time, all of the above mentioned the other 1/2.

Hi RT,

I use Sandshrimp that seems to give me the most luck. I know guys who will also out fish me using there eggs. They have there own zipper lip cure of course. I have gotten a couple of them on spinners and plugs and one on eggs. But the Jigs and pink worms haven't done me any good. Sometimes it's a little frustrating to try new things they don't produce. I think it has to do with my presentation with them.

Smily

I'm certainly not experienced, but I would definitely have to go with the PINK WORM! I've fished eggs for a long time (and caught fish with them), but then last year RT and some other board members inspired me to try the worm and it's been working really good for me ever since. Better than the eggs ever did. As far as the jigs go, I really haven't given them a good try yet as I still don't have an adequate rod (still working on getting that). Not only that, I've just gotten so crazed over 'the worm' lately. BUT, I've been collecting jigs here and there from the local shops and most recently from First Cast Jigs. So, I'm hoping maybe this summer, or better yet late next fall/early winter, I'll hook up with one of these jigs. I'll be sure to let y'all know when I do.

Signed,
Krome Brite
The Pink Worm Convert

90+% on jigs. I fish that method more than any other. I kind of get annoyed since last year I bought a light weight Loomis drift rod and I have yet to catch a fish on it. I'll drift fish for a while and not get a bite then I'll throw a jig for a while and catch a fish.

Depends on the hole and such but my first choice is eggs followed by pink worms followed by jigs followed by plugs. When floating we do tend to plug a lot and stop at the better holes and cream them off with all of the above in the order I described.

steelhead: Bait
salmon: spoons and spinners