I know a lot of you folks are from washington but im in oregon lookin for tips on steelies. Heres what i use rod is a 9' cabelas whoopin stick shimano reel 10 lb test 6 or 8 lb leader size 2 or 4 hooks i float yarn and corkies various colors somtimes add shrimp tail or an egg oh yeah i use roughly 3' to 4' leaders am i doin this right or am i missin something

...and your not catching fish?

Here's what I would suggest. Try using Jigs. I would suggest either just going to a local tackle shop and ask someone to pick out some for you or going to www.silentapproach.com and giving Roger an e-mail. He makes some really great jigs and he'll pick out the styles and colors you need. Basically for summer fish, you're looking for 1/8 or 1/16 ouch jigs, in darker colors such as purple, black, red, adn sometimes pink. Have about a 18 inch 8 pound leader tied to a swivel. Then just tie your mainline onto that swivel. Use split shots, a slinky, or whatever you want for weight. Just make sure you use a small float for summer fish as you won't have a very heavy jig and you don't want to have to use too much weight. You want your float to go under at the slightest pull on your jig. So keep adding weight till you achieve that desired weight. Well a lot of guys on here know more about this then me so keep asking questions. This is just what I do.

i shoulnt have said i dont catch fish i just cant seem to get them on the bank. i fight em and its greatbut my hook always gets spit or shaken out i can get em on the line not all the time but sometimes I appreciate the responses and look forward to more advice on steelhead or salmon like when exactly are the runs summer winter fall spring i fish the clackamas ive caught a 20 lb chinook and a 15 lb nook 20 was a little dark but the 15 had a lot better color thanks again for the help

Basically there's two runs of steelhead on most rivers. Summer fish, which can be anywhere in between June and September, and Winter fish, which are November-March. The timing on these runs will vary from river to river. Hatchery steelhead will come up around December through January and the Natives will follow them. Just keep fishing and you'll learn when fish are in and when they aren't.

Hey Beerman,
Welcome!! We love good beer here in Wa also, however , we've found that after we've had a few its really hard to read posts like yours! Throw some periods our way! I'll loan you some just in case your out and need to make a RUN (............................) :p :p Three words Jig and prawn.

Do you use barbed or barbless hooks? Seems that size 2 or 4 hooks may be a little on the small side. Do they spit the hook? What color yarn do you use? I've been using heavier test 17 and 14 lb test but I have sucess in the faster water. I also use 10 lb or 12 lb test. I use 2/0, 1/0, and size 1 hooks. I use solid core lead hooked up with a small piece of rubber tubing about 18 inches up from my hook, no leader, just mainline. I like to use orange , flame orange, and pink, chartreuse yarn. The best time catching summers for me is May to early July and late August to mid-November. I find it hard to hook anything late summer when its hot and the water level is low. Been experimenting with floats and jigs and lighter line and smaller hooks with no sucess. Seems to be alot of no biters. Just be persistant. A little rain would help.

Perhaps a more authoritative hookset is in order!

FJ...out.

And remember.....Never horse a fish on a losing streak!

i will have to ask, what hooks are you using? stay away from eagle claw lazer sharps, go for say visions,gammy's,vmc, i havent lost a fish to these hooks except for breaking a leader, no spitting the hooks anymore, keep em sharp and you will land more fish... **berkley boy**

Beerman

Welcome to the life of a Steelheader. I also have alot of hookups and average about 1 fish per 3 hookups for summer runs. I use #2 Gamu hooks and 10lb Maxima ultra green.. hang in there your fish will come. I find when I loose fish its because I get impatient when the fish gets near shore and I start dogging them. I have two 9 1/2 ft lamiglass certified pro. One is rigged for bait and the other for lures. I switch every hour to give the fish something new to look at.

I use Blue Fox spinners #3 and #4 with great success

Fresh eggs in small clusters or sandshrimp

Jigs

i'm not sure what your state reg book says, but mabe try double #4 vision hooke with a size 12 or 14 corkie in between. then you are putting a hook in each side of their mouth. it has worked a lot better for me.