Caught my first ironhead in over five years - thanks to this board and contributors. A friend called me Monday and asked if I wanted to try the Cowlitz the next day (Tuesday). Of course I jumped at the opportunity. Although I regularly prowl the Sound for Chinook, I rarely attempt fishing rivers for any of the six species of onchorynchus. Based on my occasional visits to this board, I thought I would give this jig-thing a shot. My buddy usually drift fishes and occasionally back bounces a tadpolly. He hadn’t even heard of float-fishing. Monday PM I did some searches on “jig” here, reviewed Bob’s Fishing Tips section, and went out and bought a couple of cigar-shaped Thill floats and a half dozen quarter-once jigs. I dusted off my 12 foot Loomis and my wife helped me load an old Bantam 150 with new 8 pound Maxima UG.
We got to the ramp rather late, but by 10:30 my buddy found his favorite hole right above the tail-out. It was gin clear and low. Not unlike previous visits, everyone there said it was dead – the bite happened earlier in the morning. We only saw one other fish, lost at the net, beside mine the rest of the day. Every fisher I saw was drift-fishing from the bank or boat. For my first ever foray into float-fishing, I rigged it just like Bob said to: nail-knot stop, bead, float, swivel, 24 inches of leader, and jig. I was able to figure out the exact bottom depth from the bobbing float, and set my stop accordingly. On each cast, I visualized my pink and white quarter-once jig dancing just off the bottom at current speed – not hindered by any pencil lead or line drag. I was amazed at how fast the light quarter-ounce jig sank into position. After about an hour, I had one take when the float was yanked from below, so I kept casting to float over that same spot. It paid off. I hooked a ten pound hen in her lower jaw. She didn’t put up much of a fight. She was a summer-run with that beautiful red splashed across her side. She was a brat, but I wanted to release her anyway. Perhaps she could return next year even bigger and spawn another 2,000 or so offspring. On the way home, the fog lifted just before a glorious sunset and quiet day on the river. I smiled thinking about my “Internet fish.” Thank you Bob, Jigman, and others for your tips and help.

Very nice job man. There will be more to come. And after each one, it will become more and more addictive. I still haven't figured it out but there's just something abuot those steelies. Wait till you hook a hot chromer, then you'll see what i mean.

Good job! Jig fishing is addictive and deadly!