This is my second season fishing out of my drift boat. I bought a Loomis 1082s rated 6-10 pounds for side drifting. What size and color for main line? I've seen pink Maxima, and Fluorescent green P Line. Should I rig my slinky fixed or sliding? What Size and length of leader? Also what size of hook? I would appreciate any help.

I am no expert on side drifting but I know what Clancy Holt uses and he catches as many fish as anyone I know.

He uses 8 lb mainline. Very small pencil lead, small hooks, as I remember about size 4s and a 36 inch clear monoleader.

I wouldn't recommend a slinky as you need to change weight to match water conditions.

Dave I sould be asking you what's the perfect float rod. I think I'll buy The book Float Fishing For Steelhead Techniques & Tackle.

Wade:

I try not to promote my rod too much but I like the one I designed. it's a Lamiglas 10.5 foot rod designed for 8-12 lb. line. its caled the Dave veder signature rod. They will have them on sale at the Sportsman's show for about $159.00

Wade, I have fished the Cowlitz quite a lot from the bank near mission bar. I have had the chance to watch A LOT of people side drift. They generally use flourescent green line about 8lb. test for their mainline. The reason for the bright line is so that when multiple people are fishing from a boat, everyone can keep track of where their lines are so that they don't get tangle ups every three minutes. Leaders are usually tied from 6 or 8lb. maxima ultragreen in the winter, and 4 to 6lb. ultragreen in the low clear waters of summer.
Fairly large, brightly cured egg clusters are generally used because their bait is in the water for long periods of time, and after a few hundred yards of drifting, you still want to have some eggs left on the hook. An egg cluster bouncing along the rocks can be ruduced in size faster than you might think.

P.S. Keep your drag fairly loose because fishing with this method tends to leave very little slack in your line when the bite happens, and I have seen many people snap fish off on the strike because they were using light line and had their drag set too tight!

I like my 1141s with a 2000 Spirex reel with Stren Clear Blue line. 3/16 lead on a slider and #4 or #2 gamikatsu hooks.

for main use 10lb hi vis Izor
Leader 8lb UG

Lead and leader length change for the type of water your fishing.

good luck

Thanks for the advice guys.

Wade, get out on the river and experiment. The answers are not found on this board, but are found by hours of experimentation. You'll realize, through hours of experimentation, what works and what doesn't. You'll learn what maximizes your fishing time and what minizmizes tie-up time. I'm not trying to be a dick, just trying to give you advice that will help. Some guys will give you advice, but it's poor advice and can be intentionally misleading. Others will just give you poor advice. And while some will give you honest advice, there's no subsitute for on-the-j0b training, know what I mean?

Don't worry Wade, my advice is not misleading! I'm just trying to help you out by giving you the straight skinny.

The one thing that i don't agree with is the large egg clusters and I'm not saying that it is misleading . I have not seen to many people sidedrifting with large egg cluster. In low clear water I see people us no cheater and just a vary small cluster of eggs, yesterday I caught a steelie on just a cheater.


Fishalot

I have to agree with Fishalot on the egg cluster size issue. Clancy uses clusters about the size if the nail on your little finger and does not change out as long as there is ANY egg left in the cluster. Many steelies have been caught by guys and gals drifting only a tiny cheater of puffball after all their eggs were gone.

One other point is to rig your weight so that contact with the bottom is only occasionally. An ideal drift would be to tick bottom every five seconds. That give an almost natural drift and it keeps from beating up your bait too fast.

I'll chuck in another reply. "Side drifting" with a fly rod, dry line, long leader and wted egg pattern as the top fly and a small (#10-#12'bug' as a trailer (at least 30" of leader between fly's) This is very, very effective in clear(er) water conditions on the upper Rogue.

Most folks 'down here' will also use an indicator to help 'spot' the pick ups.

I'm not saying that a large egg cluster is a must. I'm just telling you what I have seen on the Cowlitz. I was actually quite surprised myself when I saw people using such large clusters on the Cow in the middle of summer, but it worked.

I'm not saying that a large egg cluster is a must. I'm just telling you what I have seen on the Cowlitz. I was actually quite surprised myself when I saw people using such large clusters on the Cow in the middle of summer, but it worked.

Sorry about the accidental double post!!

10footfred:

I agree with up to a point, about more time on the water. But there are things to be learned off this board that will help me fish out of my DB. Yes, you do have to worry about poor advice. I wasted far too much time learning how to fish of the bank. I'm not afraid to ask WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW, WHY. A person just has to decipher what’s good or poor advice.