In Keizer's infamous steelhead bible he states that plunking is effective for high water steelhead, "especially winter-runs."

What about summer-runs? I have caught many of these chrome beauties. Yet, I have never targeted them with plunking gear. What traditional plunking tenets apply? What are the subtle differences in gear and/or presentation? Thank you members....

The biggest difference is the suntan lotion. Don't forget to get the sandshrimp flavored lotion they seem to like it the best. I would also suggest some cold beverages instead of hot coffee. Fires are still appropriate except they are used for cooking hotdogs instead of heating frozen hands.

Ok ok... so they are basically the same if the river is high. Plunking in low water requires different tactics.
Good luck I am off in search of sockeyes

Tight lines


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Marty
Steelheader.net marty@steelheader.net

Hohwaiian: June 12--12:45

Go for it.....right now would be the time to try......rivers high. I camp/trailer on the Hoh in the summertime. Have caught some nice fish "Plunking" while taking in the sun. Tackle is the same as winter run maybe light leaders.....eggs, prawns, sandshrimp, spin-n-glows, etc. all could work.

"Worse day sport fishing, better than the best day working"

I just started fishing with smaller spin-n-glows with about a #4 hook and have had much success toward the end of last year on the snohomish. Just last Wednesday I hook a small summer run on this setup!! First time out on the rivers since they opened and within about an hour I had the fish dancing on my line! Oh what a feeling! Hope this helps, fish on!

plunking for summer steel... Lets put it this way, if you were to go to the lower cowlitz you would not be alone. One thing for sure if you are plunking it should be either in tidewater or lower on a bigger river system (cowlitz) and usually requires a decent weight to stay down.. I would not "lighten up" too much, just down size your corkie and or spin-glows a size or two. Moving summer steel are not real line shy in my experience.

Plunking is a very effective way to catch fish, especially in muddy, high water. I first learned how to fish by plunking on the Puyallup back in 1975 as a youngin (quite literally, I was only 5). I've found it's best to use a standard "plunking rod" all year around. In the circle I was in, most guys used Older Fenwick 88c or 89c with either 7000 or 6000 Ambassadeurs on them. (I have a couple, but mostly use my 88c with 6001c). Since you want advice on summer runs, I'll give you this scoop. Go smaller and lighter. You can use whatever you use for mainline, then run a swivel followed by two beads then loop a barrel swivel on end of mainline. From your snapswivel put either a 4 or 5 ounce pyramid sinker on about a 6 inch dropper. With summer conditions I run Ultragreen in around 8lb test with about size 2 down to 8 hooks with either strait eggs/sandshrimp with maybe a very small clown spinglow. Add the shrimpoil, it helps alot. Set the rod in the rodholder and hang on. I have been very successful with plunking, but I only do it when I need a break from drifting/fly fishing. If we hook up for those Kunnan's, I can show you some plunking set ups. I have two rods set up for different conditions. Everyone has their own ways, but this is about standard practice from oldtimers on the Puyallup (only problem is most of the oldtimers I learned from are dying off except my Dad). Any other help, let me know.

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you haven't lived til you're rowed a cataraft. Friends don't let friends run Outcasts.

yeah, stting at dead man's hole on the north bank of the puyallup has been very good a plunking hole for many years. has some deep water along the bank and gently shallows out going towards the middle.
like most have said, go a little lighter on your leader and presentation. clearer water late in the summer at times makes it a little bit different.
as to weight, most of the time, most so where i fish, i do not use more than 3-4 ounce of weight. fish are small, just enough to keep the gear on the bottom.
i use a wire drop leader for my weights some times, just to raise the bait or plugs off bottom some more. i buy the comerecial store style about 12 inches long, let it slip up and down on you main line, this will allow to feed the bait out some.

my .02 worth.

elmtree (woody)