Wanting to start jig fishing steelhead this winter. Wondered what kind of floats to use-sliding, fixed, balsa or foam, and what brand/model. Thanks.

Krome Brite,
I find it depends on the kind of water your fishing. If you have to cast for distance to work a certain stretch of water, I would get a dink float (styrofoam float about 5 inches long with a plastic tube in the center to put your line through.) Put a bobber stopper and bead before the float, then tie a snap swivel underneath the float. Tie a leader on approx 3 feet long from the swivel to the jig. This allows you to put whatever weight you need on the swivel to cast out where the fish are holding, and allows you to adjust the depth with the bobber stopper. I've found this very effective on the Sky where I usually fish. If it's a small stream or creek then I would use a round cork bobber, and adjust the depth with the plastic stopper that comes with the bobber. Let me know if you have any questions-hope this helps!

I was also wondering how to rig up floats for steelhead this winter for Jigs and for sandshrimp whats the best way to do it? and they best way to put your weight on?

Might want to check out Vedder's book on the topic. Here's a URL that will take you to it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1...7050725-7441760

I prefer to use a fixed float. Thill makes some excellent floats. Personally I don't like dink floats, they have to be weighted too much and I don't care for how much of the float hangs under the water...........I feel in shallow water situations the fish can see the float.

How about the round cork floats? I do wonder about spooking fish with the larger foam floats and the weight needed to get them to ride upright. And what about jig size when the water is low and the fish have been pounded? Should we go to smaller jig or use more neutral colors? thanks

Cork floats work fine. In low clear water fishing for spooky fish I'll drop to a 1/16th oz jig on 6 pound line. I'll try to get below the fish so I'm not constantly reeling my float back over the top of the fish. Seems to work well.

Ryan, what Sw rivers are you fishing. I have been completing my float /jig "apprenticeship" on the Lewis and Kalama. I have yet to get a strike but plan to make it a major strategy this winter. I have found that if you want to drift bait under a float the super small bullet weights (worm weights) dont stick out too much and give the bait enough lead to get down low

sorry , message was directed to Krome bright, not Ryan sorry!

Steelhead addict, I hope to try jigs on the Lewis/Elochoman steelhead this winter. I have one more question about fixed floats. Do you change leader length from hole to hole on a river or always keep it the same?

I'm constantly changing leader length to keep the jig in the fish zone, even from the top of the hole to the middle to the tail.

Are those clear plastic, water filled floats any good? What sizes work? Went to the store and found a 1/4 oz clear bobber. Looked a little small.

I have found that the slider type floats work the best for me in deeper water. I also really like the dacron bobber stops, not the plastic ones ( they tear up your line).. Keep moving the bobber stop up on your line until the bobber jerks every few seconds while progressing through the drift. ( you know your on the bottom) then move it back down six inches. this way you know your presentation is six inches above the bottom ( in the strike zone).
Another trick is keeping line out of the water. If you let the line "drag" the current will pull your line and bobber speeding up the drift. Try mucilin on the line ( flyfishing floatant) and make upstream mends every so often. This will eliminate "pull".
I fish the EF Lewis quite a bit so Ill probably see you on the water sometime. Good luck!