Drift Fishing For Beginners

Drift Fishing is EASY! By David D Hicks

I'm hoping this article, and the video at the end will make your introduction into drift fishing a whole lot easier than it was for me. When I was first introduced to drift fishing, I had more questions than answers. Years of being on the river has answered quite a few of them.

 WHAT IS DRIFT FISHING: Drift fishing is the art of casting up river at about two o'clock (from where you're standing), and letting your bait drift down river until it gets to about eleven o'clock.

WHAT KINDS OF BAIT DO I USE? There are many different types of bait, but the most common, and productive baits are corkies and yarn, or cured salmon eggs. These are both drifted in the same way, and in the same type of water.

WHERE IN THE RIVER DO I CAST? This is the question which every fisher would love to know, but here's a brief synopsis, and a couple books that can give you a very good idea of where to cast. Salmon hold in slow deep water. In most rivers you can find areas where two different currents meet (one faster, one slower) like where a stream flows into the river, or a fork in the river itself. If there are salmon in the river, they'll be holding along the seam that the water creates, in the slower water. Cast into the fast water, and let it drift your bait into the slow water, so that your presentation looks natural. Many times, slower water is right behind a log, or large rock in the river.

 HOW LONG OF LEADER? The leader length will vary upon water clarity. The clear the water, the longer the leader, so the fish doesn't see your weight & swivel setup behind your bait. Standard leader lengths are 2-6 ft.

HOW MUCH WEIGHT SHOULD I USE Your weight should only be hitting the bottom every 10 ft. or so. This way, you'll know that whatever disturbs your line, or causes it to stop in the water is a fish.

DO I SET THE HOOK? Absolutely! When you feel or see your line stop in the water, quickly set the hook.... this should only be done once through out the drift. If you find that more often than not, what you thought was a fish, was only your weight hitting the bottom, you need to trim your weight. If you think trimming your weight won't allow you to get deep enough in the water, all you need to do is cast farther up river.

 HAVE A GOOD TIME Fishing is meant to be fun. Experiment, and don't get "locked in" to one style of fishing. I've drift fished water very productively, but there are some spots on rivers, where bobber fishing, or casting lures is the most productive form of fishing. To find all the fishing gear you'll need, a lot more info please visit:

http://www.fishingthepuyallup.blogspot.com I hope this video helps DRIFT FISHING FOR BEGINNERS Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_D_Hicks Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6636634

Float Fishing With Jigs For Salmon and Steelhead

By Nick Satushek

Float fishing with a jig for salmon and steelhead is one of the most popular and productive methods for pursuing salmon and steelhead because of the many advantages. Less gear is lost to the bottom and snags than other methods of steelhead and salmon fishing, and jigs often times out produce other methods. When other methods are failing, jigs are still producing strikes. The underwater pulsing action of marabou jigs drives salmon and steelhead to strike jigs oftentimes on the first or second pass.

The methods outlined in this article can be used to help with your success when jig fishing for Steelhead or Salmon. We like to use these jig fishing methods with a marabou or schlappen jig when fishing in the Pacific Northwest rivers for Salmon and Steelhead, but these methods will work anywhere you choose to fish including the Great Lakes and more.

First off, to rig up for jig float fishing there are several specific pieces of gear you will want to use. You will want to use a long rod in the 10 foot range, which will be explained later in further detail, a good sliding float, a float stop, a lead alternative sinker like brass, steel, or tungsten (or lead depending on where you are fishing), and a jig.

Some anglers prefer inline sinker weights when fishing jigs but you can also use slip on weights of various sizes tied to or between barrel swivels. The use of a sliding float is helpful because you can adjust the depth that you are fishing at very easily to match the depth of the river. To adjust the sliding float you will need to use a float stop which is essentially just a piece of yarn that is slipped onto the line, tightened, and trimmed. It can be moved up and down your main line to adjust the depth you will be fishing at. This is especially useful when jig fishing lots of varied stretches of water in a day. Usually, you will want to fish your jig 1-2 feet off the river bottom, so it is important to be able to adjust the depth you are fishing to match the specific run or hole you are fishing. Thill and Beau Mac make good sliding floats that offer excellent cast-ability and are easy to spot on the water.

A definite must for float fishing is a floating line like Pline Hydrofloat line which is designed specifically for float fishing or another floating braided line. This lets you see and manage, or mend, your line on the surface and will help you with stronger hook sets. The reason for a longer than normal rod becomes apparent when you are jig fishing and attempting to minimize the drag on your float, and while attempting to keep your line off the water. A rod in the 10 foot range will help you immensely with your line control. The benefit here is the ability to mend, or adjust your line on the water as well as pick it up and get a solid hook set when a fish strikes your jig. When float fishing with a jig, a strike simply looks like your float stopping its downstream motion, or going underwater. The general rule is that anytime you see your float go underwater or behave unnaturally, set the hook!

Many anglers use spinning reels while fishing jigs while others prefer casting reels. It is simply a matter of personal preference. Generally we will use a lighter spinning rod outfit when fishing smaller jigs in micro sizes or when fishing lower flowing or smaller water. When using larger jigs or fishing larger water we like to use casting outfits because of the ability to free spool line out downstream while controlling the spool with the thumb. Whatever your choice, it is important to choose a reel that free spools easily to help in feeding out extra line.

It is extremely important to minimize drag on your rig when float fishing jigs, which again brings us back to the use of long rods and floating lines. Throughout your drift you may have to free spool line out to keep the float standing straight upright in the water. If your line starts to drag and the float turns on its side, you aren't getting a good presentation and aren't fishing your jig correctly. To help fix this problem throw a downstream mend in your line, like you would while fly fishing, to decrease the drag on your line. This may sound confusing but once you get on the water this method will be intuitive and you will understand why it is necessary. You can free spool line out when drifting downstream but don't go too far because if you let too much line out you will have trouble setting the hook and playing your fish back upstream to where you are fishing from.

Fishing with jigs for salmon and steelhead is an immensely popular method, and it is only growing in popularity as the benefits become apparent. Less lost rigs to snags, and the fact that fish love the action of marabou and schlappen feathers underwater make jigs a great option.

North Fork Fishing Outfitters offers hand tied marabou and schlappen steelhead and salmon jigs at great prices. Our eco friendly brass bead head jigs are a good environmentally friendly alternative to solid lead jig heads, and are tied on high quality solid hooks for powerful hookups.

http://www.northforkfishingoutfitters.com

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How To Catch A Steelhead With Every Cast

By Robert R Smith If you believe this is going to happen at this time of year I suggest that you just stay home where it's nice and warm, relax, and think about the coming months when the Steelhead fishing here in Idaho really picks up. However if you want to try your luck out on the river you can still catch some nice Steelhead from the end of December through the middle of February, you just need to remember to be persistent. The Steelhead this time of year have moved into the deeper hold pools waiting for the water temperature and condition to change signaling its time to continue their trip to the spawning beds. This time of year requires patience, persistence and a good amount of luck, some fisherman call the latter skill, however most Steelhead fishermen know that when fishing in these tough winter conditions we will take luck over skill every time. You need to change your fishing style this time of year to be successful and here are a few tips to help you out some. o Don't concentrate on the tail end of the hole like you would when fishing in the early fall move up stream and fish the deeper slower moving section of the hole. o Dress warm as this time of year is brutal if you're not prepared, and you won't put in the time needed if you're not able to at least tolerate the weather conditions. o Drift through the same spot numerous times as the Steelhead have become somewhat lethargic do to the cold water temperatures and they really don't want to have to chase anything. o Switch up your lure colors and don't be afraid to try something different Steelhead become very persnickety so give them something different. o Keep your bait and lures small this is one of the most common mistakes Steelhead fisherman make during this time of year. o Slow your presentation down as much as you can remember that the Steelhead have slowed down also. o Try new or different spots concentrating on deep slow moving holes. o Should you be fortunate enough to hook a Steelhead remember the spot where you hooked into him and keep on working that spot as Steelhead like to pool up together. I have been Chasing Steelhead for over 35 years here in Idaho and yes you can catch some nice Steelhead when most Fishermen have put their rods up waiting for warmer weather and more active fish. Just follow the simple steps above and you to can enjoy one of the most peaceful times on the river and even hook into quite a few steelhead. By: RR Smith http://steelhead-gear.com/wordpress http://www.steelhead-gear.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_R_Smith Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/950045

Productive Winter Steelhead Fishing With Spinners By Chris Cliff

Winter Steelhead Fishing Requires Something Special Getting up on a Winter morning to go Steelheading is a cold affair. The air is cold, the water is cold, your fingers are cold. Most of all the Steelhead are more than a little cold and sleepy. Combine this with faster flows and water that is every shade of murky and you have a recipe for not catching any fish. So what is the go-to lure when things are cold and dark? Spinners of course. Spinners Have an Advantage in Dark Water Winter rain or snow melt can turn the rivers murky and swift. This means the fish can't see lures as well, and often times the Steelhead will have difficulty locating a scent trail unless it is right in front of them. What they can feel though is vibration. Even admit all the turbulence in the rivers, fish can pick up on the thrumming of a spinner chopping its way through the water. Even in Low Water Spinners Work Between rain storms, or when it is all falling as snow, water levels can drop and clear up. This is still a great opportunity to use spinners. Simply down size the lure and be aware that as the water clears the fish can see you again! If your favorite fish holding spot is full of pretty clear water, it is time to try the 'casting up stream' technique featured below. Which Spinner to Use Many factors affect which spinner to use, but generally speaking a size #3 through #5 will work for Winter conditions. The Color to use is a topic of much debate. In very dark and stained water, a silver body and blade that put out the maximum flash is probably a safe bet, as there is less chance of spooking the fish. Other good options for dark water are bright orange and greens. As the water clears and visibility improves you can move to Brass colored lures or dark bodied spinners with a flash of color like Wyld Edge's Headbanger series How to Fish Those Spinners There are three basic ways to fish spinners. Casting Up Stream - This is the hardest to master, but allows you to fish deeper. Simply cast up stream, flip your bail over and retrieve just fast enough to keep your blade spinning. The idea is to keep the spinner moving and up off the bottom, but not pull it in so fast that the fish won't follow it. Across the Stream - A standard presentation, casting across the flow, allowing the lure to sink and then using a steady retrieve to keep it up out of the rocks. Flipping into Rips - A favorite of mine, flip your spinner into the rip at the edge of a pool and let the current carry it along. Try to follow the edge of the faster water with your spinner and then retrieve slowly. Stay alert though because fish will follow lures presented this way a long ways and may surprise you with a strike when you are about to pull it out of the water. Know Your Water Regardless of where you fish and what season, this holds true. Many true Steelheaders will also tell you to fish the waters closest to you until you know every hiding spot for Steelhead regardless of the water levels. Remember to fish the edges and don't forget the water under your feet. The faster and darker the water, the more likely they fish are to be tucked in along the edges hiding under banks, and behind rocks. Cover the Water Remembering that the water is murky, even a spinner can only pull fish from so far, so don't just stand in one spot. Shai Plummer of Wyld Edge Outfitters sums it up like this: "You can't catch fish if you are not fishing where they are at. When I am on the river I fish from the bank and I am constantly moving even if it is only a couple of feet at a time. With spinfishing a good general rule is that if you have made four to five casts to one spot, give up on it and move on, unless you see activity that shows you that there are fish there. Fish as many holes as you can and cover them well." So keep moving! As soon as you have covered an area take a step and start again. One good rule of thumb is to move as far between casts as you can see into the water. Fish, Fish, Fish! Steelheading takes practice and patience, and there is nothing else that can compare to just putting in time with your line in the water. Chris Cliff is a long time fisherman that hails from the remote lands of Northern Idaho, but has now moved to the big city. He and his crew fish the waters of the Northwest filming episodes of their own web based fishing show 'Fishing with Cliff'. You can find it at http://www.FishingWithCliff.com/ and features more great articles, photos, links and of course episodes of their show. Think of it as a fishing show crossed with reality TV. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Cliff Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/922980