In the last 10 years, steelhead fishing with bobber and eggs has really taken off – however, “older” fishing methods are still very effective during the early season.
Many anglers enjoy actively casting spinners and plugs. The secret to this type of fishing is finding a good hole or run that is deep enough to hold fish.
Cast your offering across the river and retrieve it as slow as possible while still making sure the lure is “swimming” close to the bottom. As you retrieve, the river’s current will swing your plug or spinner down stream in an arch. Eventually the last part of your retrieve will be almost completely up stream. Many bites will come at the bottom of the arch or during the upstream retrieve. Start your casts at the top of the hole or run and after two to three casts take a step down stream. Cast two to three more times before taking another step down stream. Repeat this process until you have covered the entire length of the hole or run. After your last casts, you can either head back to the top and start over or explore the river for another spot.
This manner of fishing can be a lot of fun because the strike of a steelhead on a retrieved lure is second to none.
