HOW TO CATCH STEELHEAD: Tackle Tactics and Secret Tips

COMPLETE GUIDE to catching steelhead with the drift fishing technique. in this video we cover all the tackle options, how to properly rig your gear, tactics on properly drifting and some insider tips to help you locate fish.

[@rubenp9346]

Your 3rd tip was gold! More people need to learn how to handle their fish properly. Thanks for sharing

[@gldrifter3161]

Thank-you Dilan! This vid was GREAT for the new comers to our beloved sport. Awesome content, very well presented 👍👍 Well done!!

[@wonton4469]

I wish you around when I 1st started. Nice work !You'll definitely help a lot of people!

[@russellcongleton6990]

Finally a guy that talks about handling of the fish. You watch other videos and you see caught fish laying in the dirt and guys handling the fish without wetting their hands. Thanks for the info.

[@Dangerdilan]

Thanks man! I’m definitely not the best at handling fish but I’m trying to be better!

[@alexrocco5224]

Dude I been steelie fishing for a long time. Your video covers everything really well. Great job!

[@Dangerdilan]

Thanks dude

[@hookedoutdoors152]

This video may have been a couple years ago but bro the words that came out of your mouth at the end of the video for the tips I liked that you said to take care of the fish Thea steelhead we catch are one of the greatest northern region fish in the world so props to you for putting that out there and it keeps guides like me in busniess thank you for that

[@Dangerdilan]

Thanks man!!! Hope you’re having a great season

[@dante334]

Good video. I'd like to see more steelhead tutorials.

[@acsinler619]

Nice video very informative ! Great Job ! Thank you !

[@terryrood8795]

Great video well explained. I’m headed up there today. Thank you

[@Dangerdilan]

Terry Rood best of luck! Have a few buddies fishing today and they have been dropping floats all morning

[@pensnut08]

That was really good!

[@michaelghiloni3911]

Thanks Dilan. Gonna try these out this weekend. I would love to see a video for curing eggs.

[@Dangerdilan]

Sure thing!!! Give me a week or so, my buddy is a master at it I’ll film him

[@mudsuckingpig6246]

Very informative thank you

[@b1ink586]

Awesome video man! Very informative. Can you go over the splitshot setup? How many, what weight etc. Thanks!

[@ricocholock8156]

Great explanation fella…. Coming up after Christmas for my first time. I am a big fisherman but not for steelheads. Lol

[@gatedancer17]

Great video. Very helpful. Thanks.

[@Dangerdilan]

Anytime!

[@hooky1420]

Wow! I feel like I can go smash some steelhead right now! Very informative man! 🤙🏻

[@qujc]

heck yeah

[@randychappell5955]

Great video

[@danreid6712]

Good info. I find it better to fish over rather than under these river fish. Also, re-usable split-shot with the ears tend to twist your line after a bunch of drifts. Try spoons, spinners & jigs with power-minnows too. Fish on !

[@davidmalpeto7598]

Great video dude! It’s my first steelhead season in Lake Erie area and I’m pretty pumped. Your video is very good, I wonder why your account hasn’t bloomed, still I’m pretty sure one day it will...

[@Dangerdilan]

I’m hopeful Man! Thanks for the kind words

[@jonnybaldridge]

Just did some camping on the Grand River. It was beautiful. I was looking into doing some steelhead fishing. What months are best?

[@nateoliver3285]

So did you catch anything?

[@GabesFishing]

Great video very helpful tips, Best steelhead bait is skein or spawn sacs!

[@riverrob8246]

good video u explain it well

[@Dangerdilan]

thanks man!!! appreciate it

[@komranbehbehani6379]

Thanks mate!

[@Dangerdilan]

Komran Behbehani thank you for the views!!

[@Jay-ly1ty]

Dilan, thank you! Great work here. Really appreciate the help in getting started in this sport. I'm new to fishing in the Lake Erie area after moving to Ohio 3 years ago. I'm a "flatlander" who spent most of my time learning to catch bass, crappie, and catfish. Once or twice a year going to Colorado to catch rainbow trout. When I first started researching Steelhead fishing I was using information that was focused on the NorthWest steelhead fishing methods, and that was clearly wrong. I've been using 30lb braid, with a 1/2 oz bobber dogging system, going to a 1/32 oz jig and maggot on a 10lb 3-foot leader for just over a year now, and not one hook up. With your video, I clearly need to scale way back for the finesse method here in the Lake Erie area. That said, I still had a couple of questions. 1) Would you recommend crappie jigs, or should those be avoided for steelhead? 2) Can Gulp "maggots" be replaced for the live maggots? Thank you again, this is priceless.

[@Dangerdilan]

Glad i could help jay! Always live maggots I’ve never had success with imitation stuff. Crappie jigs have been used since before i was even born so i know they work! This is most definitely a finesse fishery, the reason they use such big gear out west is the size and flow of the rivers. That’s not needed here. Also it’s my opinion fresh steelhead eggs will outfish any other method

[@user-sr8ck8ux1s]

thanks for the advice. Kinda knew what I was doing up here in NNY but needed just a little bit more info. I cure and tie my own salmon egg sacks. I plan to go out early tomorrow with this new information. I am getting frustrated with the lack of success. When it comes to salmon, I am a master, but steelhead is a whole new game. I use a 9wt 10ft crosswater II pair with an average center pin. I run straight flour, which I might rethink that now. I would like to post a picture of my catch on here (if I get one). Thanks again for the information.

[@Dangerdilan]

You’ll get em! Biggest thing i do when fishing is tough is make sure im as close to bottom as possible, scale down my leader and make sure my float is floating correctly. Then freeze your ass off for 8 hours and hope for a fish 😂

[@thewildlifeoutdoors3536]

Do you have any videos on how to set up your drift rig bud? How do you put on the float bobber?

[@MontageMadness]

Dope

[@patrickmcphee770]

Really good crashcourse man. I used to use the Berkeley vanish floro too but the red label is stronger and thinner. The seagar blue label is even better, but it’s just too damn expensive.

[@Dangerdilan]

I really like the red label as well, i started use it boseman floro and it’s killer for the price

[@696969es]

Hey Dilan great video, I'm the guy who you met down by the stream earlier today. Just wanted to ask you a few questions because unfortunately I didn't have any luck today for my first go at Steelhead fishing. Not sure if there is a way to PM you but would love to get some more advice because I'm hooked on angling for these.

[@Dangerdilan]

sure man! look me up on facebook, dilan ekmark and send me a friend request

[@claudiu1967]

Hi, very educational and interesting video I would love a video for curing salmon single eggs to put them on the hook and don't change the color, thanks

[@Dangerdilan]

Absolutely! I’ll make one next week for you guys

[@Dangerdilan]

Absolutely! I’ll make one next week for you guys

[@italiantroutaholic8926]

what no drifting old school with lead??

[@jz6602]

Just found ur video good stuff..ive got a few questions in just getting started first can I use floro.line for main line and secondly is drifting with a bunch of split shots better than just one quarter oz weight under the float ...

[@Dangerdilan]

Don’t use floro for your mainline it won’t mend well at all. Multiple spilt shot is essential, if you just use one large weight it will not drift correctly

[@jz6602]

@@Dangerdilan ty hope to get out in the next week or 2 never tried this before will see what happens

[@qujc]

come on guys get him 1,000 subs hes sooo close

[@antoniopereira-hg8yf]

hey Dilan. Thanks for the tips. I normally summer fish for cats and bass and figured I'd give trout a try this year. I have been trying for the last couple of weeks and still haven't been able to land one. Tried Rocky river reservations and Grand river near Painesville. Any suggestions on a good good spot I can go? Thinking about heading to the grand river again tomorrow, wondering if you know a good spot. Thanks.

[@Dangerdilan]

All of those rivers should be full of fish right now. What’s your set up look like and what kinda bait are you using? Contrary to what a lot of people think they can be incredibly picky, especially in winter time when they are a little sluggish

[@antoniopereira-hg8yf]

@@Dangerdilan on the river now. Floating red/white tube on a jig tipped with nightcrawler. At Helen hazen weyman park. Shoe fishing. No waders, no luck yet.

[@antoniopereira-hg8yf]

Sorry, shore fishing.

[@michaelapanasewicz9967]

Are you fishing the grand or chagrin and what do you recommend for spinning equipment

[@Dangerdilan]

I fish every single steelhead river in ohio. For spinning I’d do a 10-12 foot light action rod with 10lb floating mono mainline. Pick a decent reel, cheap reels don’t handle the winter conditions well

[@stevecrawford333]

know of any spots to camp or car camp overnight up there?

[@Dangerdilan]

I’d look at local KOA campgrounds. Anywhere else I’d say it’s probably not safe, lotta car break ins and stuff the past couple years

[@danielwagner3043]

so why do you put the bead so far away from the hook?

[@stephandokovski6187]

Do the same video but about how to catch chinook salmon

[@Dangerdilan]

Haha oh man chinooks are just flossing but i can try!

[@rhhs]

Nice video but just reminding you to pay attention to not only line test but also the line diameter. Japanese lines are thinner than American lines and usually have on point break point where American lines are more forgiving. You want to make sure your main line has larger diameter than leader line. For example, 8lb Japanese mono can have similar line diameter as 6lb American lines. We wouldn't want main line to break and lose the entire rig now ;)

[@Dangerdilan]

One of the best Comments I’ve seen yet this is fantastic information thank you

[@rhhs]

@@Dangerdilan I actually started centerpin fishing a month ago but Im very fortunate to know a lot pin veterans to learn from. Tight lines bro and most importantly keep safe!

[@rudygeorgiamulesandcountry1594]

How could you leave out streamers and woolybuggers ?

[@kirillous]

I got 25g floats, is it too much or it ll work as well?

[@Dangerdilan]

Wayyyyy too much for Erie my man

[@juanprado5871]

Megusta el cómo enseñar cómo pescar

[@carson2878]

Is it cool if you only have 6’6 or 7 ft rods or is a 9 ft a must have

[@Dangerdilan]

I’ve seen it all man but a 9-12 foot rod makes it a lot easier to mend your line and keep it off the water. If the water between you and the fish is faster than the water where the fish is sitting you gotta keep the line in the air

[@carson2878]

Ok great, thanks

[@maxforce5413]

Watched this video on friday night then caught 10 salmon the next morning!

[@Dangerdilan]

Hell yeah!!!!

[@AlwaysCoastal]

Never caught a steelhead before! Great video and super informative! Just subscribed! We just posted a few new videos if you would like to check them out!

[@chaching_fishin8786]

Lets fish. Never did steelhead im in Pittsburgh. Let me join u

[@leongtoon62]

Sunline btw, is made in Japan, not China. Great clip !

[@Dangerdilan]

Always get it mixed up! Thanks

[@andrewshevchenko8653]

Do you fish rocky river?

[@Dangerdilan]

Sure do!

[@binkybarns7132]

Would these tactics work in Oregon?

[@Dangerdilan]

Absolutely however i believe most rivers out there are much bigger and faster, you’ll need to just beef up the float and weight sizes.

[@binkybarns7132]

@@Dangerdilan copy that thanks man.

[@binkybarns7132]

@@Dangerdilan same lines though? 6-8 flouro carbon and 8-10 mono?

[@randychappell5955]

Good video, with some great tips. But man, you should remember not everyone can fish all the time, or the whole river, because of age, and health concerns. I believe a guide will be very helpful in putting me on a fish. But your right. You won't learn by setting on the couch.

[@Dangerdilan]

Nothing wrong with hiring a guide! Just a lot of people can’t afford to do that every weekend

[@mrlifetime64]

why do you use reusable shot? with wings and you tie hook to the braid ???? um

[@Dangerdilan]

I don’t even use braid so idk what you’re talking about. I use winged splitshot because I’m constantly adjusting it and i use a swivel from main line to leader so there’s no line twist to deal with

[@ithaca1812]

5:47 "I believe from... China" - Literally says Made in Japan on the front xD

[@Dangerdilan]

😂😂😂you right you right

[@williamdougie6213]

Why put the hook so far from the bead?

[@Dangerdilan]

That’s how bead fishing works, makes for a much better hook up ratio

[@williamdougie6213]

@@Dangerdilan that doesn't actually answer the question but thx

[@scoobascoobsfishing2713]

lol people dont bye the split shot with wings it creates line twist also dont put split shot on your leader.... put it above on your main

[@Dangerdilan]

This is total shit advice don’t listen to this dude at all 😂

[@auzurestaff6010]

@@Dangerdilan no he is right, take a look at the raven site, see how they aren't putting a bunch of shit on there leader? Frays it up and spooks fish. May be nessecwry in faster water but then I switch to a glass bead. Winged shot does creat line twist but not a big deal at all

[@Dangerdilan]

@@auzurestaff6010 I’ve literally caught thousands of fish on this set up with zero issues

[@oscarmunoz105]

When you posting a new vid lol

[@Dangerdilan]

@@oscarmunoz105 hopefully next week man nursing school has been killing me 😭

[@SteelFisher]

Fishing with eared shot under a float is not recommended. Vanish is the worst fluoro I've ever used.

[@Dangerdilan]

Funny I’ve consistently had 30+ fish days using both 🤷‍♂️

[@SteelFisher]

@@Dangerdilan Maybe they changed their formula, it's been like 20 years since I bought any. Anytime I used vanish it snapped easy all the time. I can land big lake O nooks on the 4lb fluoro I use.

[@Dangerdilan]

@@SteelFisher yeah hard to say, for the most part i just use seaguar.

[@shuaichen8690]

That’s made in Japan, not in China.

[@boblove6865]

Am I the only one who noticed jow these kids catch a few fish and start a KZbin page. What happend to guys putting in time? Everything that went wrong with Steelheading. Another fng gone pro. Smdh.

[@davewight]

Buy a man a fish and he ....uh...uh You know the thing..... Comeonman Notajoke