MY WINTER STEELHEAD TACKLE - HOOKS, LINE, SINKERS, ETC. I share all my STEELHEAD tackle secrets!

[@John-qx5vf]

Nice job...well done..46years starvin' as a trout,and steelhead guide...corroborative and consise...thanks

[@RAGEFISHING]

Thanks for the comment John! This was part of my first ‘Steelehead December’ series where I dedicate the entire month to Winter Steelhead. I’m currently working on the 4th annual! 🎣

[@nguyencao8873]

"I am not gonna pronounce that brand" hahaha. Thank you for the tutorial.

[@RAGEFISHING]

😄 Yeah, I would have blew it, I’m sure. You’re welcome! Thanks for the comment. 👍🏻

[@brianking1138]

I just found your channel. Great informative videos.

[@RAGEFISHING]

Awesome! Glad you found it! I’ve got a bunch of video ideas in the hopper. Right now it’s all about winter steelhead, my favorite time of year. 🎣

[@CascadeBackcountry]

As soon as I saw the word Steelhead, you had me "hook, line and sinker." I don't know much about fishing but I agree with almost every thing you said... except how you pronounced Pucci 🤣😂

[@RAGEFISHING]

I wasn’t going to try with my North Eugene High education. 😁

[@CascadeBackcountry]

@@RAGEFISHING seriously tho.. I am also late to the bead fishing game. Only tried it a handful of times because I catch salmon/steelhead with a jig or jighead worm combo under a float. Or a spinner or spoon. Hard to try new techniques when your old ways work so well!

[@RAGEFISHING]

It was 2014ish when I ran into a friend on the river, he had a bunch of beads and was bragging about how many fish he was catching. He gave me a handful of beads and one of his pre-tied rigs. I immediately started tweaking my bead rigging until it worked; when it did, I hooked 3 in consecutive casts. I’ve been ‘hooked’ 😂 since.

[@CascadeBackcountry]

@@RAGEFISHING Guess I'll have to give it a shot again. Nice of your friend to give you pre-tied rig! Those are like gold on the river when your hands are wet and cold 😀

[@RAGEFISHING]

@@CascadeBackcountry it’s all about the SWEET PINK CHERRY! 🍒 😁 Try those, they seems to work in all water conditions.

[@reneeeames4737]

Great video and love the insight on line selection.

[@RAGEFISHING]

Thanks Renee! I’m surprised it turned out okay, I filmed it after a 12 hour graveyard shift. 🥱

[@det282]

But what kind of flys are you using? I look forward to your next equipment video so I can see your favorite Spey rods. 😉🎣

[@RAGEFISHING]

Someday! I want to fish the upper Umpqua that’s fly only!

[@toemaz3751]

Very detailed breakdown. Do you have a trout setup?

[@RAGEFISHING]

Thank you, I don’t have a video specific to my trout gear. I do have some videos showing the lures I use. Like my most recent backpacking video shows the lures I like most with a list in the description field. I also have a McKenzie River ‘how to’ video with my favorite trout lures. I’ll add the links in a minute.

[@RAGEFISHING]

Here’s the trout video, it’s a few years old. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gICWZ5iEep6NaM0

[@RAGEFISHING]

Here’s the link to the video I released tonight. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGXImJ2bp9ehn7c

[@toemaz3751]

Thanks brother. I'll definitely check these out.

[@aj469]

Awesome video. Very informative and well thought out. Do you use a level wind when your drift fishing so you can extend your drift or so you can stop the drift with your thumb and set the hook if needed? Likewise, do you use a level wind when jig or beat fishing? How many rods do you typically carry?

[@RAGEFISHING]

Thanks Anthony. I do use a level wind when drift fishing, that way I can extend my drifts and it’s easy to thumb it to set the hook. I only use spinning rods for bead and jig fishing because I like to have uninterrupted floats. I’ve tried level wind reels and just don’t feel I can have a good drift without disrupting a natural float, especially with lightweight floats and jigs. How many rods? Good question, 3-4 under most normal flows; jig rod, bead rod, drift rod and spinner / spoon rod. Sometimes less, in low water conditions, I may only have 1-2. Definitely a jig rod and sometimes my lighter spinner / spoon rod. I actually finished up filming / editing a video today going over my favorite rod / reel setups. It should go live at 6PM tomorrow or Tuesday. I appreciate the feedback, the only thing I like better than steelhead fishing is chatting about it! 😬

[@aj469]

@@RAGEFISHING Thank you for the response. It's obvious you have been targeting these fish for a while and know what you're talking about. I appreciate that you are willing to share your wisdom that you have attained through countless hours and I'm sure a good sum of money. Thank you. I'm starting to get into drift fishing more. I've started to realize there's no better way to learn the structure of holes than with a drift rod. I've been tying yarnies and then using a dab of roe. I will definitely have to try a double cross.

[@RAGEFISHING]

@@aj469 I love drift fishing! It’s the most active form of steelheading in my opinion because you are getting to feel the structure. It’s how I started fishing close to 40 years ago with my dad. I use it most when the rivers I fish are a little higher than normal since the holding water will change. Bill Herzog’s book on drift fishing is a great reference. Also, Marc Davis has a book on steelheading from Amato Books. That’s where I first heard of the doublecross. I don’t know what there is about it, but winter steelhead nail them. I hate using bait, but sometimes will dab some krill gel on them. I really don’t know how much difference it makes, because I’ve caught them with and without scent on the doublecross. And you’re welcome, glad to help! I’m planning on doing a 4th patterns video for drift fishing, so we’ll see what the river levels hold for us this year. 🎣

[@aj469]

@@RAGEFISHING I have read both of those books! I would like to own all of the steelheading books that Amato publishes. Do you like to peg your corky with a toothpick? Also I haven't been using a sliding weight system, I have thought about it because it seems like it would be better for the fish not to feel any resistance when it picks up your offering. I still am working on trying to master how much weight to be using while drift fishing and I'm wondering if using the sliding system would make it harder for me to tell.

[@RAGEFISHING]

@@aj469 I do not peg my corkies, if they are being fished correctly, the should be lifting in the water column and pulled to the hook. They are buoyant so make sure your hook is not too heavy. The nice thing about the doublecross, it creates a little friction with the yarn, so it’s like a peg, but won’t fray or knick your line.

[@eddiemac30]

A lot of great info! Thank you. I wanted to ask, on your spoons I see you swapped out for a Siwash type hook. Does it happen to be the Gamakatsu Big River hook? How do you like it?

[@RAGEFISHING]

Thanks! No, they are GAMAKATSU Siwash hooks. I did a video on swapping out trebles with singles on trout lures. I plan to do one for steelhead spoons too. I’ll add the link, the same principles apply, just on a larger scale. I have used ‘Sickle’ hooks on my spinners, which are similar to big river hooks. They work well too.

[@RAGEFISHING]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g56miYJ5Zs-sj68

[@eddiemac30]

@@RAGEFISHING That would be awesome! I saw the trout lute one, it was great. But a Steelhead edition would be perfect as I fish for them any chance I get and can't find much info on proper sizing for swap outs. Thanks Barry! 🤙🏼🎣

[@RAGEFISHING]

@@eddiemac30 I’ll put it on the ‘video to do’ list. 😁

[@danb3703]

How did you land on that 30# 8strand for your main? Reason why I ask, I've been using 30# consistently for like 8 years for everything (I tried diff brands, doesn't seem to matter as long as its 8 strand). but last salmon season I downsized to 20lb 8strand. With that I use a imx 6-12lb 11'4" rod in a decent sized river. I specifically use this for float fishing salmon and steel now because I like the drag free drift and the weightlessness of the smaller 8 strand mainline. Seems easier to control and disturbs the float far less and allows me to do longer drifts etc. Only breaks I had last year where it was my fault like say a FG knot unravelling where my bumper connects with maybe the odd break around the weight when the weight snags bottom. (I suppose this is a valid reason to go with 30lb when I think about it) Actually, just writing this post, im sort of wondering if those dave's ball weights would be better vs the stick leads I've traditionally used when it comes to snagging brush or branches at the bottom. -You seem to have landed on his short version stick lead stuff which is similar to what I've been doing just with thicker pencil lead and cutting it to size. I just tie it tight to a 3way swivel with braid and add a drop of super glue. -Hack

[@RAGEFISHING]

It’s funny you say that, because I have some 20# SSV2 waiting to go on that spool. 😁 I went with 30# because of the theory the larger diameter floats and mends better, but I’m not so sure. I’m going to try 20# next time I spool up and see for myself.

[@danb3703]

@@RAGEFISHING Did ya try the 20lb? With a bait caster, imo, its wayyy nicer. Long as you play fish a bit and you have a good rod, i cant see ya breaking off on a fish unless the line is compromised or old and abused. In that case shed some off the top and play ball. Friend of mine actually tried as low as 10lb (not a bumper kind of guy) and he told me, when he did that, he was catching the most fish he claimed and now that i step back to think about it, likely due to multiple factors. In the mid sized river we fish we sometimes cast far and sometimes not but in both cases light line will make for a better float no matter what, as well as hookset ability for how fast it all moves or lifts off the water when your doin a far drift etc. I use a 20lb bumper down to 12-14lb leaders typically but the more i fish, i can see my future self using 10lb for things like steelhead or coho. I tired 8lb on a smaller system when fish are lock jawed and it works, no doubt.. Anyway, wanted to check in with ya to see what your opinion is on the best barbless hook! For us barbless guys, i feel its a diff story vs the barbed fisheries but i could be wrong... i like ur needle point skeena.. nice n light and it would be a great bead hook. Anyway, ive sort of landed on a vmc sureset model size 1 (i dont wanna go bigger if I dont have to but when a hook is bigger its harder for en to swing off) and a murato sickle with the grabber tech point. Take a look at both, they are something else... Not sure about size of the murato sickle but prob a size 1-2. Use case of the barbless hook is for beads, egg sacks or rubber worm fishin for steel..(oh, and i hit one on your sweet pink cherry the other day so kudos for that tip. ...I scented it) Best BARBLESS Hook Thoughts/Suggestions? -appreciated Barry!

[@RAGEFISHING]

@@danb3703 I did try the 20# braid, I now have 20 on my jig and bead rod. (Super Slick V2) It works okay, but I’ve noticed more tip wrap. Could be that we were dealing with wind and rain this last weekend on the ‘Steelhead Road Trip’, but I don’t remember it being such a problem with 30#. I didn’t notice any greater casting distance either. Of course I’m fishing mostly narrow rivers that I could cast into the trees on the other side if I wanted to. I’ll probably go back to 30#. It’s allegedly 8# diameter, so that’s still pretty small. As far as the barbless hooks, I have zero experience with them. I’m not aware of any rivers in Oregon that require it for steelhead fishing. I think we have some barbless guidelines for salmon, but I’m usually bass fishing in the spring. That might change though, my buddy Derel has an awesome boat and has the springer fishing dialed in! I might get a chance to film some springer fishing for the fish time. And that’s cool about the sweet pink cherry! That bead seems to work in all conditions. 🎣

[@danb3703]

@@RAGEFISHING I can see how the 30lb would be better for that. Wonder if its the particular rod and guides that increases that issue with the lighter braid. Action of the rod might also do it. Alternatively, its the spinning reel line effect vs a baitcaster which shoots straighter I would imagine... As I read your post, i did recall looking up the blank once in a while and twisting and turning my 11'4 IMX here and there but I think this happens only when I'm pulling out of a snag or bottom or miss a hookset on a fish which creates the slack/wrap, but never seems to be post-cast since I finesse the cast before the plunge in most cases. 9.99/10 times you got your finger on the spool with a baitcaster when your terminal gear is dropping in unless you got your spool tensioner knob cranked tighter than usual. More often then not, it happens when I've got my rod tucked in under my arm and im doin something to the terminal end but this is fairly normal with any rod.

[@fredthegamerschrarder7716]

Hey thanks for the video. I got a question. I’ve fished with a jig, but I used a sliding bobber. Is there a reason you use a fixed float instead of the sliding float? Caught my first steelhead in 2020 on the nightmare jig under a sliding float 👀. Used the eggs from that one to catch two more and then caught my pb on a spinner. I hooked 9 and landed 4 for my first season. I went fishing for steelhead about 30 times 😂 and only got 4, but it was worth it. Hopefully I’ll have a better catch this year. I missed out on 2021 only went a few times.

[@RAGEFISHING]

Sounds like you’re doing pretty well! The steelhead learning curve is tough. I use only fixed floats for steelhead jig fishing, not that a slider won’t work. My reasoning? 1. It takes less time for your jig to get down to the holding water with a fixed float. 2. I can read fixed floats better than sliders. (And I have a box of sliders to prove I tried 😁) You have to have a perfect float with a jig to get bites, that is jig head pointed upstream, hook bend pointing downstream. The fixed floats, especially the turbomaster with the metal post let you know what your jig is doing. Float should be perfectly vertical or slightly pointed upstream. 3. Steelhead generally don’t sit in super deep holes like salmon where a slider is a must. I can set a fixed float up to 8’ without any issues. Hope this answers your question. Thanks for the comment! It’s appreciated! 🎣

[@fredthegamerschrarder7716]

@@RAGEFISHING yes thanks for the well thought out response. In your steelhead road trip video the first river you fished is where I got all my steelhead. The hole with the bridge where your buddy landed one on the jig is where I caught two on eggs. From that bridge up it’s good for summer steelhead. They taste great and they often school up in late summer and are all hatchery fish. love the videos keep them coming 👍.

[@RAGEFISHING]

@@fredthegamerschrarder7716 you’re welcome! I’ve hooked a few on drift gear in that spot years ago, it’s a great spot! I’m hoping to get up there a few times this year. Thanks for the tip too! 👍🏻