Pier Fishing for Big Lake Michigan Steelhead! (Rig explained)

Took a friend out for Lake Michigan Skamania…. The weather was great, and although it was a little warm we managed to bring a hog to the net. I also used for the first time a Max Lens Mod for my GoPro hero 9 as well as the Media Mod
Music: Cherry Blossom
Musician: Lost in the Moment

[@OneRoundDown]

Tip for weights on the leader line, use the small barrel shaped weights that have the rubber bit up the middle, they won't crimp the leader line and make a possible weak point. Also try putting a bobber stop on first followed by a small bead and then the barrel swivel, slip float, and weight. Trim the bobber stop short and run it up your main line about 20' longer than the depth of water your fishing. Now when you cast out the bobber stop picks up the leader and the whole deal goes out where you cast it instead of leaving the leader line short of your cast. If you have the float getting sunk adjust the stop farther up the main line until you get a clean float. Little things I picked up from the past 3 unproductive years of going up to Lake Michigan and fussing over this damn set-up 😂😂. All in all the rig works great if he fish are there, keep the drag super light especially when they get close to the net, they absolutely don't like the net. Tight lines guys and gals..

[@chrisjones7807]

Appreciate your taking the time to explain this, being a novice at best and still learning the ropes; this'll help get me where I want to to be. Keep it coming when you can. Subscribed with gratitude.

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Thank you Chris!! I’ll keep em comin 🤙🏻

[@joshuajrasor1662]

@@purefishinmichigan4212 I've seen this rig before but have never used it here on the piers in Wisconsin, is there a reason that most of the guys I've seen over by you use this as opposed to the standard pyramid on bottom to your leader and a corkie? thanks for the info, great video and I love that " Michigan " spot...lol

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

@@joshuajrasor1662 good question…. many times the pier heads will get busy with people fishing and there is typically wind. That rig keeps you anchored in the same spot even on a windy day when people are fishing nearby there is less chance of drifting into other fishermen. Also it gives a realistic presentation for the bait and insures it’s off the bottom.

[@joequitone1994]

Very informative. Thanks.

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Thank you 🙏

[@Loud_Thinker]

Michigan City, IN. A great place for everything. Good video.

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Thank you

[@alvinwoolen2340]

Awesome video! I’m going to be doing some pier fishing on Lake Erie in Ohio for steelhead. Do you think this same rig would work there on a crowded pier? Also, we usually use worms or minnows for steelhead but do you think that shrimp would work or is that just a specific bait for your area? Thanks!

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Thank you! It wouldn’t hurt to try shrimp but minnows and night crawlers are also great

[@stroboogy]

Great video. What size hook are you using?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

It is a size 2 Gama octopus circle hook

[@kevinkubed7683]

I'll be trying this in June. Hopefully it will be a success.

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Good Luck 👍🏻

[@RileyReneau]

how do you set your drag? Is it sitting lose enough that the fish will pull drag fairly easily while its waiting in the rod holder? Curious bc I am going to fish lake michigan for the 1st time in a few days.

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

I usually set it so the fish will hook itself but loose enough to pull drag before pulling the rod in lol 👍🏻

[@joshuajrasor1662]

why do you guys use that particular rig as opposed to just a pyramid weight to a leader floating off bottom with a corkie?

[@sexynknowit6475]

Same question that I have

[@fishing-frontier]

What city are you in also what month is it when you went just wondering?

[@JJDaBossOutdoors]

Michigan city indiana

[@hxwqin3698]

where exactly was this

[@vhongdeleon3890]

great video what to catch in that pier at this time of the year (october) ..? thanks ..

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Coho, and Steelhead

[@vhongdeleon3890]

@@purefishinmichigan4212, thanks for the info .. i will try sometime next week .. more power to you .. 🙏🏻👊🏻

[@markp7078]

Michigan City Indiana?

[@The_Soul313]

Wow, only 10-15lb braid with 8lb leader? I need to get outta the saltwater more. I actually go heavier than that downtown in the James River catching Striper/Rockfish.

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

I love catching fish on light tackle! I do sometimes loose fish on lighter leaders but man is it fun when they double your rod over

[@mikeledvina7253]

How long is your leader line from the swivel to the hook

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

It varies depending on the water temp and time of day. I usually make pre rigged leaders from 6-10ft and I start first light with 6ft and go deeper as the sun comes out because the fish will dive to escape light penatration

[@funnynader9149]

Was this in northern Michigan?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Southern part

[@arjanitmarku9258]

What time of the year do you go out there

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

June/July…. Just gotta watch the water temps.

[@joeyg8201]

what are you using for bait?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Shrimp

[@paulanderson2464]

Dang, That was a nice one... I'm just starting out fishing with my brother as we go into retirement... What pier was that? I'm not familiar with very many yet. It looks like you posted this recently. I'm wondering when you fished... unless you prefer keeping a secret, which some like to keep. This late Winter (2/23/24) is so warm, there's no ice fishing in the southern parts. I figured I'd look to see if anyone is fishing a bit on the early side. Let me know if you are testing waters.

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Early June is best

[@paulanderson2464]

That's a bit of a wait... Where have people been fishing lately (Feb-Mar) when we've had sucjh warm winter? I've been looking for info online, but seems info was from months earlier.@@purefishinmichigan4212

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

@@paulanderson2464 There are are fish in most river mouths/piers on Lake Michigan, Erie, and Lake Huron. Sometimes because of wind direction changing it can effect water temps and move the fish around. This time of year if the water has good visibility after a rain it should be ok to good

[@michigankayakfishing9827]

Hello would you show me how to fish for steelhead fishing this year? I can meet up with you any day.

[@chromedruggie]

On average how long is your leader?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Usually between 9-10 ft

[@Ryan-zc1tz]

How does the float work if theres a sinker tied below it?

[@Ryan-zc1tz]

Ok, I see now. Its a slip float so it floats up the line suspending the leader from it as the sinker sits on the bottom.

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

@@Ryan-zc1tz yep you nailed it! Sorry for the late reply. I use it because it anchors me to one spot. Those piers get pretty packed

[@nooper6346]

Can I use colored braid if it’s not for the leader?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

I’ve never used anything but the green/moss color. You could try it.. If your casting spoons/spinners it should be ok but if you’re using a bottom rig bright colored line might spook fish

[@nooper6346]

@@purefishinmichigan4212 just got some pretty light blue 20lb braid and was wondering but I feel as if my leader is 9-10 feet it wouldn’t matter just wanted to know your opinion. Thanks!

[@JJ-se5mx]

How long is the leader?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

7 or 8 feet

[@gregoryfuzi4745]

I have cought steelhead from the bottom with a Carolina rig . Swivel to stop your egg sinker from riding your line to your Hook and a 4 to 6 foot leader fluorocarbon to my hook and inflate your worm with air to get it to float on the surface of the water.

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

That sounds like a great rig

[@Raydubbs90]

Y do u have barrel swivel on top of your float

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

On that particular rig the bobber pushes the leader end to the surface. You fish as deep as your leader is long

[@matthewstone4576]

Is that out of Manitowoc?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

No Sir

[@anelhadzimesic2412]

Hey man, i was ganna go fishin on michigan city pier tomorrow, do you think it’s too late to catch steelhead and salmon? Id be using cooked cocktail shrimp, is that the right thing to use

[@anelhadzimesic2412]

that would be july 2nd

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

I’d check the Great Lakes buoy website and check water temps…. If the water is 65degrees or colder they should be around. Shrimp will work

[@anelhadzimesic2412]

@@purefishinmichigan4212 shiii water at 75, but i still see some fish gettin caught on the pier on the fish brain

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

@anelhadzimesic2412 anything is possible but from experience I haven’t seen much action when the water is that warm…. Good luck though if you end up going out

[@jordantuttle5258]

How long do you have your leader line ?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

10ft

[@robertvanalstine4963]

@@purefishinmichigan4212 how far off the bottom is your bait?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

@@robertvanalstine4963 depending on the water temp I’m usually 6-7ft at first light and I work my way deeper

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

@@JJDaBossOutdoors I make my leader the length of the depth I want to fish. The float brings my leader to the surface and my bait sinks to desired depth. The weight keeps my line anchored in high winds

[@JJDaBossOutdoors]

@@purefishinmichigan4212 thanks

[@WillieMakeit]

Thanks

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Thankyou!!

[@Anunnaki1821]

What bait did you used?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Medium sized shrimp mostly buy crawlers and spawn also work well

[@Anunnaki1821]

@@purefishinmichigan4212 thanks it kind a look like a skamania

[@almirmakan]

What kind of rod works for casting pyramid weights ? Do I need to match rods lure weight ?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

I like okuma sst 10’6” medium light rods for 2oz or smaller. I’m pretty careful when I’m casting 3-4oz sinkers but I’ve never broken a rod doing it

[@almirmakan]

@@purefishinmichigan4212looks like those are rated for 1/2 oz lures, so you do cast pyramid weights with it ?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

@almirmakan yes…. I’ve casted 2oz sinkers with no problems. I think the 3/4oz rating is for continuous use of a lure. I try to keep my rod 45 degrees to my line just to mitigate risk of breaking the rod.

[@almirmakan]

@@purefishinmichigan4212 thank you for the info

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

@almirmakan you’re welcome

[@atmsk8r726]

Have you fished South Haven beach piers before?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

I haven’t. How is it there

[@atmsk8r726]

@@purefishinmichigan4212 idk lol that’s why I was wondering, I might try it out

[@chadklaren9537]

@@atmsk8r726 I fish the south Haven pier all the time and it's the same as the rest of them some days it's good and some days it's not good.

[@williamhalleck5655]

Can you use this rig with fresh spawn?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

I don’t use it much because night crawlers and shrimp are so effective but I would think it would work. Skein is pretty effective for spring coho

[@patricksullivan9773]

So some of the questions/comments have asked about leader length and weight etc. I grew up on Lake Michigan with a large pier and tributary flowing into the lake and have a few questions how this is done. (1) it appears you are actually fishing IN the river as opposed to out on one of the piers casting into the lake. Is this correct and have you tried both and consider the river portion a better choice? (2). You comment on the leader being 10’ but where is this relative to the depth you are fishing? Are you mid-depth or close to the bottom? Are the fish suspended etc?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

I like the river and the pier. I favor the river more because it’s easier to find a place to myself where the piers get crowded. Also the way I fish the pier makes it hard to catch and release because I use bait and fish tend to swallow it. In the lake I know the fish are suspended so I get depth from other anglers or I look it up. Temperature is a major factor in how long my leader is also for instance it’s normally going to be 7 feet long if I’m fishing in 12 to 14 feet of water but if the sun comes out and it starts getting really warm and the sun is shining the fish are going to push deeper and that’s where I’ll extend the leader length to 10 feet or so but only if I have 12 to 14 feet of that to play with

[@Imyourfather225]

What hook size you are using

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Size 2 octopus circle

[@brittadamczyk341]

is it a big deal if i have 30lb braid on my rod?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Nope… that should be fine. I prefer the darker braid that’s less visible. 👍🏻

[@kevinsb]

You did good job. Just subscribe and watch more things u do

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Thank you Kevin!! 🎣

[@TheTruth-ge7fj]

what size hook?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

#2 Gama Octopus Circle

[@anthonycummings6000]

My buddy got a fine on the tippy damn last fall for having a sinker below a hook called him a snagger

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

Yeah that would probably not have a good perception

[@direktexe8436]

Was this in St. Joseph?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

No sir

[@tony1519]

Do you have a diagram of this lol

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

You mean a picture no I don’t have one but I can send one if you’d like

[@tony1519]

@@purefishinmichigan4212 I think I figured it out with a mental picture lol. But, does the fish set the hook itself or do you have to set it like regular bobber fishing. Thinking of using this in Washington state. Thanks!!

[@bigfella0094]

Basically what I see alot of the time is just jig

[@exDFAcharliesmith9035]

Leader how long?

[@purefishinmichigan4212]

7-9ft

[@TULUSRECORD]

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