Top 10 Beginner Steelhead Fishing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them!

I'm far from an expert, but I made all of these mistakes myself when I first started float fishing for steelhead in Ohio. If you're just getting started steelhead fishing in the Great Lakes region, I hope the tips in this video help you avoid some headaches and start catching fish more consistently! Leave a comment if you have any other questions - I reply to all comments.
I've added links to some of the awesome gear I mentioned in this video below! Some are Amazon Affiliate links which also help support this channel.
Great reel for beginners: amzn.to/3uvQARL
Affordable rod (9’6” ML): amzn.to/3Ul98hN
Floats, hooks, line, split shot: raventackle.com/
Jigs & jigheads: voodoocustomtackle.com/
Best net I own - super cheap! amzn.to/3VG9514
Magnetic net release: amzn.to/3gYuzaY
Awesome line snip: amzn.to/3VsvY8x
Spawn sac container: www.ebay.com/itm/144208089686
Warm neoprene waders: amzn.to/3UkOE8Q
Warmest socks: amzn.to/3XHZRmR
Winter gloves: amzn.to/3Fo5gZ7
RiverApp for river flow:apps.apple.com/us/app/riverap...
Fishbrain App for fishing spots: bit.ly/ReelRoman
Thanks for watching - good luck next time out!

[@brandontoates]

Hey there. Just wanted to let you know that being new to this area, I was striking out my first few times on the water. I watched a couple of your videos, and I landed two nice steelhead today! Thanks so much and happy fishing!

[@dakotamenteer7820]

This helped me relax a bit about fishing my one spot, tons of people always catching but I get one and done. Thanks for this man

[@ChrisG9978]

Great summary, thanks for posting. I've been out on the Lake Erie tribs in WNY numerous times this Winter and made sure both my sons (11 and 13) watch this video for the tips. They've reeled in a number of large steelhead on their own, but we all still too often make these mistakes (and I've been steelhead fishing for many years)! It's always good to get a guide to help out when you're just starting. Knowing how to rig the shot line, make proper float adjustments to ensure you're in the strike zone, and where/when to fish are all crucial to success.

[@renerentie7045]

Excellent advice just starting an old timer trying to learn please post 📫 more videos your a great teacher Thank You

[@jeremylamovsky9868]

I just got back into fishing for these after 15 years. I prefer spinning and centerpin but was fly fishing when i stopped because my dad did it, i was too young to drive and didmt know anyone but him and his friends who fly fished. So picking up now has been a challenge. Especially when it comes to balancing floats and shot patterns. Also back in the mid 2000s i dont think i knew what a trout bead was or had heard of it. We have basically the same net but blue. Because its new and exciting and i usually release my fish its easy to get excited and handle them recklessly so the net is great. Unavoidable sometimes though. The waves the white flag, you net it, high five your dad or friends, get ready for a picture and the bastard changes its mind. Always when on rocks too 😢

[@timothyroman3797]

Good vid brother 👍

[@divoc1736]

I'm glad you talked about the cold. I bring a lot of friends out in the winter for big browns in CT. A lot of times after the first hour there in the truck warming up cause they were too cold cause they didn't dress how I told them

[@ReelRomanFishing]

It happens for sure! I try to bring extra gloves and socks for others just in case if I’m fishing people who aren’t used to the cold

[@AJ_Ohio]

Great video Nate! Always learn so much from your videos! Keep posting awesome content!

[@ReelRomanFishing]

Thanks man! Appreciate the comment. Knowing it’s helpful for people definitely motivates me to post more :)

[@bernie1107]

Very helpful thank you Nathan

[@ReelRomanFishing]

Lol thanks brother

[@kahuna13135]

Great and interesting video . Thanks

[@ReelRomanFishing]

Appreciate the comment! Hope it helps you out this season

[@walljersey]

Good video❤

[@jasond5807]

Great Help! I just moved up here to Ashtabula area and have been right where you are. I have tried a few times and I know I've made some of these mistakes. I didn't catch any steelhead yet last year and this year. So tough to be new at this species.

[@ReelRomanFishing]

It’s a grind for sure when you’re starting out! I think I caught zero fish in my first 6 or 7 times out when I was starting. It does get easier though if you keep heading out and fishing. The first one is the hardest!

[@gmp3517]

Great advice. I agree stick to the basics- jigs (white, black, olive), spawn sacs, and small pearl white tubes (kumbo special) lol. Definitely keep the presentation down toward the bottom.

[@ReelRomanFishing]

Less variables is better when you’re first starting out! And those are definitely the staples that produce year-round

[@Tuscanygp]

Fantastic video 🤍

[@ReelRomanFishing]

Appreciate it man! Thanks for watching

[@Darrel-vm3lt]

A safty factor you didnt add and very important is always wear a belt on those waders.

[@andrepomroy8621]

What's my best route to catch one,northern mi they are coming in big groups

[@robertmcgaughey1734]

Great video bro !!! Made the same mistakes myself plus hundreds more !!! When I lived in Oregon you might go days before hooking a fish but I think the #1 mistake beginner steelheaders make us not putting the time in !

[@ReelRomanFishing]

Definitely! No matter how much advice you get or research you do, you got a practice putting those tips in action. I’ve never fished out West so I would definitely be back to Square One out there 😅

[@robertmcgaughey1734]

@@ReelRomanFishing it’s all the same concepts just bug water and hundreds of thousands of square ft of fishable water it can be daunting… but you hook into a 20 lb sea run wild and you know !!

[@ReelRomanFishing]

Definitely on the bucket list! But reading those big rivers seems like it would be the biggest adjustment for sure

[@robertmcgaughey1734]

@@ReelRomanFishing hit up addicted and set up a trip bro would be a lot video and would put your channel on fire 🔥 peace bro keep posting!!!

[@adamnovelli853]

Hey man, where do you get your spawn sacks in the Cle area?

[@ReelRomanFishing]

I usually harvest the eggs and tie em up myself. There’s a really great tutorial on KZbin from XXL Chrome Chasing that taught me how to do it if you’re interested!

[@derrick15]

Make another video explaining the flow rates and the reason why you want to fish certain spots and areas because of this factor. Kinda lost me when you were talking about it didn't explain it too well.

[@jeremylamovsky9868]

Thumbnail looks kinda Eastlake-E.

[@OHCreekFishing]

Nate, you’ve made me end up realizing, I am guilty of all of this lmao, I’ll ask this question though, what do u prefer, crappie tube jigs, egg sacs, or maribou jigs with maggots? Thanks! 🎣🎣🎣 (also, when you zoomed in on the fishbrain app for grand river, that’s me in a few of the photos @Michael_Goes_Fishing)

[@ReelRomanFishing]

Nice I see your posts all the time! Once you’re catching fish it’s definitely fine to experiment. And it does make it fun to catch on something new. I just remember when I first started out I was carrying around dozens of color jigs that I had never caught fish on, when I should have just been throwing white and getting my drift down 😂 really hard to pick one, but I’d say egg sacs catch the most fish, tube jigs are the most fun

[@bobhunter8992]

I always tell people “hook sets are free”!

[@ReelRomanFishing]

That’s my motto too!

[@Paclove72810]

This is a really helpful video! I’m new to the sport and I was curious if u had any recommendations for people to follow on this app called fishbrain, like who in ur opinion would have the best posts and tips! I am on the east side of cle and fish the grand and the chagrin. I already followed you! Thanks man!

[@ReelRomanFishing]

I appreciate the comment! And thanks for the follow too. Lots of awesome people to follow on the app - KumboFishingUSA, Iron_Grip, Keegan0727… - the list goes on and on! If I were you I would follow the actual rivers too, then you’ll see posts from everyone catching fish there and you can follow them too!

[@Paclove72810]

@@ReelRomanFishing appreciate it! I followed all my local rivers and the following people, I think you should do something similar to this for smallmouth, that’s another bucket list fish I want to catch! I also found @Michael_Goes_Fishing and @Jod_Outdoors who both seem to be rather knowledgeable in the sport! Thanks for all the advice man! good luck out there this season

[@ReelRomanFishing]

Both great guys! I will plan on making some smallmouth content in the spring. April / May are great months to catch ‘em in the rivers around here

[@bunnie765]

😎 pքɾօʍօʂʍ