Floatfishing Technique
<12897>
Hi folks

Hoping someone can tell me which is the correct (or most effective) way to float fish for steelhead. I put in about 6 full days on the Vedder without a bite. I know this is not a lot of time when it comes to steelhead fishing, but have a feeling my technique is wrong or could be more effective.

I've read in several places that a drag free drift is the most important thing, so I cast out my offering below my 'dink' float and let my levelwind freespool. I watch for any hesitation and set the hook immediately. I use an AbuGarcia reel and have the 'clutch' knob loosened off totally so there is no drag on the drum during the drift, I figure I get as drag free a drift as possible. This is what I have been doing.

I twice watched guys directly behind me hook fish in water I just covered using the same setup, but their presentation was not drag free as they slowed the float down. This happened once at the top of the river in the boulder run in very fast water (during low water conditions) and just yesterday in a short quick run at mid-river. I don't know if they keep their thumb on the line spool or set up that 'clutch' knob to slow their drag. In either case I think they are onto something that I am not. Maybe their bait hangs in front of the fish longer?

After watching the guy behind me land his fish, I started to experiment by slowing my drift with my thumb on the reel spool and for the first time I actually felt my hook tapping along the bottom like I have read in the past that you should feel.

Any input would be greatly appreciated, too late for steelhead now but I plan on trying my luck when the red chinooks come in this summer so I want to learn to fish effectively. One more thing, should my offering occasionally touch the bottom or should I keep it off the bottom entirely as I was told by an old guy on the river. Thanks and sorry for the long message.

<12904>
AHA! I think you answered your own question! If you can feel the bottom, that's good. Yes,just use enough thumb on the spool to keep the top of the float pointing at you. You will feel the bottom better and will actually feel contact before the float goes down. Keep your rod tip up high so no line is in the water between rod tip and float. Keep watching what other anglers are doing.

tight lines!

<12905>
practice practice and more practice!!!
expirement differnt things...
Tight Lines

<12912>
just dont watch me!!! lol!

<12914>
Slowing down the drift right at the end can help at times I don't know why but it works.
It's a more advanced technique but keep it in mind.
As to contact with the bottom a lot depends on what kind of bottom and how fast the flow.

<12919>
Try to keep off bottom when fishing most conditions. There are rare conditions where you need to slow down your offering by dredging up the bottom but in most cases it is good idea to be at least a foot or two up off the rocks. If you have no pressure on your float when you are dragging bottom all you are doing is letting your float pull your terminal tackle along the bottom with the lead leading the way. Another idea is to fish an idiot proof bait such as a gooey bob or pink worm. The relatively neutral densities of these offerings allow them to move as one with the current which is why they are so effective.

Carl. In most cases we fish drifts that get progressively shallower as we approach the end of the drift. If you apply pressure at the end your lead will swing up allowing you to effective fish the tail end of your drift at a dead slow pace. I have noticed that this can be especially effective if you are also fishing a spin n glow. Rocket red of course. It could also be like hanging the fly at the end of your swing. The fish has followed your fly for a while but has yet to take. Your fly comes to a stop and hangs to be hammered a second or two later.

<12921>
What kind've mainline do you use jamester? Whatever you do don't use fireline!!! You're wasting your time for the most part with fireline!

<12925>
Sure there is skill to fishing but like everything else it has alot to do with luck!:)If you put your time the fish will come!!!! It sounds like your doing all the right things keep at it your luck will change.

<12931>
What,s wrong with using Fireline.I have used it
since it came on the market.And I have done very
good using for catching Salmon+Steelhead.I use it
on the Fraser bottom bouncing and float fishing on
the Vedder and the Chehalis Rivers.

<12935>
Hi, Jamester.....you may want to think about leaving the casting button in, and thumbing for freespool, then setting the hook, and cranking to re-engage the spool..rather than the way you described...especially if you are using a current "ultra-cast" type abu.

<12951>
Thanks for your input!!!

I have been using 20lb Maxima Ultragreen, that's what the salesman suggested when I bought the reel because steelhead season was almost at an end and chinooks were next on the list. I probably should have used 12lb or 15lb for steelhead as I found the 20lb was easily picked up by the wind, affecting my drift. Any thoughts on what's best?

Ken: I leave the casting button in during the drift always, I guess I didn't explain that clearly in my posting. I use the reel (6500 C4) just as you described. While on this subject, do most of you have this clutch knob backed off or partially tightened. I'm talking about the small chrome knob on the side of the reel (not the drag star) that applies friction to the spool (to prevent overruns?). Someone on this site said to keep it backed off totally and use your thumb only and learn to 'cast like a man', but the guy at the tackle shop said to keep it tightened enough so that if you hold out your rod and press in the casting button your spool will turn until the weight falls to the ground but spool will not overrun (hope this makes sense!). What is the normal setting you folks use?

And one more question if you don't mind, my reel is an Ambassadeur 6500C4 and has a feature called Instant Anti-Reverse. I believe this means that the spool will 'brake' for hook setting, my question is does the 'clutch' knob have to be engaged to allow this feature to work? Is this feature at all useful?

Thanks for your patience. Your encouragement is appreciated.

<12955>
Rodger that, 'Ster..... IAR (instant anti-reverse): is independant of the spool tension knob. It's main claim to fame is zero slippage during a hook set.... the other abu models use a ratchet dog meshing with a gear, like a mini boat trailer winch...with resulting clearances that permit up to a quarter turn of the handle/spool train.

Under certain circumstances, this may lead to fish loss during the hook set, as there is that momentary bit of slack that just is not there with IAR.

RE: spool tension..your last sentence on initial setting is the factory recommended setting..to be then finessed by the sport....once your spooling thumb gets smart, you can set the tension lighter.

On another spool note: if you were to fully remove the tension cap, inside you will see a plastic disk holding the shims in place. If you now look at the axle end sticking thru the side plate, you will see notches. If you back the tension knob off *too* much, the keeper in the tension knob will dis-engage the axle notches, and the spool will *always* be sloppy. (this is what I was hinting at in my first post) To fix: fully seat the tension knob all the way down on the side plate. All the way down. You may or may not hear the click as the keeper mates with the axle. *Then* back off the tension knob to your setting. But not all the way out !!

Last year, this (lack of) adjustment kept at least 10 sports I know of from attaining a decent spool tension...They were unaware of this axle/spool /keeper deal...one guy actually removed the keeper, and was *really* wondering about his reel !

<12956>
Jamester,
I use 10lb. main and 8lb. leaders. Very sensitive and when matched with the right rod those you have quite the fight.Ihave always outfished the people around me, so you make the call.It is also perfect for smaller stream. Stick to maxima!!

<12983>
All i can say is that FIRE LINE ROCKS !!

<12986>
James best advices is to watch and politely strike up coversation with all fisherman, ask whats working hows it being fished etc, fisherman(good)almost always love to teach because it makes them feel that there giving back, this is the way ive come across great info and hot spots from the "old timers" your best info source bar none

<13015>
I agree with Cam..If guys are hooking fish in water that you just covered, grab a rock, sit down and watch. You learn a lot more from watching and talking to people than you do from flogging the water hopelessly.

<13092>
A great big thanx for all your responses.

This is a great forum. Lots to be gleaned on these discussion pages and archives. I am learning plenty. I think in the future I will be doing a little less casting and a little more watching. Just about everyone I have approached on the Vedder this year was more than happy to entertain my questions. See you on the river.

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