Rainbow Tricks, Tactics and Presentation

The only tips i cn provide outside of the equipment is getting to know your river and or pool intimately.

this applies in low, mid and high water conditions. Learn jhow to "read" the water meaning currents and breaking current and backlfows

Fish tend to hold in very specific areas in all of the above

The joy of steelheadin in rivers is to figure it out and once you do, rember it and then if that same presentaiton does not work, well, you're always learning.

Reading water is definitley important. I like fishing pockets riffles and seams. Its just nicer IMO not to be crowded out or shoulder to shoulder in a pool. Another tip is to fish thru the week whenever possible. Havnt heard anyone mention glo bugs (yarn flies). These r absolutley deadly some days. Tried beads caught fish on em but didn't like the concept. Figured I would stick with yarn. I have 2 drifters that our probably 20yrs old that's what I run never had a problem.they were purchased new. Also have 2 streamasters which r even older but don't use them as much

Hooker,
The correct technique for fishing is the one that pleases you. If your happy and catching fish, what else do you want???. I've used spoons and spinners under a float for controlled depth, it works great. I also have caught my share of steel, float fishing using "Gummy Bobs" they look like a small rasberry. You can catch fish allday on the same one. Wether you Pin or Spin just relax and injoy.
Patrick

Spinners & spoons work great, the best technique and pretty much the only way I fish them for Steel is to quarter cast down stream and swing the spinner through the drift allowing the current to give all the action. Once the spinner has swung through, reel in and repeat untill you cover the whole pool.Hold on because when a Steelie smacks a spinner this way, it hits hard, a 10lb fluro leader is not to light. The same technique is used for small kwik-fish, or cranks. I don't use spoons alot in the river, I more or less cast them from piers and shorelines early season for Brownies.I also don't fish hardware with traditional pin outfits, I use a 9.5' med rod with a fast action tip and spinning reel(stradic), 10lb braid with a 5'-6' 10lb-12lb fluro leader.

For drifting especially after opening weekend I always like to drift small dew worms or red worms, don't over look the power of the " brown snake" in the spring. Nymphs can also be dynamite, after the pools get beat down from roe drifting the fish will turn for other presentations.

I tried Pinning last year and after almost throwing it in the water I returned the reel, kept the rod and put what I call a normal spinning reel and I'm happy...I just don't get the centerpin reels...

I appreciate all the advice here guys, thanks a lot. I think this season ill stick with my spinning reel. I'm just to comfortable with it to switch. With only a few mentions of beads on this thread has anyone really been having that much success with them this year?? I tried but had not takers on the weekend with that presentation. Roe bags alone worked best.

Hey Hooker,

Though I have taken up float fishing I am not a complete convert and regularly use my spinning reel. I have fished for so long with a spinning reel I can look at an area and cast to within inches or right on top of where I want, plus I find fishing big rivers the spinning reel allows me to make those long casts.
Used the pin on the weekend and went 2 for 2 on a 5 lb male and 6 lb female on the Saugeen.

Most of my fish are always on Roe or Bead headed jigs .

Not a big fan of the beads on the line with a Roe bag as well . I find just the Roe bag looks more natural if your set up is done correctly depending on the water conditions , Weather for Spawn colour sacs and type of Roe eggs..

I find centre pinning is more comfortable then a spin reel on a noodle rod for drifts & Control when hooking into a hot fish running ...I also l enjoy pinning the most when your tossing out bead headed jigs when sun up or after a pool has been pounded ..... (Reel) Makes it easier for jigging when the reel is free spooling . I find with the spin reel its very hard to fish this way especially when you have to jig and then close the bail and set the hook . Missed a lot of fish this way ....

It's all personal preference and what ever you feel comfortable with to catch fish.

Don't listen to Dan, he doesn't catch any fish

I sniff them

Oh, well beads and corkies are a must in the arsenal down my way

Never got into pinning myself much either, but we fish different waters so quite understandable.