Can anybody explain what's the difference between the jig and the fly? When fishing with a float, the jig should really stay off the bottom most of the
time, am I right?

As a rookie on the steelhead scene, here is my report: I went fishing four times in Jan and Feb and it was a skunk time all the way. Not even a bite!
What is worse, I have not seen anybody either to catch or to play a single fish! It's discouraging, I must say. I fished the Clackamas and Wilson rivers.
The Wilson was so low an clear that I doubted if there was any fish in that water! There were two fly fishermen close by, and they didn't have a hookup
either. What's going on? ( besides my lack of experience with steelies)

I must add that even though there was no fish for me, it was a good time for me to keep learning the float fishing technique. And being on beautiful river was special as well.

I found out while messing with the float, that I have to get a line which is more visible. By the time I see the bobber, bobbing down the stream, there is a belly on the
line that I did not see forming fast enough. When I try to correct it, I jerk the bober which is of course no good. I am thinking about 20lbs hydrofloat that
somebody mentioned here. Am I on the right track, guys?

You are on the right track, just don't get Hydrofloat for your line. We use Spyderwire invisibraid and I would highly recomend that. Many of the other float fisherman I know use Hi vis yellow power pro. Both would be a good option and very easy to see on the water. Catching steelhead can be very frustrating at times for sure, especially when you are fishing new water. If the water is really low and clear, then you need to find the deep green water where the fish feel safe. You are right about keeping the jig of the bottom, and the difference bewteen a jig and fly would be the shape of the hook, and weight. Don't spend to much time in one area, especially if you aren't seeing any fish roll or you don't know if the whole holds fish. Don't get discouraged, when I move hear from PA, it took me a lot more than 4 trips to catch my first steelhead.

Dan, thanks for your advice and encouragment! I will keep at it!

archer wrote:You are on the right track, just don't get Hydrofloat for your line. We use Spyderwire invisibraid and I would highly recomend that. Many of the other float fisherman I know use Hi vis yellow power pro. Both would be a good option and very easy to see on the water. Catching steelhead can be very frustrating at times for sure, especially when you are fishing new water. If the water is really low and clear, then you need to find the deep green water where the fish feel safe. You are right about keeping the jig of the bottom, and the difference bewteen a jig and fly would be the shape of the hook, and weight. Don't spend to much time in one area, especially if you aren't seeing any fish roll or you don't know if the whole holds fish. Don't get discouraged, when I move hear from PA, it took me a lot more than 4 trips to catch my first steelhead.

One more thought Dan: you say this: " We use Spyderwire invisibraid and I would highly recomend that" it says *invisibraid*, I hope it means invisible to fish and not fisherman . My afterthought was, can you see this Spyderwire line as well as the yellow power pro?

I realize you guys must have discussed these topics hundred times already, so I appreciate you taking time to answer us, the newcomers!

Hey Just my thought. All my buddies swear by the hydo flot line. we use 15lbs. Have seen lots of them catch steelhead on that. it is easy to use. That is my thought. Try both and see what works for you. Good luck

The invisi-braid is a whitish line and its easy to see for float fishing. I do not believe it is invisible in the water at all but none of the braids are. The thing you have to be careful about with hydrofloat is that the 15 lb is rated right where it will break, so don't use 12 lb p-line or maxima or you will break your mainline before your leader. We fish the 15 lb spiderwire invisibraid and have for two years now. I still have a spool of year and half old line that still works great. One nice thing about this line is it does not frey like other briads tend to do. The hydro float works good but the coating will peel and rub off and I just feel that there are better lines out there for float fishing. Good luck.

hollywood wrote:The invisi-braid is a whitish line and its easy to see for float fishing. I do not believe it is invisible in the water at all but none of the braids are. The thing you have to be careful about with hydrofloat is that the 15 lb is rated right where it will break, so don't use 12 lb p-line or maxima or you will break your mainline before your leader. We fish the 15 lb spiderwire invisibraid and have for two years now. I still have a spool of year and half old line that still works great. One nice thing about this line is it does not frey like other briads tend to do. The hydro float works good but the coating will peel and rub off and I just feel that there are better lines out there for float fishing. Good luck.

Thanks Hollywood, I appreciate your input. I think I'll put Spyder on my main rod and then put the hydrofloat on the other, since I already bougtht it and I am curious to see the difference! Louis

I do have the 20 pound hydrofloat on my float rod and I like it. But chad is right about the yellow outer casing fraying and coming off.... and that's no fun.

bran_man wrote:I do have the 20 pound hydrofloat on my float rod and I like it. But chad is right about the yellow outer casing fraying and coming off.... and that's no fun.

Well, I bought the Hydrofloat before I read Chad's input and everybody else's. So I put it on my reel and fishing with it yesterday. I liked it, it was an improvement from the previous line! I also bought Spyderwire Invisibraid and if I have problems, I will put it on. I can controll the float much better this way, I am satisfied with it.

My bigger problem is that there is no fish where I go!! Nobody else is catching anything on the Clack so I am beginning to believe it's void of fish at this time. Either that or I must be putting skunk scent on my rod by mistake. 5 skunks thus far, I am not used to that!! It's definitly humbling. But I am improving on my float technique and that is enjoyable. It seems to me I'll have to buy one of these pontoons for coming spring!

I'm no expert on the Clack, but I have heard there are fish in the Sandy. I'm not sure what kind of access there is to the upper river, but that's what I would look into if I were you.

archer wrote:I'm no expert on the Clack, but I have heard there are fish in the Sandy. I'm not sure what kind of access there is to the upper river, but that's what I would look into if I were you.

Not a bad idea Dan, I think I'll give it a shot!!