Tiny jigs for steelhead

[duckmen1]

I mainly fish steelhead in February and March and the water is running decent but it's a small river and in some spots once in a while I even see the fish.
I started thinking when it's crowded everyone seems to stay with similar patterns1/8 to 3/8 jigs. Have any of you branched of and used jigs like 1/16 , 1/32, 1/64. How has it worked for you. Thinking of giving it a shot.

[KopperBuck]

Over here small jigs are the poop. 

[Damnimissed]

I usually only fish 1/16, or on bigger rivers, or for natives I use 1/8 oz. if the water gets really skinny and fish are finicky, or you can see them, I'll drop down to a little, sparse, neutral colored jig. They can see a tiny jig, believe me, but make sure you're using an ultralight rod because the hooks are naturally gonna be a lighter wire, and you're not gonna get a lot of meat with a really small jig...during this summer, my 1/8 oz jigs stay at home.

[Button Nubbs]

Pressured fish, cold water fish, low water fish, 1/16th is my go to.

[7mmfan]

1/16 almost exclusively. Like damnimissed, I only pull out the big dogs (1/8) for natives or high murky water. Even then, a bright 1/16 will still do the trick just fine. They drift better in the water, don't snag up as much when you have them down in the strike zone and are more versatile. Like was also said, in clear clear water and when sight fishing, use a very sparse, natural color jig with maybe a spot of bright color on it. It really doesn't take much to get their attention.

[fly-by]

For Great Lakes "Steelhead" (really lake run Rainbows), 1/32 and even 1/64 jigs tipped with a maggot are the hot ticket when the water gets into the 30s.  Never straightened a hook out using 4lb line and a noodle rod.  It's really more of a creek tactic vs big water since they aren't going to move far for it.

[wafisherman]

Don't forget about beads. 

http://www.troutbeads.com/How_To.html

Pegging my not be legal where you are fishing, so here is another method that I have used when fly fishing with beads - but can be fished the same way as a tiny jig and split shot as above:
http://www.content-angler.com/eggmeltfly.html

[TheHunt]

I use the 1/16 with a number 4 hook.  Weight and hook size is a combo...  Individuals above have indicated the weight but not the hook size.   

1/8, 1/16 with a number 4 hook is a pretty small presentation like the others have said.

[Damnimissed]

I pretty much just use 1/0 Gami's for 1/8 oz, #2 Gami's for 1/16 oz., and #6 Mustads for 1/32 oz. I never go less than those, because the head will be too big for the hook gap.

[TheHunt]

Another thing to consider is lead dumbell eyes for the light weight and small hooks.  You can tie these up so that so the fish can get a good hook set. 
http://www.fishusa.com/Product/Lead-Eyes-Dumbbells

[BigGoonTuna]

i've seen many times when going super small, down to 1/32oz with a #6 hook has made all the difference when fishing for pressured summer runs.  i don't think winter fish are usually as spooky.

[snowpack]

something else you can use is steel putty.  You can mold it in your hands and use however much you want.  For summer steelies when the flow is low, you can grab a fly and stick the putty head on it to add weight to make it more jig like.  For painting, if you want to use the powder paint, a candle can be use to melt.  Doesn't get a good cure though.  But a head that small, not sure it matters.

[Damnimissed]

Another thing to consider is lead dumbell eyes for the light weight and small hooks.  You can tie these up so that so the fish can get a good hook set. 
http://www.fishusa.com/Product/Lead-Eyes-Dumbbells

I forgot to mention that.

[wafisherman]

Yes, those dumbell eyes give you a lot of options to work with.  I use jig flies like this for both fly fishing and also for float fishing:

[duckmen1]

Made my own little creation using dumbbell. Not sure if it would be a great color for steelhead but it's worth a shot. Need to get some material to make more optimum color patterns.

[TheHunt]

I am feeling better that others are using those dumbbells like I have been using. 

[Smossy]

Anyone else out there use steely beads? Im curious as to how these work and how they're setup..

[_TONY_]

Only things I use on my pin wheel rod...

[TheHunt]

I have a set with me when I fish.  One thing you need to consider with the steely beads is how the bead is secured to the line.  What I have found is that using a tooth pick to pin the bead to the line will squish or damage the line.  If you use the plastic pins to pin the beads to the line it does not seem to damage the line.

Now if you use light line 8 lb it will make a difference.  If you are using heavy line like 12 lb I would just use a tooth pick.

Oh yea,   Heavy Beads is another product similar to Steely Beads. 

[snowpack]

have you tried using the thread bobber stops?

[_TONY_]

IMO the only thing to use is the little rubber stops that you pull onto your leader... Adjustable, don't slip, and don't damage the leader.

[TheHunt]

I did use the threaded bobber stops but like Tony I went to the rubber.   WAY better with braid line.  I use 30 lb Power Pro.

[7mmfan]

Go buy a box of the little rubber bands they make for braces. You can get a case of the dang things for a couple bucks, it'll last you forever. They are just the right size to pull through a bead to secure it.

[Smossy]

Do u just put a single bead a few inches up from the hook or what? Floating bead or what?

[7mmfan]

Heavy beads or steely beads are weighted beads so they sink like a rock. You can fish them right on the hook, but the common way to rig them is to "peg" or secure the bead one way or another, a couple inches from the hook. It looks more natural and the hook ups tend to be better.

You can also use any plastic bead. They tend to be pretty neutral as far as bouancy goes. Troutbeads are pouplar, check out troutbeads.com. Lots of good colors. I generally just go buy cheap orange or red plastic beads and put some fingernail polish on them to change the colors up a little.

[_TONY_]

Do u just put a single bead a few inches up from the hook or what? Floating bead or what?

I use two of those small rubber stops, one on each side if the bead... leaving about a 1/4inch play between the stop and the bead on each side. This give a natural rolling motion in the current, simular to a single egg rolling down the current. I only use beads with floats.

You'll want to set your bead about 2" above your hook, never have it just sitting on the hook.  also, hook size is VERY important when fishing beads... smaller the better, like a #4...

[TheHunt]

I put the bead about 3 inches above the hook.  You can do this below a bobber.  I think people call this Montana rigging.

[_TONY_]

also, dont buy beads from internet fishing sights, or fly shops... Just go to an actual craft bead store and buy them yourself... WAY cheaper.

[Smossy]

also, dont buy beads from internet fishing sights, or fly shops... Just go to an actual craft bead store and buy them yourself... WAY cheaper.

So its just a normal solid bead then? Nothing fancy... sounds do-able. Waighted unded a float just like you would normally float fish?

[Smossy]

16 1/2 pound steely at work today 

[KopperBuck]

I use these - http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Sinker-Stops/product/44440/?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL

They have varieties with the beads as well, but I just add a bead because I use these when bass fishing - probably more so than with steelhead.

[_TONY_]

also, don't buy beads from internet fishing sights, or fly shops... Just go to an actual craft bead store and buy them yourself... WAY cheaper.

So its just a normal solid bead then? Nothing fancy... sounds doable. Weighted ended a float just like you would normally float fish?

 Its nothing like fishing a jig. Its more like bobber dogging, where you're kind of drift fishing with a float.
 
Rig is setup like this:

Float+ 1/4 oz inline lead+ 6' piece of mono+ swivel + 2 split shot spaced about 4" apart on a 20" leader... All said and done, my total line paybelow the float stop is around 10'

the key is to lightly tic the bottom with your split shot about every ten feet.

Be very careful not to disturb the float, as its very easy to pull the bead out of the zone.

Realistically, if the rod your using is less then 10', its going to be difficult to fish them properly... I fish them with a 12' pin rod... You need the ability to pick up a lot of line at one time, and to also give a drag free drift.

Tony

[Goldeneye]

16 1/2 pound steely at work today 

Smossy,

  Are those farmed fish?  The one your holding looks like it could be a bit soft.  Just curious... 

[Smossy]

16 1/2 pound steely at work today 

Smossy,

  Are those farmed fish?  The one your holding looks like it could be a bit soft.  Just curious... 

Nope all wild caught.