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.