Steelhead plunking tips

[tbrady]

Hi All,

My 4 and 6yo boys have gotten hooked into fishing pretty good lately.  Every day when I get home from work they are begging to go!  So far we've been catching small trout just using nightcrawlers and bobbers. 

I'd like to learn how to catch some steelhead though (we live right near the Snoqualmie).  Especially if there is a method that my little guys could do.  Where I grew up we only had bass and catfish and I know pretty much nothing about catching steelhead or anything else for that matter...

So... I'm looking for any tips/advice, really anything that would help us start catching something besides 7" trout.

thanks
tim

[7mmfan]

The Snoqualmie or the Skykomish will be your best bets for sure locally. You aren't going to see much of a push of steelhead until late November, early December when the winter runs start up, although there are always some fall fish coming through with each rain. If either one of these two open for silvers (maybe just did when the Snohomish opened? Not sure), you can catch silvers plunking as well. Any high water, like we are expected to get this coming week/weekend will get them moving.

Plunking is exactly how I got started when I was kiddo. One of my earliest memories was plunking on the Snohomish for steelhead with my Dad, brother, cousins, aunts/uncles. It was a blast. Throwing rocks, building fires, getting dirty, it was awesome!

General rule of thumb is fish will start really moving just as the water is starting to rise on a good rain. This can be the BEST time to catch them plunking. Pitch your stuff out onto an inside bend at the top of a slot, right below the riffle. Most fish will travel the path of least resistance, which would be up the inside line along the bank. They will crowd towards the bank even more when they get to the riffle at the top of the run. A #4 or #6 Spin-n-glo with some eggs, sand shrimp, or cured prawns on an 18-20" leader with 4-6 oz. lead should do the trick.

[Mfowl]

I'd suggest trying the Skykomish vs the Snoqualmie as they no longer have hatchery steelhead in the  Snoqualmie. Also for plunking I'd go lower in the river, Lewis st or further. It won't be lights out as plunking bites there take many rod hours. For rigging I would suggest a slider above a bead chain on your mainline to attach a 6-10oz pyramid style weight. From the bead chain run a 3-5' leader to a spin n glow rigged with a sandshrimp. Try to fish a current seam with softer flow vs the main River flow. Inside corners are also a good spot. You could probably get gear and good info from the guys at 3 Rivers in Woodinville. Good luck, have fun!

[tbrady]

Thanks a bunch guys!  Here's something I'm confused about.  Should my rigging not have the weight dragging the bottom?  E.g. similar to the picture below.  If not, how close to the bottom of the river do you want your lure?

[7mmfan]

So we're no longer talking plunking? On to float fishing!

How close your weight is to the bottom will depend entirely on what your lure is. If you're using a jig, like is shown in the picture, then no, no weight close to the bottom since your jig is weighted and keeps itself in the strike zone.

If you were float fishing bait, or yarn, or a bead, etc..., something that doesn't have weight to keep itself in the strike zone, then you set your weight closer to the bottom in order to weight your lure/bait down and keep it closer to the bottom.

When float fishing, you rarely want your weight "dragging" on the bottom. A tick on the rocks every so often is good though. If the bottom is very consistent, you can make a perfect drift and never contact the bottom. Your goal most of the time should be to have your offering within 2' of the bottom, but not dragging on it.

[tbrady]

Heh, well now I feel even more ignorant!  I thought plunking was basically "fishing from the bank", I had no idea it was different from float fishing!

Is plunking more effective if the water is deeper? 

[JLS]

Take them up above Monroe when the chums show up and let them drift some pink marabou jigs under a slip bobber.  It's about as fun as it gets.  One afternoon I landed about 8 fish in three hours.

[7mmfan]

Heh, well now I feel even more ignorant!  I thought plunking was basically "fishing from the bank", I had no idea it was different from float fishing!

Is plunking more effective if the water is deeper?

Not necessarily. Both are effective depending on the circumstances and conditions. Plunking works well lower in the river systems because fish are traveling through, not holding most of the time. When plunking, you place your lure/bait in a traveling lane and wait for the fish to find it. If there are a lot of fish moving through, it can be super effective.

Float fishing, drift fishing, fishing spinners/spoons, etc, all tend to work better if you are in a run where fish are thought to be holding. Float fishing is effective in many types of water (deep, shallow, fast, slow) and is easy to learn. For kids it keeps them visually interested, which helps. Its also easier to know when you have a bite then some techniques because of the obvious, the bobber goes down!

What you will probably find as you take young kids to a river in pursuit of salmon or steelhead, is that there is not enough action to keep them entertained for long. They will lose their concentration and get bored with it. I was probably 12 or 13 before I really began to enjoy the act of fishing without catching, and I'm a special case I think 

Plunking can be great for kids because their gear is in the water, they can pay attention, or go play in the bushes, doing kid stuff. Bring a spinning rod for them to toss until they get bored then throw the plunking rod out. Its all about them having fun.

[tbrady]

Thanks a ton for all the help! 

[jackmaster]

If ypu can afford it takem on a guided trip, a float trip and just really pay attention to the guide and what he is doing then try and o convert it to bank fishn

[theleo]

Heh, well now I feel even more ignorant!  I thought plunking was basically "fishing from the bank", I had no idea it was different from float fishing!

Is plunking more effective if the water is deeper?

Plunking involves heavier rods and weights than you're ever going to use float fishing Stealhead. Equipment wise its usually really similar to bank fishing for Sturgeon or if there's not much current you can get away with a heavy bobber rod that you might use for salmon, that you can cast 4-8oz of lead with.

[4fletch]

Check the regs the Snoqualimie may have bait restrictions. There is a guide that  will take you on foot , show you different spots on the sky and many other rivers. Teach you how to fish heard he's a good guide I hear. Well worth the cost for the spots
And instruction. This will save a lot of time and money in the long run for
You. I'll get his info for you