Steelhead fishing

[serjey]

I've been smallmouth bass fishing for few years and this year I want to try steelhead fishing. A friend of mine said that he's been fishing for steelheads by Kelly Port with bobber and jig with a shrimp. I'm planning on doing some shore fishing in that area, because I don't have a boat yet.

Not looking for secret spots. Any tips or suggestions on baits or/and bobber fishing.

Thanks,
Serj

[hunt_fish]

Sounds about right bobber with jig and shrimp. Eggs work too but too many bait robbers in my experience from smolt and smaller fish. A coworker of mine said his buddy caught 5 wilds the other day but no keepers.

[gaddy]

Just above Ice-Harbor dam, east side. I don't know how they are doing as i haven't been in quite some time, but it is bank fishing with bobbers and shrimp. I don't use the jigs but have a skewer that threads the line up through the shrimp with the hook hanging below. Ask some of the old guys up there, most times they will tell you what is working, as long as you don't get in their way. Had one old guy give me a bobber that i still use( when i go ) that helped me catch my only keeper.

[serjey]

Thanks guys for the reply.

Will fishing at night improve my chances or catching a steelhead? Also. I see a lot of boats by Bateman Island, is it too shallow to fish from banks from the island?

Thanks,
Serj

[Carp Commander]

There are tons of good bank fishing spots around the Tri-Cities for Steelhead. Above and below Ice Harbor (on the north side) the mouth of the Walla Walla River, below the grain elevators, below McNary (long walk through the tunnel as they gated it off years ago), there are really good stretches of river on the south side of the Snake below Lower Monumental Dam and next month Ringold will be open for Steelhead as well and they do really good from the bank there.

I do a lot of Steelhead fishing and shrimp and bobber is one of my favorite techniques. Need a good thin bobber as their bite can be light at times. Use a bobber stop set up so you can still make a good cast and get down 12 - 15 feet. A barrel swivel with enough weight to submerge your bobber a couple inches, this will guarantee a vertical presentation and make your bobber more sensitive to the bite. Two to three foot of leader with a mooching rig or jig, baited with some Columbia bait company shrimp. I am a big fan of the red dye shrimp. Have a good sturdy, long handled net for landing the fish from the rocks.

[cbond3318]

There are tons of good bank fishing spots around the Tri-Cities for Steelhead. Above and below Ice Harbor (on the north side) the mouth of the Walla Walla River, below the grain elevators, below McNary (long walk through the tunnel as they gated it off years ago), there are really good stretches of river on the south side of the Snake below Lower Monumental Dam and next month Ringold will be open for Steelhead as well and they do really good from the bank there.

I do a lot of Steelhead fishing and shrimp and bobber is one of my favorite techniques. Need a good thin bobber as their bite can be light at times. Use a bobber stop set up so you can still make a good cast and get down 12 - 15 feet. A barrel swivel with enough weight to submerge your bobber a couple inches, this will guarantee a vertical presentation and make your bobber more sensitive to the bite. Two to three foot of leader with a mooching rig or jig, baited with some Columbia bait company shrimp. I am a big fan of the red dye shrimp. Have a good sturdy, long handled net for landing the fish from the rocks.

Nailed it. Golden advice there! 

[JJB11B]

I usually do pretty good fishing Steelies from both the bank and from the boat every year. I run an Egg loop style rig on the red octopus Gomagatsu hook. I usually fish between 7-10 feet deep. Red or purple shrimp. The most important thing is making sure you have a good Thermos full of good hot coffee and a coffee cup. Be patient. The fish seem to hit in waves, so be sure you are vigilant and watching your bobber even when everyone around you is getting takedowns and you want to watch them play. Also Smelly Jelly or Glo scent as a cover scent seams to help. I usually use Shrimp oil scent but if your not getting hit try Garlic scent and change your depths. Watch the other guys, I learned a lot from watching guys slay the fish while I was left standing there holding a "different pole"

If in the event you wind up with a boat, one tried and true method for steelies in both the snake and the Columbia is to run wiggle warts. Try Wee Warts Wiggle Warts or Mag Warts. Some guys swear by the $9 E-Chip Wiggle warts but I seem to do just as good with my array of Warts (that sounds bad when I say it like that)