Bass Gear For Steel Head?

[masterbass]

A buddy asked me to go up to erie for some steel head action in the creeks.  Can I use my bass casting gear?  I was thinking about using my nrx 893 and either an ito or 51e.  Or should I use my spinning gear?

[ChrisWi]

Spinning gear, long rod

[HardcoreBassin]

Spinning gear, long rod

 

X2.  They definitely aren't a fish that you can horse around like a bass.  My setup is a 9ft uglystick and an Okuma reel, the name is slipping my mind right now.  I've always fished for steelhead with long, noddle-like rods and really light line.

 

Good luck with them.  They are REALLY fun to catch.

 

 -Dale

[ChrisWi]

X2. They definitely aren't a fish that you can horse around like a bass. My setup is a 9ft uglystick and an Okuma reel, the name is slipping my mind right now. I've always fished for steelhead with long, noddle-like rods and really light line.

Good luck with them. They are REALLY fun to catch.

-Dale

I fish an 8' 6" ML with a pretty large reel, 10 pound mainline, 6 pound leader and a #6 octopus hook snelled

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I have casting setups for steelhead and they are the next best thing to a center Pin for float fishing but the ones I use are specialized (long and ML power). If you want to use your bass setup choose a reel with a good drag and a lot of line capacity, not either of those reels. Depending on water level and clarity, I've gone as low as 4# leaders to get bites. 6-8# is average

[J Francho]

Use your longest crankbait rod and you'll be fine. I still like a casting rig over a pin when I need a rod under 8'.

Here is a Sol and AVC70MM handling good size chrome.

[J Francho]

I'll add that I do not like spinning gear when drifting a float rig. It's much easier to press the thumb bar, and feather the spool as the rig goes downstream. Float goes down, reel and lift - no flipping the bail and seating line on the roller.

[OntarioFishingGuy]

I have also used bass gear for steelhead fishing, but not for float fishing, as I prefer a centerpin rod for that. Almost any bass rod will work for casting lures though.

[smalljaw67]

It depends on the bass gear but the rod will need to be long and a lighter power, the equipment for that fish is crazy. I went with a friend who uses long whippy spinning rods and what I learned is that bass may or may not be line shy but steelhead, they are line shy big time! We had to use 4lb leaders to get bit, and that was with fluorocarbon, but it isn't just about the fish seeing the line, it is how it hinders the bait from moving and the difference between 4 and 6lb line may not seem like a lot but that little difference was enough to allow the bait to fall a little more naturally and the fish would then bite. They are exciting to catch but it is too finesse for my liking, and I do like some finesse fishing for bass but finesse fishing for bass would be like power fishing for steelhead, that is really finesse.

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Oh and there is no need for a rod that expensive. A cheaper rod will perform fine. The hits are quite hard when fishing lures, and when float fishing the float does the bite detection for you. A more sensitive rod would be good for bottom bouncing though. Many creeks are also quite overgrown around the shorelines, so if you walk into a tree with your rod, a cheaper one will be less of a loss.

[BannedForSpamming-1234555]

I wouldn't use the avid again for salmon but I like the avid for steelhead.

 

After using the avid, it's hard to go back to my uglystick.

[J Francho]

Nice! That's pretty much how I fish them in fall when they stack up in the lake. Only difference I'm in a boat. The steel follow the browns on their spawning run, looking for a cheap meal.

https://youtu.be/uqCLApHsqzs

[BannedForSpamming-1234555]

Nice catch! 

 

What spoon and weight was that? 

 

It looks like it gives out a good wobble.

[J Francho]

KO Wobbler 3/4 oz. thanks!