If I could use only one bait for spring steelhead, it would be, without question, a big, juicy nightcrawler.
‘Crawlers are the perfect choice this time of year. Think about it – the high flows of spring often wash a good smorgasboard of goodies (including worms) into the water, which steelhead, of course, key in on. Rivers also run pretty cold in the spring, so the fish will be more lethargic and a big meaty hunk of garden hackle is often the only thing that will get them excited. In addition, nightcrawlers also give you a nice “changeup” bait to use on streams that receive lots of angling pressure.
Furthermore, I’ve found spring steelhead act a lot more like resident trout than their winter cousins. They’ll spend more time in a river and, eventually, start to revert back to their old ways of eating invertebrates like nymphs — and worms.
And we can’t overlook the fact that ‘crawlers stay on the hook way better than eggs and shrimp. In reality, it’s the only steelhead bait that can “die of old age” before it falls off the hook. Less time spent rebaiting means…yep, more time in the water and, hopefully, more steelhead.
Technique
The cool thing about using worms is they’ll fit right into most styles of fishing you’re into. ‘Crawlers can be side-drifted or boondogged from a boat just as if you were using roe; they can be drift-fished from shore, suspended under floats or backtrolled behind a diver.
You really don’t need to alter your techniques when fishing with nightcrawlers and only need to make a slight adjustment or two to your tackle.
Rigging Up
For this article, let’s take a look at basic side-drifting or bank fishing. Either way, I’ll attach a Slinky-style sinker via a slider rig to my main line and then run an 18- to 36-inch leader down to the hook. Now, here’s the only area where rigging up for worm fishing is any different than fishing eggs – the hook. Instead of the classic octopus style hook, you’re going to want to run a baitholder like a size No. 2 to 1/0 Gamakatsu. The barbs on the shank will help keep the bait from sliding down around the hook, which is key because you want your ‘crawler to look as straight as possible in the water and the bronze color will blend in with the bait.
Baiting Up
With a bait threader, slide the worm over the hook and up the leader. Traditional drift bobbers like Corkies, Cheaters and Spin-N-Glos don’t work all that well for this technique because they ride on the leader above the bait and push down on it, causing the worm to bunch up. To that end, I’ve found that foam “puffballs” like Fish Pills work best. After the worm is threaded and the hook is situated just beyond the head, I’ll slide a puffball onto the hook and let the barbs on the hook shank hold it in place. You can also run a Fish Pill on the leader above the hook instead if you prefer.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
im new out here in yuba city and i wanna go fishing. will some one take me? i have pole and will travel
Jd can you tell me , what dry flies work good on the feather in the spring.
I have used this technique on late summer steelhead with great results.
Who can tell me whats up with all the little steelies in the low flow,
are they coming from the hatchry or from down river.
It seems fishing has realy turned on.
steelie 21
Will this work for the fall . and dose this just work for stealheads only?
Works great in the fall! Trout love it to, but not so much for salmon.
fishing was good last night, got two 13 and 17. Fished the low flow
i love this website. its very usefull.
if you go fishing for a stealhead and you don’t have worms what can you use?
I fish steelhead B run on the Clearwater river in Idaho. I’m catching quit a few on shrip even though they are not eating. Will these fish that are nearly at spawn take a night crawler too?
Yes, sir…they love ‘em!
JD what your take on touching bait and tackle with bare hands when fishing for steelhead ? People wearing rubber gloves to wipes and sprays. Where really is the fine line at before being wasteful of the enjoyment and the time out fishing ?
Wade,
I tried wearing rubber gloves one season…both in Alaska and back home in the Lower 48. All I can say is it was a miserable experience…my hands were a mess! They’d sweat like crazy on hot days and then I would get water in the gloves at some point. Between the sweat and H2O, my hands would end up super white and clammy at the end of the day…and smelling worse to the fish than had I just gone “el natural.”
Plus, tying knots and feathering a baitcaster with Latex on is a royal pain. Nope, not a big rubber glove fan here!
Instead, I will wash my hands in lemon dish soap prior to fishing and then, if the bite is really tough, I may wipe a little shrimp gel between my palms to get a little masking scent going.
I have been using nightcrawlers for years. They have always been my first choice in front of Pautzkes salmon eggs. 2-3 on a hook use to work on the American very well. Its been years since Ive caught steelhead like i use too when I was younger.
Where at on the american?
Howe Avenue used to be the spot for me. I like Gristmill now.
never tried worms for steelhead. i am going to give it a try this year.
do you use a tail hook while side drifting do you . i have guys tell me that’s the best way to drift bait .
I thread my worms so that the hook is near…or even haning out of…the tail.
I rig my worms so that the hook is near…or hanging out of…the tail.
I’d drift fish with crawlers or spawn bags with just enough lead to get your bait down but not anchored to the bottom. Cast straight out or slightly downstream and let the weight tap-tap-tap along the bottom. Good luck!
yea me and my buddie go fishing in ohio on the rocky river for steelhead. with r normal poles wats the best way to catch them if u dont have waiters
Yep, floats will work just fine. In fact, I find I’m going more and more to float fishing for steelhead…
Great rigging example. If you were fishing summer steelhead under a float would this work too ?