DM, it depends on the water conditions. But generally Columbia spingers, and coastal ones too, seem to prefer size K-13/14 Kwikfish to the bigger 15/16 and T50 Flatfish that the fall 'nooks like. I think it could be partially due to them feeding off shore on so many small smelt and also striking and eating them on the way upriver with them around. If the water gets murky though, I would try the K-15's.

I recall catching a lot of springers on chrome with blue scale U20 Flatfish with a bit of herring oil on them, back in the day. But they are a little more productive with sardine, herring, or smelt filets wrapped meat side out on the belly. Using either one size larger than stock Owner brand trebles, or my single treble rig up on a 4 bead chain off the belly eyescrew with split rings, and a small foam floatant on the hook shank to keep it hovering right in the strike zone, usually provide better landing rates than the stock hooks. Just keep them all sticky sharp. And keep these lures tuned to dive straight as you would with plugs.

Since they do dive, either use a longer 30" to 35" lead dropper with a 50" to 55" leader for anchor still fishing them, or trolling them. If you use about a 24" lead dropper (better for netting fighting fish), then after stabilizing the lead at the 'tap point' in the current, reel in 2 or 3 cranks to get this lure up off bottom a ways. In the trolling scenario, watch your fish finder so you know when to let out some line to keep them near bottom. The exception is in the super deep shipping channels where springers often swim only 12 to 17 ft. deep in water 40 to 80 ft. deep; then fish them that shallower depth when trolling out there on occassion. Troll at a speed that keeps them thumping at a nice slow to medium rate. If they are used at a fast action rate they aren't as productive. Thus when you anchor, usually on the outgoing current in the Columbia or up the tributaries, try to find water fairly near shore between 10 to 25 ft. deep with a moderate current. If it's too fast, then backtroll them by either back tapping the lead or changing over to Jet Planer divers (this is especially productive in the tribs) so as to get that deadly moderate speed thumping action on them.

As for steelhead fishing, I believe the smaller U20 Flatfish and K-10/11/12 Kwikfish are under utilized. Rigging them on a 40" leader with the proper amount of slinky weight to drift and swing them thru hold slots can be real productive. So can hovering or bouncing them in the seams. Don't be suprized if a big 'nook grabs one of those smaller ones when doing that for steelies, if they are also present.

The 'go to' stock colors for springers and fall 'nooks has been the chrome and chartreuse green combos. When the water isn't murky, my chrome and metalic blue 'RT's Injured Baitfish' pattern has been deadly on them for years (use search feature for instructions on making those - and for custom painting and taping chrome based Warts also). For steelies, I agree with the above recommendation of the orange or flame red (with black tiger stripes it's good too); but in clearer water all the good plug color patterns, such as the 'blue pirate', work well too.