I would have to agree that the number 1 offering of choice for any water condition and time of the year would have to be a SMALL cluster of eggs. And a really close second and probably more effective on nates is a 2/5 oz. hammered brass mor-tac spoon. Next for nates would be the pink worm drift fished or under a bobber.
Tim

everyones talking about "drift rods" "Jigs rods" whats the difference?

I've found nates to be more than willing to take just a plain ol' 1/8 oz. marabou jig. I always have worms and bait along as part of the arsenal, but I rarely feel the need to switch from the float-n-jig.

90% flies
5% yarn drift rigs
5% spoons and plugs

By far most of my fish are caught using a combination of a white feather jig with a 3" section of pink worm threaded onto the jig. Plain jigs are next in line with straight bait bringing up the rear.

Mark

All of the above.... Just depends on the time of year, water conditions , boat or bank fishing, etc.. I would say that there was bait around before all the other stuff, and all the other stuff is meant to imitate bait, so which came first.....the chicken or the egg ??????
John

Sand shrimp have always worked best for me followed by eggs and then just a plain old corkey and yarn. Have caught a few on spinners as well. Can't say as that I've had much luck on the pink worm yet.

The bulk of my fish are caught on jigs, either tipped with bait or without bait. I've found that sometimes the fish prefer the jig without bait and sometimes with bait. The remainder of my fish are caught on pink worms, bait, plugs and spinners in that order. I bank fish 95% of the time even though I own a drift boat because I prefer half days on the water and I love to get out and hike the river.

I seem to be in the minority here.

Where I fish I outfish most people using dark red cured shrimp under a bobber.

I fish a few Eastside rivers with these shrimp and do just fine.

1) Corky & yarn with a couple drops of shrimp oil
2) Corky & tiger prawn
3) Prawn/shrimp under a float
4) Eggs
5) plugs

1.Eggs
2.Sandshrimp
3.Yarn,corkes,arofly,to float bait and add colour
I have caught fish on jigs, soft plastics and flies.
I like fresh bait BEST.

since I've tried just about everything. I'll let you know when I finally catch my first steelhead.

just my luck I guess.
See ya on the river!

Bait used with yarn, orange then pink, red, yellow, green, white, multi-colored rags work in heavy flows
1. Sandshrimp, fresh, cured falls off
2. Eggs, boraxed work better than other cures for me
3. Crawdad tail meat, fresh, a summer bait
4. Summerun eggs with crawdad meat sandwich
5. Prawns, cooked work better than uncooked
No yarn
6. Nightcrawlers
7. Plugs with scent
No sucess with the following even though I carry them and use them sometimes
8. Pink worm
9. Jigs (have tried with shrimp or prawn)
10. Spinners
11. Spoons

BAIT, any other questions!!!!
Keith

Flasher:

I'm a Milwaukie cracker, too. If I can do it, anyone can. Between the Clack and the Sandy we've got two good rivers to fish.

Yes, you catch fish with what you are using. However, I believe RIVER CONDITIONS dictate what you use. Last year, when water was low, slow and clear, I used jigs with shrimp tails under a bobber with good success. This year, with higher conditions, more flow and color, drift fishing with eggs or shrimp.

I bring two rods and use bait or bobber/jig depending on the stretch of river in front of me. Sometimes pink worm and spinners for pocket water. Good fishing, Wes.

Winter runs:
hatchery: 90% on eggs, 5% on jigs, 5% on worms
natives: plugs 50%, corkies 25%, hardware 10%, worms 5%, jigs 5%, flies 5%

Summer runs:
hatchery and native: 50% on eggs, 50% on hardware, random fish or two on flies.

Those numbers pretty much reflect how much I use each method, so I'm pretty sure how you use your gear is much more important than what you use, so long as you are using something that is suitable for the type of fish and conditions you are faced with.

Fish on...

Todd.

You can only catch fish in a traditional manner. Heron spey hackle, seal or polar bear dubbing swing the fly on a greased line. No other method is acceptable. But, some led eyes and a Powerbait wiggle tail under an "indicator" sometimes helps!!! :p :p

I've never fished bait for steelhead. I've thrown eggs and shrimp for salmon, but I prefer the ease, versitility and speed of lures. I'd have to rate jigs ahead of pink worms. I've had a few large fish take a jig after refusing the worm. I think spinners are unbeatable for summer-runs and flies are effective if conditions are right.

Straight up bait mother****ers, 200 plus steelhead to the boat this year can't be wrong!!
Nothin like a chunk of uncle Joe's eggs
Peace Superfly