Now that the winter steelhead season is almost upon us, I have a question:

In your opinion, which is more effective for winter steelhead - drifting eggs or float/jig combination? Why?

Note that I didn't ask what technique/lure is most effective at hooking winter steelhead. That might include everything from rubber worms, to spinners, to sand shrimp. I'm only interested in comparing eggs to float/jigs.

I personally have witnessed far more fish caught on eggs vs. jigs. I think that is due to eggs being a naturally occurring food for Steelies.

I have started to fish Jigs myself just in the last year or so, and have had limited success. I think Jigs will work, but with less effectiveness than the bait you are mimicing with them ( eggs)

Basically, I will always fish eggs until they run out then switch to hardware.

How bout best of both worlds....bobber and eggs?

Both techniques will work just as good as the other if used in the right conditions. If the water is running with some color to it, then you'll probably bang fish on eggs. If its low and clear and they've already seen everbodys eggs then they will probably hit jigs. Just a matter of switching til you find what they want. Dont forget hardware when nothing seems to work

I carry 2 rods to the river-----1 just for float and jigs, the other for fishing bait. Can't tell you the number of times that 1 will outfish the other. Now do the same in my jetboat, fish a section of water with one, then go back up and come down with the other.....works for me!!!!

"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"

it all depends on conditions and the particular piece of water you're fishing...both are very effective when used in the correct element

Six of one, a half dozen of the other. Sometimes they bite eggs, sometimes they bite jigs. I never leave home without some of each..... Personally, I like jig and float fishing. Less mess than eggs and no guess work..... Bobber goes under, you've got a fish on, simple as that. It's for that reason alone that I tend to lean towards float fishing more than egg drifting.

Why must the answer be one or the other? Both are deadly under certain circumstances. My all time favorite go-to set up is a float and small spawn bag. I almost never fish eggs without a float. The float allows a better presentation, more precise presentation, and is gentler on the eggs.

If I could only have one to use all season long, under all conditions? Gimmee those eggys!

EGGS !

Got Roe?

It all depends on the water you fish. If I fish a flat I like spinners or spoons because they get down and cover alot of water.

If I'm fishing slots I like Bobber and jigs, Bobber and eggs or CORKIES are an old favorite.

Last three years instead of using Corkie and yarn, try using corkie and jig ( white or pink ) DEADLY

Fishaddict:

Please describe how you rig and fish the corkie and jig - sounds interesting.