I ran out of hooks last night (gasp!)and I'll I could scrounge up was some 1/0's. Are these too big for all around steelhead use? I really don't feel like driving to the store. Thanks.

They're my favorite size for winter steelies. I go down to size 1 in certain low water or smaller presentations, but I feel that the 1/0 will give me the best hookset for them.

I too use 1/0, but only on eggs. For rags I use 2/0 or even 3/0. 1's are too small for winter fish. Maybe I just catch bigger steelhead than you small hook guys :p

Nothing wrong with 1/0...unless of course you are using small drift bobbers. Match your hook size to your setup size.

Bait on a 1/0 works for me!

FJ...out.

My standard winter set-up for Hac. steelies is 12 lb. main on the curado 2-4' of 10 lb. ultragreen(depending on water vis.) and a 1/0 vision hook in red or black. Add drift bobber, yarn or bait to taste. The visions run about a 1/2 size smaller than most of the other hooks.....c/22

Funny thing I was just doing the same thing when I caught this thread, I was retying more leaders. Only minutes before I ran out of my favorite 2/0 & 3/0 Gammys and was debating whether to tie up some 1/0's. This time of year I'm not trying to fool anyone, I'm using the biggest hook my little ol' offering will handle and still work well. I figure if guys are banging em with plugs and 6" worms, these fish aren't particularly leader or hook shy. Nothing like confidence of a big sharp hook in the very hard mouth of a metalhead. But of course there is the exception to every rule: I will drop down to the 1/0 when I'm using my favorite winter clear water lure, a tiny pink corky solo sans yarn. Killer in the right conditions!

looks like I'll be using up some 1/0's. Thanks

No sweat for drift fishing, but I use smaller hooks for side drifting or using bait under a float.

Anything from a size 1 to a 3/0 is pretty commonly used for drift fishing.

DITTO. I USE 3/0. LAST WEEK I USED FISHEAD5'S # 4 HOOKS AND BENT ONE STAIGHT ON A LITTLE HATCHERY STEELIE.
BIG HOOKS + BIG BAIT+ BIG LINE = BIG FISH

1/0's are perfect for winter drift fishing

Bardo

BIG HOOKS + BIG BAIT+ BIG LINE = BIG FISH

Or one heck of a lound snap when you hook on a log and have to break off

All I use are for steelhead #2s. Landed a 30lb buck last winter and burried the hook and the Gammi held well. No problems yet. No need to change for me.

I suppose you could fish your whole career with one size hook but why would you?

YOU HAVE A POINT DAN. I'M SWITCHING TO 6/0 FOR THE NATES THIS YEAR

I use
#4 size Gammi hooks for all my steelhead fishing when drifting corkies.
#2 size gammi hooks when drifting eggs for all my steelhead fishing.
#1 and 1/0 for drifting corkies for fall salmon and when using eggs or shrimp for salmon I use 2/0 or 3/0 hooks.

Just my 2 cents

1/0 always

For many yrs. I used only 2/0 hooks for my winter run fishing.

Things and methods change...now into 9.5 - 10.5 rods, light lines, spinning reels and "SMALLER BAITS". Sure hasn't cut my fish catching abilities down.....hooks I use are Size 1's and 2's.

Have 700-800 size 2/0 that I would trade or sell......don't care about color.....JUST SO THEY ARE RED!!!!!

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

Nope! They're typically even on the smaller side in my book. I generally fish a lot of 2/0's through most of the season. 1/0's or 1's under lower flows. Usually the only time I ever fish anything smaller is when I'm fishing glo-bugs that I've tied on 4's

Wait a minute, we're talking hooks here and someone casually mentions they caught a 30lb buck steelhead last year, "All I use are for steelhead #2s. Landed a 30lb buck last winter", and it's back to hooks again.

Paranoid, I, for one, am not just impressed but I am in awe. Not just because it was hooked on a #2 hook, but because I have never personally met or even talked to anyone who has caught the Holy Grail of steelhead. I am in awe because I was once humbled to have actually seen a mount of one captured from the Quinault hatchery back in the eightys. It absolutely dwarfed the few (as in 2) 20+ (barely) fish I have been priveleged to get up close and personal with (can't remember the hook size though). I have also known some folks who caught them in the high 20's, most of them from Canada, a few in WA, but none of these guys would ever lay claim without pictures, measurements or other corroboration to back it up. Any chance you have a picture of this beast? Just one look at it and I might be convinced to drop down to #2's.