Last night I was on a local river, I got there about 4:00pm
I started using a 1/8oz pink and white first cast jig. I fished the jig for awhile, it did not produce. So I switched to a size 12 fluorescent red glitter corky with some white yarn. I fished that for a while and got nothing. I then added a shrimp tail still nothing. I put a new leader of 10# seaguar fluorocarbon and a size 1 red owner needle point a small piece of bright orange yarn, and a small shrimp tail. The first cast I felt the fish grab the bait. I set the hook and missed it :p the fish took my last shrimp. I made a quick cast in the same spot w/ just the orange yarn. My line stopped and I felt the spongy feeling of fish and set the hook hard. The fish came clear out of the water 3 or 4 times, then she made two good runs. It was a 7-8# summer steelhead . That was the first fish I caught, with just a piece of yarn.

How may have caught steelhead only on yarn or use just yarn ?


Also how mamy use summer steelhead eggs for bait? I have caught several steelhead on fresh un cured summer steelhead eggs. How may have cured SS eggs ? Thanks in advance.....Ross

So, you going to tell what river?

Fish Hawg,

I'd tell anyone who asked that the fish wasn't even in the pool when you began fishing. It just moved in when you switched to the orange yarn and shrimp tail, and was just waiting for you to present a suitable offering. Congratulations on your good work.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Yarn can be a steelhead killer. Yarn can be deadly in fast water with scent on it. Although it might be much easier to use a jensen egg or gooey bob. I find yarn most effective fished by its self is when the salmon are spawning. I will fish the deep holes right below an area of spawning kings, and put a clinic on sometimes with just yarn under a float. I wouldn't see why it wouldn't work good in the PNW cause from what I have heard, fly fishermen to pretty well fishing yarn flies.

Many top rods in B.C. fish nothing but yarn - they call it wool. Often they mix three colors, trim to a very neat ball and fish on. Yarn has nice neutral buoyancy so it bounces along with a natural drift. And you can very rapidly change color and sizes.

Bottom line is a good presentation of an appropriate size and color lure will work wonders, no matter if it’s a fly, a jig, yarn or something else.

Man, you guys must all be 'young-uns;' before corkies, 'rags,' etc., and etc., yarn (and /or yarn and eggs)was all we used up until the 60's.

Back in the day,we would use brown yarn for summers down at eagle creek that flows into the clackamas river.Yarn hold scent well.
Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I have cured, fished, and caught fish on the SS eggs. If you can get them to take color, you
have a very duarble and bright bait.