Is there any techniques that work to troll in the salt for steelhead. I tried beach fishing at ft. casey last december for them. Caught one unclipped dink steelie about 3lbs in 5 trips. Besides this beach fishing is there any way to troll for them? Has anyone even tried trolling the salt for steel? Any shared techniques or tips would be greatly appreciated.

I've hooked 4 in the salt while salmon fishing, 2 on spoons, 2 mooching herring all in Ak. Other then the beach fishery at Fort Casey, I don't know of any other saltwater steelhead spots.

Is it my observations, or does it seem like steelhead like to hug the shoreline when traveling about the PS?

I don't know how many, or how often steelhead in the salt sit in deeper, open waters that are optimal for trolling.

Could that be way not many are caught trolling?

Why? That's like trying to pick-up chicks at a Jiffy-Lube when there's a singles bar next door.

FWIW-- not much since it hasn't been duplicated by me-- I caught one steelhead trolling between Ft. Casey and Lagoon Point on a spoon fishing 50 feet down over 70 feet of water.

Keith

The Steelhead saltwater catch around Prince Rupert is largely incidental but in the spring, the estuarine bays of the smaller steelhead rivers/creeks along coast will contain targetable Steelhead if river/creek level is low.

Uncle lives at Partridge Pt and occasionally sees people casting from boats in the same water the beach fishery targets (within 20-30 feet of shore and less than 10 feet deep) seems like it should work but have never tried it myself

ive had a couple on on bush point i wiil post a pic on what we were cathing them on

thats how i set them up

I have caught them trolling herring strips in water just deep enough to run a boat.
Obviously paralell to the shore.
You want the strips to have a really tight spin.
Lots of cutties and an occasional steely.
fun on light tackle.
Seem to like clean gravel bottoms.
I would also try dick nites or other spoons.
HTH

I've caught steelhead from numerous Puget Sound beaches over the years, but have only caught 2 incidentally while trolling flasher & squid at Pt No Pt. I only know 1 guy who actually trolls for them with success. He fishes them in the same water depths as you would fish for cutts. See the bottom on one side of the boat and not the other.

silverkiller,

Thats the same type of setup that I use at ft casey. Pencil lead, 3 1/2 - 4 1/2ft leader with a pink or orange spin-n-glow, two red beads, a orange and yellow mini squid.

I wonder if a bobber and sandshrimp or prawn will work off the beach???

ive seen them cought on bobber and fresh herring

I tried it once many years ago in 17' Mauntauk. It was foolish, reckless, and downright terrifying. We only lasted about 20 minutes. We trolled in and out of the Casey surf alternating between 1' of depth and 50'. We where either riding a wave into shore or being swept away. It's nearly impossable to troll properly at the depth the steelies feed at. Sol's assessement is spot on. Why risk your boat/life when it's so damn pleasant fishing from the beach?

They can be caught by trolling but i think it's a long shot, while trolling for silvers at bouy 10 we hooked a nice wiled steelhead guessing about 18 lbs, (released unharmed) maybe if you can target a run like they do off whidbey you could probably get them to bite by trolling like said earlyer get in close and you might stand a chance

Sol,

Picking up chicks at the lube shop is how the porno in my mind starts. [insert porno music here].


SilvaKilla,


I liked seeing your rigging. Thanks for taking the time to post the pic. Has anybody ever run a thin strip of squid off the hook? Like bass fisherman do with a "pig 'n jig"? I tried cutting strips of sardine and herring, and run it inside the hootchie skirt but it didn't swim right. But squid is very tough and I'd think a person could cut a strip or two thin enough for it to troll. Anybody know where I can get squid?


Vince

Huh huh huh...he said porno music. Huh huh huh

I have better luck trolling for salt water taffy

Seriously, I've taken a few flyfishing off beaches while after cutts or salmon and the takes were in really close to shore. A lot of fun on a 6 wt flyrod......but nothing you could ever count on, just like finding a hot chick at a jiffy lube.

Vinnie, you can start your porno music, this chick works at the Jiffy Lube 'N Fresh Donut Emporium in Montesano. See what will happen if you take her fishing? She'll bring lunch!!!!

Jed Davis wrote a great article on trolling for steelhead in the salt. Use a small #70 hotshot, black or green; let out 100-150' of line without any weight; troll dead slow. He says you don't get many steelhead, but it is effective. Fish the bays off the mouths of rivers. I've tried it several times, and haven't caught any steelhead, but my problem was I couldn't even let the line out without shaker coho hitting it. I caught over 40 shakers last time out.