Ok, so apparently Im the last steelheader in the PNW to pick up float fishing. Ive been doing some research into starting up my arsenal and thought I would hit you guys up for more advice and recommendations. Heres what I have or have planned:
Floats: have a few thills, probably will pick up some dink floats as well
Lures: thought Id start off ordering some of Todds rvrfshr worms. Would also like to add some jigs to the line up-this is where I need some help
Reel: already have a chronarch and curado
Rod: Found a lamiglas x 106 mc "Dave Vedder" online for $229. Is this a good price? Who is this Dave Vedder guy anyway? Anyone heard of him?
Thanks for any help!

jiggs and baite are my go to set up's i have 9-10 foot float rods but find myself defaulting back to a 8'6" rod to use and i cannot stand spinning set ups for this either. however i fish out of a boat 90% of the time and like to long line. rvrfshr gear i back, i use it alot but have yet to try there worms. alhtough i hear they are good. i am not a fan of dink floats anymore either i like slip floats cedar are nice but spendy and the cheap black ones work just as good. just put a bobber stop, corky or bead float, egg weight, bead swivel, leader to either baite or jigg and set depth you are good to go. good luck

First i would look in the classified ads on this forum. You can find them for 120-160...
Second there 3 inch paddle tail worms are awesome, as are there 6 inch worms.
Long rod, braided line, jigs/worms/bait and that's all that's really needed. Easiest technique to learn how to fish with, and catch fish effectively under a variety of water conditions. Bob has some info on float fishing in the techniques section, and doing a search through the forum will provide more info.

IMHO, forget the Thills... go with West Coast floats... 3/8 seems to be a good all around size. Also, I like slinkies with two holes soldered on either side, and a swivel on each end for a weight system.

I like hollow core pencil lead, and thru line 6 in dinks.

Don't over complicate things..... West coat floats in a 3/8 oz size 1/4 oz inline weight and a 1/8 oz ounce jighead will balance/track perfectly.

where do you guys pick up dinks these days? the only place i can find the good high density ones(bentz tackle) are at sportco any more, and it seems like they're phasing them out there.

$229 is a pretty crappy deal for a certified pro...that rod goes for around $189 most places.

You can get a Dave Vedder for around 200 , it is the best float rod on the market hands down. Three rivers marine has a pretty good selection of Dink floats. I like to use the 3/4 oz floats with 1/2 oz weight and a 1/8 oz jig.

Go for the X106MHC instead of the X106MC for float fishing. I have both. I use the MC for hardware because it has a slower tip. For that reason I don't like it for fishing floats. The MHC is definitely a heavier rod, sometimes too heavy for the fish, but really is the perfect rod for the technique. You can mend line 30 yards out due to the length and crisp action.

st croix avid 10'6 spinner rules float fishing, thill, 30 8lb leader with 3 split shot, 1/4 - 1/8 jig. shimano symetre fj.

get some!!

yea all that above... seriously it's bobber not float. next any damn bobber will work. cork, plastic,styrofoam and balsa they all work the same.

once again, the Dave Vedder is the only float rod to use!

i don't get paying big bucks for something to toss bobbers with. my steelhead setup is a 9'6 G1000, i only have that because i got it in a trade. you'd really have to be on drugs to buy one of the loomis "float rods".

the only real considerations are balance and power. sensitivity is entirely pointless.

if i were to go out and buy another one(i don't float fish much), i'd pick up one of those 9'6 berkleys. cheap and effective.

Go buy Dave Vedders "Float fishing for Steelhead" It will list a number of techniques used for float fishing. Dave Vedder is an old hippie that smokes a lot of pinners and catches a lot of fish. fortunately for all of us he's also a board member. Lamiglass makes his signature series float rods which are awsome. I know a board member that lives in federal way is selling a 10-20 for a hundred and thirty bucks. I was going to buy it but couldn't make it over to him. check the classified adds. If you buy one new sportsmans warehouse and 3rivers will porbably be the cheapest.

I see that you are in Lake Stevens--- go down to Teds in Lynnwood and get an education from Mike or one of the guys, they have all the tackle and experience.

Id sure like to know where you guys are seeing the "Dave Vedder" for less than $225 new...ive searched and cant seem to find it. Some places list that rod at 189.95, but then when you go to order the drop down menu says add $35 for x 106 mc. And by the way, I was kidding about who Dave Vedder is, I know who he is quite well.

For jigs I like the following:

Winter fish:

Nightmare
Purple
Anything in Pink

Summer

Pink
Red
White

Make sure they have strong hooks.

Float fishing is kinda like fly fishing - you can be as pure or bastardized with the technique as you like.

The "pure" float fisherman is using a light spinning set up and mono straight to a jig. Slap on a fixed solid cork, Thill or other balsa type float and that's it. Very effective. Especially in low clear (subtle) waters.

The "bastardized" float fisherman generally will try to use their 9+' baitcasting setup with a fixed float, either on mono or braid. The line ends at a swivel or an inline float lead, with a leader to a float, bait, etc below that. Floats used are the dink floats, West Coast float, a cork, a beer can, etc. Whatever works. This works great in all high, dirty, and "easy" to fish water.

Take it a step further and one can use a float to assist in their presentation of their bait while they are floating down the river - Flydogging. I don't really call this "float" fishing, as the float is used more as an indirect tool to help slow down your presentation, keep your stuff from hanging up on the bottom, etc. Painfully effective technique, especially when moving down a river in a boat.

I let the river, who I'm fishing with, and fish dictate what technique I probably should be using. I think learning all the ways how to effectively float fish with the different types of gear and floats is a good set of skills that any steelhead fisherman should have. Might not be my personal favorite way to fish, but you will find that there are just some days that only a float technique will really work out best.

I have to go with Chum Man here. I use a rod that cost me $50. The sensitivity thing I don't necissarily agree with though. I have hooked fish before the bobber got to the stop and would never have felt it if the tip weren't so light. Don't bother blowing a bunch of cash on floats either. You'll just get pissed off when you lose them. Plus, you will probably find some from other guys that lost them. Braided line seems to be the way to go. I like to use the spinning reels for float fishing and braided is probably one of the few ways to avoid line twist. Mono is horrendous for that. The rest of the technique stuff will come through trial and error really.

I think Parker pretty well summed it up.

What ever set up you use learn to fish it right.