I am getting back into steelheading after a fairly long absence and have a question regarding plugging. I am mostly a plug or diver/bait fisherman and seem to only pack the usual Hot Shot, Wart's, and Fatfish type of plugs for steelhead. Do many of you pluggers use kwikfish or Flatfish for steelies? I've ran them occasionally for salmon in the past but I guess out of tradition never seem to consider them as a Steehead plug. I am sure this is very narrow thinking and am hoping to broaden my horizon and plug selection. Any reason not to run the Kwikfish/Flatfish products? What sizes do you pluggers like? I fish primarily the Clearwater...Thanks, RJ in Montana.

They work.

To my amazement pulling k14 and k15 steelhead and cutthroats eat um up usually a sad ending though. I won’t pull um that large anymore in the spring for fear of sticking wild Steelhead.

I haven't done a ton of plug fishing for steelhead, but have had some luck with the K11's and even K9 in the right water. I still like tad polly's for steelies though. Something about their specific action seems to drive them bonkers.

What kind of colors seem to work best? Also all sizes that might work?

Every river seems to have its own "best" colors. For size I like K-12 Kwiks and U-20 Flatfish for steelhead.

Measles!

Dr.Death.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

K-11 Gold works well also.

K11's, took off the belly hook. I've only used like 3 colors, they all worked, All chrome or Chrome + something.

How would you retrieve one if you were casting from the beach?

My 'home' river is so small, and slow, I have trouble getting other plugs to run well over the course of a whole drift. K9's and K11's are about the only plugs used down here.

cast, reel, repeat