I want to try pulling plugs on a couple of the rivers when I go to Michigan in a couple of weeks. There are only a few rivers big enough to use a boat in, and that is where I am going. A copule of dumbe questions:

Any particualr size of hot shot,tad polly, kwik fish,hot n tot, or flat fish that I should start with.

Are any colors traditionally better for you

Do I want to use Siwash hooks and tank the trebles

I noticed in one of your pictures that the lips on your plugs are painted flat black, so I'll do that

Is there a specific distance that I want to drop the plugs back behind the boat.

Last but not least, is there any way to use plugs while wading or bank fishing. I thought about standing in the fast water above the hole and dropping back plugs through the hole. Who knows, I may even fair hook a drone that is drifting thru the hole. Thanks for the help

It is hard to recommend a plug without knowing the exact types of water you're going to be fishing ... same can be said for color. Tads are always a good choice out here because they work in the widest variety of water conditions ... but they are not an especially deep-diving plug.

I have numerous colors that I work with depending upon water conditions ... probably what works well in drift gear will work fine for plugs.

I like a single barbless treble on the back ... siwashes do more damage to a fish on a plug, period.

Short lengths (35 feet) in fast shallow water up to 50 to 55 feet in slow deep stuff ... depends upon the plug type too. Again, something that there isn't a simple answer for.

You can walk them down, we've caught fish casting and swinging them across current, or you can use a side planer too ... but that might make you very unpopular as it kills the hole for everyone if you're fishing around others.

There are some books out there on the subject (from Amato), they're only seven or eight bucks, might be a good staring point for you. Good luck!

hawk- I live on Lake Michigan and the steelhead and brown trout fishing has been OK
A good color has been a clown colored 2" rapala trolled in about 8'-15' of water.
The Holland and Grand Haven area have been productive on steelhead most of the winter.

Yo Hawk -

Check out a device called a "side planer". Easy to use and it allows bank fisherman to pull plugs effectively. Not to mention it freaks people out who have never seen them. Should work on drones. It basically a little boat that uses water current to take your plug up and down and side to side, wherever you want it to go. You can just stick it in a rod holder...no wait, that would be plunking. Some of my biggest fish have come this way. It's not something I use every trip but it is a good change of pace sometimes. I think it's made by Luhr Jensen, costs about $8. Good Luck.

In the in Southern Chile we have your Steelhead, kings, coho, and browns.

Late in the season I have found that the #5-Rapala deep runners in perch finish pulled 10-15 meters behind the drift boat, or cast across and down on smaller tributaries and side channels is very effective on kings, and steelies.

found this out because your HotShots and wiggle warts are not generally available locally.

Give it a try

El Salmon,
What are some of the names of your rivers? I hear there are some HUGE browns and rainbow trout down there. The steelhead and salmon are plants aren't they? What are the best times of the year to fish each species? Thanks for the imfomation.

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Tight Lines!!

Dick
I watched a fly show (a northwest couple)where they were fishing for andromous Browns. It was awsome and they were HUGE!! Fish after Fish

I pray I hit the lotto so I can make a serious road trip!!
Tight Lines

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Marty
Steelheader.net marty@steelheader.net