Hi guys, new to this site. I am a trout guide on the Niagara River and was wondering if you guys could help me out with a kwikfish question for steelhead. The last few years it has been really windy throughout the winter. A lot of rain, I guess global warming is becoming a reality. I have been relying a lot on kwikfish the last few years because of the dirty water, less than a foot visibility and sometimes a brown tinge as opposed to green or gray. We usually get 2-5 or better.
Normally we use sizes 7-11. 7 for really clear to 11 for dirty. When I read about them on the websites out your way it seems you guys don't use anything smaller than a 13. I would like to try using bigger ones but just had a few questions.
What is the visibility you guys are dealing with. What depths are you fishing and what is the average size fish you are getting? Ours run 3-7lbs average with 8-12lbers now and then. We also get a lot of browns on the kwikies as well. They have saved our bacon because of how well they feed in dirty water. I used to cancel my trips if I got less than a foot of vis, but I can't do that any more. It seems to be the norm these days. Any advice you guys can give me on fishing in dirty water would greatly be appreciated. I attached some pictures of our fish.

When I posted a couple Niagara KwikFish vidz by Italo Labignan a few years back, I was surprised by the tiny sizes you guys use.

K10 or K11 is probably as small as most guys go here in the PNW.

Downrunner steelies have hit K15's in Alaska's Kasilof River.

I have confidence with plugs as long as I've got at least 2 ft of viz.

I'd run k-11's. 13's in filthy waters. This past fall going for silvers we did get a #15 double strip buck on a 15 but that not normal.Good luck,

SZ

Frank -

I've spent a some time fishing in MI with similar sizes. Must be a Great Lakes area thing. Can you use bait and wrap your plugs? I would think a wrapped Alewife fillet would help em' hone in on your offering in low viz conditions. That might make a difference for you if the regs allow it.

I have caught a lot of steelhead on a K-16 while fishing for Kings.

Don't be afraid to use a K-11 in clear water and cover them with scent. You wont be able to wrap anything smaller than a K-13 with out killing the action.