Ive seen steelhead rags before but I never liked how they looked. How good are they for steelhead/ Can someone also mention how they are supposed to be put on? My thanks

Rags can be deadly, a lot of people on this board use them. They are easy to make (if you can find the backer rod) and to customize. Put a bead on your leader so it rest on the hook, thread the top inch or two of your leader through a needle and then push the needle through the end of the rag. To fish it, all you have to do is drift fish them like you would bait. They can be used with a shrimp tail as well.

Bob has an excellent video of how to make these in his video or tips section out on the main board.

Kev

sky valley traders in monroe has backer rod!
Tyler

Are they supposed to spin like a spin-n-glo or just sort of slowly roll?

Why not push them right down on the hook shank if you don't have to use bait?

Just curious. I ordered some backer rod from vision last week, but haven't got a chance to tie any rags yet- been working not fishing. I used to drill a tiny hole through the midsection of a corky and pull a tiny piece of yarn through sideways, which made for an interesting appearance. Caught more than a few steelies on this setup, but it seemed like more work than was necessary. Plain yarn or corky and eggs seems to work just as well.

Salmonbay Tackle has lots of white Backer Rod.

Bob TBO has instructions for making rags in the fishing tips section of PP. The only thing I do different when threading the yarn through is that I double it over - that way you get twice the yarn in each hole

Rags aren't supposed to spin, just float high, wiggle a lot, and look real meaty - great for the nasty water we've had all year. They don't work if pushed down on the hook because when you set it the rag rips apart - use a star bead like Bob suggests.

Grey backer rod works just fine - I goop my rags up with smelly jelly or bait butter anyway so the color of the foam never shows. I also sometimes use poster paint - comes in all kinds of loud colors, even luminous. This helps out in selective fishing areas where I can't stink them up.

Rags are great - they are cheap and encourage you to cast them into the snags - after all if you're not losing gear you're not catching fish, right? Did that today on the Nooch and actually hooked a fish - he didn't leave the snag, though. Good things rags are cheap, wish my hooks were

I need to try ths Rag fishing thing sound great.
Fishalot

If backer rod is hard to find, ear plugs will work just fine.

skydriften, that went through my mind when standing at the counter at a supply store saw some with bright orange bodys looked colorful like they would draw attention

Check out these colors, I could not get the link to attach here. [www.labsafety.com] Put moldex earplugs into the search box, then open up item #30403. There is an endless color combination you have to use.

ear plugs the construction workers free drift bobbers. They honestly work guys

I have 100ft sections of white backer rod for sale in the classifieds. Cheap

If you want any color of backer rod, I'm sure you could take some white and just dip it in some fishermuns lure paint. I've never tried it, but I bet it would work. Blue, green,ect...

Matt