How to bottom bounce for steelhead

To truly feel the power of these fish, try bottom bouncing steelhead instead of using floats and long rods. Here's how: Few types of sport fishing are as dialed in as steelheading. Walleye anglers in three different boats fishing the same shoal will troll live bait, jig plastics, and cast crankbaits. Those targeting bass around weeds might drop shot edges, burn spinnerbaits, or dunk holes. Take a look, however, at any trout stream in Ontario from February to May and 99% of steelheaders are carrying a float rod and reel to present a roe imitation. There is a good reason for this. Float fishing lets you present a bait at a very specific depth, at the perfect speed, precisely where you want it to be, while providing a visual cue that a fish has hit. Still, there is another proven but underused technique for hooking them. A viable alternative There was a time when plenty of steelhead were caught on shorter rods without floats. Bottom bouncing was the go-to technique before noodle rods took over. An experienced touch was required to distinguish the soft take of a steelhead as the rig — often presented with a nine-foot rod teamed with a multiplier fly reel — bounced over gravel, rocks, wood, and vegetation, and sensing that bite was the big payoff. There is nothing quite like feeling a steelhead bite and immediately setting the hook. It is game on, and because of the equipment used, you experience their speed and power more directly. For that reason and others, I still find myself turning to bottom-bouncing presentations every season for at least one trip. Usually, bottom bouncing becomes a viable alternative to floats when conditions are most extreme. That means high water, low water, and deep water, but also days with heavy fishing pressure and high winds. Rivers with shale or limestone bottoms are very well suited to drift fishing this way. Snags are fewer, and it is easier to detect the hit since the tap-tap-tap transmitted up the line is consistent. When that transmission is interrupted, it is likely because a fish has taken hold. A quality graphite rod is crucial to success. You should be able to feel your split shot scraping over rocks, not just bouncing over them. Casting and positioning To cast, just strip out several arm’s lengths of line and lob it upstream of where you think