Skip to main content

Steelhead In Fast Water

Steelhead In Fast Water

Rushing, crashing, thundering, raging rivers. Look for the pocket water, where the current is blocked by outcroppings, points, and inside bends. Steelhead will be there this time of year. The salmon are gone, and the big 'bows that followed them upriver will be moving into the current after rain events. And, boy, have we had rain events. My friends and family in Alaska are taking inventory after what might be the worst storm since records were first kept there (113 years). A few weeks ago it was snowing in Virginia. And, after more than a decade of low, bone-dry rivers during late autumn in Michigan, the rivers are up and steelhead fishing is on fire.

In pocket water on fast rivers, bait is seldom required. This is where the yarn fisherman excels. The best way to fish yarn is with an egg loop, also called a bumper knot. Select a color, cut a 1-inch piece of yarn, slip it into the loop, and pull on the leader. Trim the yarn, fluff it into the shape of an egg cluster and start fishing. Easy to change colors this way.

The knot selected here is from Fintalk.com, one of many great sources for finding knot illustrations and videos on the internet.

The egg loop is ideal for fishing with skein — salmon or trout eggs still adhering to the meniscus that holds them together inside the female until she's ready to spawn. Skein is toughened up with some kind of cure, generally involving borax. My good friend Mark Chmura (despite the fact that I'm prejudiced, Mark is easily one of the best salmon-steelhead guides on the planet) uses Pautzke Bait Co.Fire Cures. "I like the pink," he says. Ok. He likes the pink. Mark ties an even easier egg loop but  doesn't post a diagram of it. You'll just have to call him up and climb aboard his river jet on the Big Manistee River. He'll show you the knot, but there are better reasons. I've had some of the best steelheading days of my life on Mark's boat. When fishing is tough, you can count on him to find fish other guides can't.

Whatever egg-loop knot you settle on, try it in fast water. No need to kill fish for bait in these situations. Add some scent, maybe (I use Dr. Juice from Blue Fox most of the time, but some new, space-age scents are popping up that I'll be blogging about shortly). And don't mat the yarn down with it — just put a drop on the knot and apply some of that to the hook. No need to waste bait here. Yarn's the ticket in rushing, thundering, crashing...'nuff said.

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Why Mark Courts LOVES the NEW Minn Kota QUEST Trolling Motors
Gear

Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 UNBOXING

Why Mark Courts LOVES the NEW Minn Kota QUEST Trolling Motors
Learn

GENIUS Planer Board Modification Tip with Ross Robertson

Why Mark Courts LOVES the NEW Minn Kota QUEST Trolling Motors
Gear

In-Fisherman's Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Walk-Through with Thomas Allen

Why Mark Courts LOVES the NEW Minn Kota QUEST Trolling Motors
Learn

Old Town Salty PDL 120 Kayak Walk-Through

Why Mark Courts LOVES the NEW Minn Kota QUEST Trolling Motors
Learn

NEW In-Fisherman TV River Jet Boat: Yamaha Powered SmokerCraft Pro Sportsman 1866

Why Mark Courts LOVES the NEW Minn Kota QUEST Trolling Motors
Learn

DECKED OUT 2023 Starcraft STX 2050: New In-Fisherman TV Boat

In-Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the In-Fisherman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top In-Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now