Winter time boys! Light line and slower presentation is the key. The angler in the Grand River has seen some of the biggest steelhead they have ever seen this fall. That means with the big run of fall steelhead we are going to have an even more amazing winter steelhead fishing season. Most anglers are running 10 to 14 pound test main line with a ShagNasty float down to a small size 10 or 12 swivel. Then from that run 2 1â2 to 3 foot of 4 to 6 pound test line to your jig or spawn sack. White jigs tipped with three wax worms are deadly. A lot of guys will put one wax worm on by the head, the next one they will hook it in the head and then double it over and hook it in the butt.
Then throwing another one on the by the head so it looks like a V. Twitch it and then letting it drift, then twitch it again and let it sink in the hole. This will get you fish. If youâre not getting hung up on the bottom, youâre not fishing deep enough.
I like to put some back pressure on my float so I am kind of swinging the jig in the hole. I like to float jigs 80% of the time. And then if I am fishing and not hitting many fish. I will put on a #10 hook with a spawn sac with a #7 split shot about a foot and a half above that and bounce it off the bottom. Many anglers are waiting on that fish to take the rod out of your hands when they hit. Steelheads take bait very light a lot of the time. There is so many times where I feel a fish hit before my float goes down or when I am float fishing and watching my float and it just stops. I set the hook and fish on baby! Adjust your fishing methods to the conditions. How dirty is the water? Am I going to want to tie up small bags or big choker bags? If the water is dirty enough to run bigger leader, do it. In the Grand River catching a 15 to 20 pound steelhead is not uncommon.
Wintertime is a great time to fish. You donât have to get in the water to get a good spot to fish. The post office cat walk and the east side quarry hole is some of the top spots to fish. Fulton Street Bridge gets hotter and hotter as the season goes on. Letting Hot-n-Tots work in the water as you back bounce spawn is deadly.
The walleye are in full strength as well. Just walking up and down the shore line casting Rapalas and Twister Tails will get you fish for the freezer. Get out there and go fishing because if youâre not out there fishing youâre not catching!
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