Drift fishin rigging

I've found plenty of info on rigging your leaders for herring, prawns, etc, can anyone point me to a video or diagram that shows me how to rig a leader/float for drift fishing for salmon/steelhead and what type of floats work best. Also, I've done a search on you tube for videos from some of the folks here, but don't seem to be able to come up with much. Any info on "names" to search for.


Thanks
John

I use a 3 ft leader for steelhead. No idea on salmon in that area.leader length and diameter will very with water color and depth.I use the lightest floats I can get away with.clear floats when a colored top when the water is gin clear and shallow. I find a float with a stem that you can set for a fixed depth like a Thill will fish shallow water great. For the deeper holes you need a slip bobber cuz you can't handle 8' below a fixed float often.

With any luck Cosmo will jump in and let ya know or spot, either one I can guarantee know ho to drift for diner.

There are many ways to skin a cat, best bet is to go to the sportsman's show and ask a few questions and maybe catch a seminar I believe Buzz Ramsey is doing something later this afternoon.

Drift and float fishing for steelhead can be awesome, with the right setup.  First and foremost, you will be using light gear, and I like a spinning rod for this.  Whether you use braid or mono, there are advantages to both.

The key is to understand how deep you will be fishing.  If shallower than 5 ft, which is your normal steelhead holding water, I like a fixed float, preferably the Thill float with the wire attached to it, as it helps point out if your bait is floating the right way or not.  If deeper water, then a sliding West Coast Float or Thill are great.  The main thing on the size is to match the weight of the bait/jig, corkey, yarn ball, chunk of eggs, shrimp etc you are throwing.  1/8th oz jig = 1/8 oz bobber.

If I'm throwing bait, I will use a 1/4 0z float, and see how my bait floats the bobber on the first cast.  If I need more weight, a few small split shots along the leader will give you the float you want, and keep your bait strait under your bobber.

As for the setup, if you are running mono, say 10lb or 12lb test, your leader should be a size smaller.  I like 8lb in clear water, 10lb in steelhead green water.  If you are running braid, tie in a 6-8 ft bumper leader of mono.  slide on your bobber if a slider along with two bobber stops one above and below the bobber, in case you snap off, you won't lose your $5 bobber.  if a fixed bobber, slide in your rubber band and plastic sleeve that holds your bobber before you tie on your leader.  Tie in a 3ft leader and then your bait/jig of choice and you are ready to go.

Steelhead like small baits and jigs normally, unless the water is high and green.  If a steelhead is in a hole, they don't waste time thinking about hitting an offering.  They will either hit it on the first or second or third pass or won't hit it.  The key to steelhead catching is to cover lots of water, and cover an entire hole before you move on, like in a grid pattern.

It took me several years before I caught my first steelhead, so don't give up.  Some smart ass told me one day that 80% of the steelhead are caught by 20% of the fisherman.  He was right!

I hope this helps.