Hey fellas, just a popularity question to satisfy my own curiousity:

For those that build steelhead drift rods (float/bobber/bobber dogging etc), do you build more spinning or casting rods?

Best

Fon

Casting

A drift rod is a bank presentation and has no floating device keeping your gear off the bottom, you are drifting in the current and ticking bottom or you are not fishing. I prefer casting rods but do have a few summer run low water spinning rods.

I see more people spinning with drift bobbers on Oregon coastal rivers by quit a bit.

Adding to this question. As someone who hasn't gone steelhead fishing before. What length do you recommend for a rod of this type? I wouldn't be doing this in PNW but rather in WI for Great Lakes tributaries "Steelhead". Thanks

My answer varies based on bank fishing, wading, or drift boat fishing. I’d go 9’ in a boat, 9’6” on the bank, and more than 10’ wading. I’ve both fished and been a management biologist for steelhead in the PNW and the Great Lakes basins.

Those northern WI streams that are faster and hold the fairly rare Lake Coho I used the shorter 8 1/2 - 9 ft. rods from the PNW due to the smaller and steeper gradient streams. Being stationed in MI I never fished any WI streams for steelhead, the MI streams I fished were big enough and clean banked enough for 10 1/2 ft. rods to help extend my drifts, these were built for Canadian waters.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/2023 11:00PM by Spencer Phipps.

Stan Daubinawski Wrote:
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> Adding to this question. As someone who hasn't
> gone steelhead fishing before. What length do you
> recommend for a rod of this type? I wouldn't be
> doing this in PNW but rather in WI for Great Lakes
> tributaries "Steelhead". Thanks

10'-11' would be a good starting point for a spinning, casting, or centerpin rod used for floats. Longer, perhaps for fishing the larger rivers, but certainly not a requirement.

Most here use centerpins and spinning rods because of the lighter tackle and finesse used as compared to West Coast steelheaders.

In my mind we are all saying the same thing in slightly different ways. In a drift boat the person at the stern is rowing and steering the boat. This leaves fishing and netting in a 16-18 foot boat in the bow to center positions. This makes any rod in the 10’ or more range cumbersome for landing/netting duties. I see the NFC 962x-2 the best hardware blank made for steelhead float fishing, but would go longer for big rivers and wading if clearance is available.

In a boat where I was using plugs I would be using 7 1/2 to 8 ft. rods. Side drifting is what we call drifting with or without a float in a boat with the current, not the same as drift fishing, the 962x-2 is an excellent choice in or out of a boat and would work excellent in the slower current flows of the Midwest all seasons and fish to 20 lbs. I would think. Hook size #8 to #2. Spinners #2 to #5, Spoons to 1/2 oz. (IM) blanks lose little to an (HM) blank in a boat, especially if you are using floats and it gives a decent uptick in durability, rarely will you see guides with HM rods.

Spencer’s inferences are the same as mine on every point. Guides do usually go for durability and value over the top level of performance. Side drifting has been waning in comparison to float bobber fishing for the last several years, but it’s still a very effective way to catch steelhead. There is more to being effective with these fishing methods than the rod one chooses. I’ve experienced epic and challenging days relative to fishing buddies. Feel, observation, and timing are important. All take practice and focus.

Thanks for input. Ordered a NFC ST-962x blank. Hopefully can get in time to try fishing for steelhead this spring.

We don't do steelhead drifting down here but we do drift for other species. It is my feeling that casting outfits offer certain advantages when drift fishing. I feel that you have better control of line-out and adjustments as you need them. And when needed line counter casting reels offer something you cannot get with a spinning set up. These are just my thoughts based on what we do in the SE. Your type of fishing might be so different that nothing I have offered would do you any good.

Fon,
Casting or spinning? It is a toss up.

Both methods have advantages and disadvantages.

With todays rods, reels and line - it is really not important.

Both will do a great job of hooking and landing fish.

Take your choice and enjoy the ride.

Spinning is best if you have challenging casting elements such as a float rig with a lot of hinge or overhanging vegetation. I prefer mending the drift and boat landing big steelhead on a casting reel, though. A big, wild hatched hen can do things up close that is best saved by thumb modulation on an otherwise free spool. It’s difficult for spinning drags to allow the angler to prevent extreme rod angles while maintaining a taught line. That blank can be built either way and many big steelhead have been boat landed on spinning gear.

Follow Up Question: On my rods that are 7-7.5 Ft long I have around a 10.75" Reel to Butt Length because that is where I like the butt to hit my forearm above my elbow.. This does result sometimes in a slightly tip heavy rod, but I have never added any weights to the butt to compensate for this and it has been fine to cast all day. But with a longer rod used for Steelhead and similar Handle length it might be too tip heavy.. Do I add a weighted butt or something to try to balance it a little so that you can keep the line up easier while fishing and not result in fatigue? Or go to a longer handle(Which seems to negate the use of a longer rod). Or just accept a little more tip heavy rod. (As I haven't done steelhead fishing before I don't have a basis of reference)

Thanks,

Stan