COLD CHROME
Steelhead expert shares his secrets for centrepin, bottom bouncing and lure techniques
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Early in the season anglers focus on fast, shallow water (Photo: Will Stewardson)#4 BOTTOM BOUNCING
To effectively bottom-bounce, Redin says you need a good-quality spinning reel on a nine- or 10-foot rod, with a relatively strong backbone. The terminal end is the same as on a centrepin outfit, with a long tag end off the swivel for adding splitshot to keep the bait in the strike zone. You can also use cylindrical pencil lead, which hangs up less than splitshot, he says. Just slide the weight onto the end of the tag end and pinch it to hold it in place.
“Theoretically, if you get hung up and give it a tug, you should be able to get everything off and not leave anything in the river other than splitshot,” Redin says.
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To the other end of the swivel, he attaches a 30-inch fluorocarbon leader. For bait when bottom bouncing, he typically uses a small yarn ball attached to a snelled hook. Many steelheaders also use roe bags.
As for fishing the rig, Redin says to cast it upstream at a 45-degree angle and reel in the slack as it drifts down. By the time it’s in front of you, he says, it should be in contact with the bottom. “Now you’ll feel the splitshot or lead tinging across the bottom. When a trout grabs the bait, the rig will actually stop, or you’ll feel a tug, tug. Then you set your hook and you’ve got your fish.”