Plug Questions...

OK, my mom always said that there was no such thing as a stupid quesiton - at least until I was about 4.

Anyway, my question is this: When do/should you use different sized plugs? I was fortunate enough to catch a steelhead on the Nestucca last week on a blue pirate size 30 hot shot. Was I totally lucky or what? What water conditions merit different sized plugs? Or no plugs at all and diver and bait instead? I'm a rookie.....

Hi Dave. Welcome to Ifish. Your mom was right, no Q's are stupid for new endeavors. ... For river fishing chinook salmon and steelhead, water conditions affect the best choices of not only plug sizes and color but all lures and baits. There are exceptions but in general the lower and clearer the water the smaller the lure and baits and conversely the murkier water merits larger lures and baits. It's not as steadfast for colors, but generally when really clear use metalic or mellow colors and for murky water use the bright hi-vis colors. Your choice of a size 30 blue pirate Hot Shot was a good one for low clear water; for both nooks and steelies. On some days in gin clear water the fish will hit a larger Wiggle Wart but more often will hit the 30 or even the size 50 HS. The 50 in the dark green metalic is an all-time favorite of mine for low gin clear steelhead fishing. In murky water the biggest Magnum Wiggle Warts in flame red with either a pure white or chartruse rear half is a good choice for nooks and even steelhead, although I prefer the standard Wart in bright colors for murky water steelies. The same generalities hold true for plastic drift-bobbers such as corkies to Spin N Glos. Baits don't need to fluctuate as much; either side of a thumbnail size egg cluster for steelies and silvers, either side of a quarter size for spring chinook, and either side of a 50 cent piece for fall chinooks. In gin clear water I like to use a torn off live sandshrimp tail, either by itself or threaded on the hook and tucked under the feathers of jigs, for steelies. Or the really small pinker female sandshrimp whole. Use the big male shrimp for nooks, just add colors for more colored water in the form of yarn or plastic bobbers. When the water is really clear I use longer 5'+ leaders when using baitdivers. I will use the clear Jet Planers or the green or black Hot N Tots. Take a copy of this to a good tackle store and have a knowledgable employee show you some options in stock for various water conditions and fish. Good luck out there; we are due for a very good steelhead season. - RT

[Moleman]

Yes, the Blue Pirate is in the top 5 plugs to use, also the Cop Car (wht/blkhd) and Green Pirate ans silver. Put in front of a biter at the right speed and it will get struck! Good luck.

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"TMM"

[Trout,myster]

A twist from a bass fisherman...the plug that works is the right one! I've done really well on blues (pirates, solid metallics) on the Wilson in good "steelhead green" water. In darker water, like dropping after a good rain, I usually reach for a bright orange Magnum Wigglewart. The 'Warts seldom need tuned and dive excellent down to 12-14 feet on 40-50 feet of line easily. 'Shots won't go that deep, but sometimes are better if the water is clearer. On the Deschutes using a sideplaner, I haven't found a better plug than a peach colored #35 hotshot. Again, whatever works. A hint: if you catch fish on a plug, MARK it with a permanent marker! I do this with all my bass baits as to what depth they run with what line test as well as a "+" for a good plug (e.g.; caught a fish) or "++" for a real good plug (caught several fish). No two of these goofy things will work the same and some catch fish while others don't. The ones that don't go in the "figure it out someday pile" in my tackle room.

[Ron BoB]

Anybody use tadpolys? I us them almost excusively. They come in the same colors, pretty much and more, as warts but you don't have to tune them and the one size works in all speeds of water.
Also in the summer I paint the heads black and use a red chrome one WOW!!!! It works.

RB, Tadpolys have always worked well, especially on the Deschutes R. For some reason they seem more popular up in Washington. When I was up on the Oly Pen in late summer I bought a couple of stock colored ones with metalic hot pink body and gloss black heads. Marty M. told me it's a fav color up there. I'm just heading out the door for early steelhead right now and will try it on our N. coastal fish today. - RT

Thanks RT.

Over the last two years I've been chasing steelhead on the north coast with 'some' success - I always assume the success is by accident like catching the 'not so smart' fish.

Do you typically use diver/bait combinations more often than running plugs? I've used diver/bait during the peak of the hatchery run, but have been curious if I could have better success running plugs instead. My typical dilemna: I see a good piece of water and can't decide how to fish it (pull over and drift fish, plug, diver/bait). I know, the million dollar question. And if I get the correct answer, I could probably quit my day job and get paid to take people fishing.

I fish the Deschutes 30+ days during the summer. I've never used plugs with sideplaners - I've had the best success using Blue Fox spinners with a hand-tied treble-hook fly in place of the factory hook. It has been good to me.

Thanks for the help - I'm a rookie north coast drifter.

[RichH]

E D,

I generally run plugs for a couple of reasons. One, I don't tend to kill that many fish and with bait divers the chance of hooking them deep is very real. Two, you tend to get less "pesky trout" messing with your gear. Three, I tend to catch as many and sometimes more fish with plugs than guys using diver & bait on any given day. I like plugs that rattle and chrome is always good.

Tight lines


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Rich H

[steelie67]

Hey Eastside Dave , I caught my first steelie on diver & bait this summer on the Klickitat .. Matter of fact we hit 4 fish between two of us on diver & bait in one tail out .. Only landed 2 though . Weird thing was , I always heard how the fish take divers & bait deep , both fish hooked in the corner of the mouth .

[steelie67]

Hey Eastside , did you fish the Deschutes for springers ??

[Roeboat]

All of the above plugs work well. I might add that the small hot n' tots can also be effective... especially for slightly deeper waters. Popular plugs here tend to be the tadpolies, warts, hot shots and to a lesser degree the hot n' tots. Keep your hooks sharp.

[happybrew]

One advantage I've found with plugs as opposed to drift fishing is that in really snaggy streams, where it seems like you spend more time tying new lures on than fishing, plugs give you more actual fishing time because they don't bump along the bottom, and if you do hit a snag, often simply releasing tension on the line will cause the plug to come loose and float off of it. The more time your lure is in the water, the more fish you're going to catch.

happybrew