Corky Colors for Winter Steelhead

I've been impressed in recent years with the myriad of fancy new color patterns of corkies. I'm interested in what new ones are productive and how they compare to the old standards. If I had to choose 3 old favs for 3 water conditions (clear, medium, murky) I would pick the 2 tone pearl pink, hot pink, and flame red/chartruse combo (it's assumed that yarn and eggs are commonly used with them). I think I may have found a new favorite w/o even trying it yet. It's a bright hot pink with glitter finish and a few small glo spots on it. Certainly a great fishermen catcher, and I bet a fish taker too. What are some of your favs, and especially what new ones do you like. Thanks guys. - RT

[Centerpin]

Rocket red corkies or orange scale. The same with spin n glos. Talk to my brother about using rocket red corkies with white wool. He will let you know about how they work.

[smilesforu]

I think the rocket red triggers the males into biting. Especially if they are setting up a redd. CP I take it your streams are not coffee colored. Lots of nice fish are caught on many different colors, but some out produce the others.

I have always liked the pearl pinks in clear water, works for fresh run and holding fish.

My color selection depends on the river color and where in the river I am fishing for them.

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[Fish4Fun]

RT,

I still like the pearl pink corkies, with chartruse yarn and eggs. Size depends on the water color. When the water gets to be a little off color then it is time to break out the orange okies with green yarn.

Fish 4 Fun

[Trout,myster]

Over the years, I've narrowed corkies down to basically two. In low to medium height clear water (typical January), I stick with the hot pink (cerise) in 1/4" or 3/8". Works well with pink yarn or use white yarn for a more subtile presentation. Black yarn can be really good if it's a bright day.

For off colored or "steelhead green" water, I go with the orange/chartreuse in 3/8" or even up to 1/2" with red yarn.

A neat trick is to peg the corkie at the hook with a toothpick. I do this with worm weights while bass fishing and tried on the corkies, works great. Keeps the corky and hook together so your hook and bait don't separate.

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Troutmyster

[fishhead5]

A lot depends on which river you are fishing also one river I fish, they just hammer a #12 orange cheater with red spots. Another river, it's yellow with green spots. Some days you just have to go through the color spectrum and find out what they are biting.
fishhead5

[fishhead5]

A lot depends on which river you are fishing also one river I fish, they just hammer a #12 orange cheater with red spots. Another river, it's yellow with green spots. Some days you just have to go through the color spectrum and find out what they are biting.
fishhead5

[Centerpin]

RT,

There are only a few pictures of my brother on the page. The other guy is Billy Meyers. Both guys usually outfish me. If you don't pay attention and catch the fish when given the opportunity you will go home with none as these guys will soremouth all the fish.

Marty,

I have found that red and white works well in pretty much all water conditions. It might be the sharp contrast and profile that red offers. Remember red is the first color to turn black when travelling down in the water column. If I am using pink in low and clear conditions it will be a pink pearl beany weenie (pink worm).

[Roeboat]

Rocket red or rocket red or maybe rocket red. Actually I'd add orange with red scale. Fish both with or without white yarn.

[Drachir]

My 2 favorites are the Pearl Pink w/ white yarn, and the Egg Flourescent also w/ white yarn. These both work well in most water conditions.

[newt]

Low, clear water....nothing, eggs/yarn

perfect water....rocket red/chartreus

high, off-color water....fire/flourescent orange.

[smilesforu]

Rt with such a vague question you tend to get vague responses. Ok here goes on more insight into my lure selection, but you should know I carry over 300 bobbers with me because of the different colors and sizes required to produce maximum results.
I honestly will use any of these colors depending on the specific fishing situation.

My favorite colors for winter steelhead bobbers are Peach, orange, red, pink, white, yellow, chartuese. or combinations of them. Did you notice I didn't list blue, green or black (black wing spin glow excluded). The darker colors work great for fish that have been targeted time and time again in clear water. I would be happy to use blue or green in flourescent colors....ever see those in your tackle shop?
The key to catching fish is in the presentation of the size and color you are fishing with. The size is dependant on how long the fish has had good clear vision with something flying past its face. So guess what... I use HUGE BRIGHT LURES (have actually had people laugh at me) in low clear water with fresh fish and small subdued colors with fish that have had a chance to see their environment for awhile. So what you have overlooked in your search for the favorite color is the vision education level of the fish.
Another factor I use is what kind of a reaction I want from the fish. Is it holding in a slow pool, fast water behind a rock or under a tree.
Next factor is the water color and its hue. (glacier green, glacier grey, clear, coffee, coffee creamed, green clear) I factor in the other items above and then choose the bobber I think will give me maximum exposure to the fish with out spooking them.

Next factor is the bait used with the color or setup. Sand Shrimp, prawns or Eggs, night crawlers or none at all. Size can be a factor to get the lure down in different water speeds. The bigger the lure the more resistence it creates.

I am sure I have left something out . RT welcome to my twisted world of thought processes. Rt as far as my brothers abilty to fish he wins the big fish awards hands down. He has a distinct advantage in that he has the winters off and targets the river on the perfect conditions and run timing. As far head to head fishing I tend to be "luckier" when we fish together

CP I agree with red turning black quickly, so I actually don't like the red in heavy colored water because of this. Black is not my favorite color for winter steelhead

Here is a look into my bobbers http://www.steelheader.net/steelhead/bobbers.htm

Plugs colors are a entire different story.
Tight Lines

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[RichH]

I like all of the colors mentioned but I have a tendency to try things that are different, especially in a crowded spot. I can't count the number of times I've walked into a hole where 90% are throwing pink or orange or red and I throw something blue or yellow and hook up within one or two casts.
Something to think about.

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Rich H

[scooby]

I was drawn to those new hot pink glitter corkies also, Kinda like.. nevermind. I will be trying them out if I get out with the right water conditions.

let us know if you have success with them.

I use rags and aeroflys ( in combo with shrimp tails) alot more than I use corkies and bait now. One color combo that produced well for me last year was the purple/cerise aerofly with a shrimp tail.

scooby

[This message has been edited by scooby (edited 12-03-2000).]

[Centerpin]

Marty,

I also fish huge gear in gin clear water. Pink worms and medium to large BC Orange gooey bobs. I target fresh fish or fish the chop and broken water where the fish has to react with minimal inspection time. It seems like the pink worm works better and better as the water becomes clearer. At least they can see it and come to get it.

[happybrew]

First, if I'm fishing water that is under heavy angling pressure, and the bite is off, I'll use whatever no one else is using. No point in doing what isn't working for everyone else. Otherwise, I usually go with pearl pink, pink yarn. I have some glitter black ones that I was going to try for summers on the Santiam, but I never got a chance to use them. I'll try them next year.

happybrew

[Salmonator]

Glitter black works great on the Santiam... Joe

[smilesforu]

Cp
I said huge not just large. Steelhead will take a K16 Kwickfish. When I say huge think of stringing three or four gooey bobs. Big Fish have big Mouths and are use to eating large items. I guess thats why people laugh at me. Some days I deserve it . I have had guides come by the boat to see what I was using when they couldn't catch anything. Wonder why he would want to look at my gear .
Tight Lines

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

Well, this is really interesting and I think I just learned something about clear water. It goes with something I've sort of kept secret; I have had good sucess on both steelhead and 'nooks in gin clear water using med. and large plugs in flame red or white with a red nose. But I have never been able to stick with big bright plastic, or gooey, drift bobbers in gin clear water. Now I get 2 good fishermen on here colaborating something I once read by Forks guide Bob Ball on his P.P. BB; to try huge ugly bright plastics in gin clear water if the usual things aren't working. Hmmm. How effective is this. Consistent or just a change up that only occassionally irritates fish into striking in the clear water? ... Concerned fishers want to know. Anyone else do this successfully? - RT

[Sand Shrimp]

In Jed Davis's book about spinner fishing for steelhead he talks about using large silver bladed spinners in low, clear and cold water to excite fish in to striking because of their low metabolism.Maybe a large bright drift bobber does the same thing.When the water is low but not really that cold alot of people fish faster water at the head of a hole and the larger drift bobber might work better in that situation.Also on the Olympic Penninsula rivers the steelhead on average are bigger than the ones here in Oregon and larger fish prefer a larger profile drift bobber.These are just theories, I also scale down my drift bobbers in low clear water and usaully use a pink pearl or a pink clown with white yarn when fishing low water.Several people have mentioned the color red being effective in clear water.The most effective color jig for summer steelhead for me has been red followed by black.

[Osprey]

Winter brat colors,
I would say that I'll fish a rag first,then go from there
corkies - Colors
orange fishscale(nicknamed the nasty for obvious reasons)
Pink with sparkles(new color needs more test but so far been a producer)
Red Rocket....
when I add yarn it is normally more than 1 color and always scent for everything...Os


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Row quietly and fish a Cataraft !!---
Release all Wild Fish --<'))>><

[Big Willie]

I prefer the pink pearl corkie w/ white yarn. It has been very productive over the years. Size depends on water clarity. I also like a large flame red/orange or green for murkier water. -BW

[WheresMyBobber]

I'd have to say the pink pearl has been far and away the most successful for me over the years. I've tried many other colors, but none have matched the consistency of the pink pearl with pink or white yarn, or when used with bait.

I've also found the orange fish scale to work well with a night crawler in low/clear water.

[smilesforu]

here is a couple of brats I kept today
Guess what colors I hooked fish on today

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[Hairball]

After reading all this maybe I should try something besides pink, pearl pink, hot pink, pink with a glow bead, pink with white wool? It’s hard to change when (most of the time) your always-hooking more fish then the people around you.

My favorite setup in pink, white with a stinger

I'm tickled pink too Hairball. When I say hot pink for steelhead green water I mean the bright cerise color. I don't think there's much effect diff from that and rocket red. ....

Nice fish Marty. Since you haven't been getting much rain and I know you prefer bait to plastics, I'd say you caught those 2 brats on egg clusters with perhaps some white or pink yarn on them. Second guess would be a pearl pink Cheater. Third guess would be those big bright ugly offerings you throw at the fish in clearish water (4 orange Gooey-bobs on one rig ), and my last guess is you bought them from a tribal netter because you couldn't hook any (jk jk jk!). Good limit Marty. - Steve

[This message has been edited by RT (edited 12-04-2000).]

[smilesforu]

two on orange with eggs, one on pearl pink (no bait) and two on custom orange/yellow birdies. We had rain thurs/friday/sat that blew the rivers out. So these fish were in grey/green with 2 ft visiblity.
Tight Lines

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[Centerpin]

RT,

When fishing low clear water I use pink worms or medium bobs and that is it. I also consistently cover water. In clear water they can see it from miles away so they will take real quick if they are interested. If not then I end up moving so as not to waste valuable daylight.

[Hairball]

Nice fish smiley.

Pink, pink and pink struck again. I fished Friday with only a foot of vis. Struck 3 chrome winter fish in under an hour the other ten guys never touched a fish. Fish Tuesday in gin clear water and got an 11-LB buck on the pink monster. Didn’t see anyone else with a fish. Pink, pink and pink has always done well for me. I was trying a new egg cure also.

[meyersbilly]

Wow! Great info everyone. I don't know whether I should talk about corkies or size of gear. Corkies first real quick. Closing my eyes and reaching into the corkie bin I pulled out blue scale. Kitimat for chinooks. Pulling out corkie number two and it's black scale. Nass tribs for chinooks. Corkie number three is orange scale. North Vancouver Island steelhead. Corkie number four is lettuce/tomatoe. Fraser tribs for chinook, below green cap spin-n-glow. Corkie number five is insect. Won't fish it.

I have favourite corkies for every river I fish. They are a fantastic lure that seem to add that extra little bit to each offering or they can be dynamite on their own.

Here's my theory for water clarity. Huge when it's clear and down size the muddier it gets. Picture this Mr. Steelhead is laying there minding his own buiness with six inches of visibility and from out of nowhere here comes a basket ball at his head. Reaction "yikes I'm out of here". Same steelhead, but from out of nowhere comes a peppermint. Reaction "I'm going to chew you up Mr Peppermint".

Now if it's clear. I fish as hard and as fast as I possibly can covering water so that every fish in the pool can see my offering. I'd rather put twenty agressive fish on the beach than fish for two finicky fish that may turn up their noses anyway.

CP: With the amount of fish your brother sees on the island, he's probably forgotten how to cast.

ps skeena hogs love the clown.

[meyersbilly]

Sorry I missed the winter steelhead part. Here we go again.
1. Rocket red
2. Orange scale
3. Clown
4. Chartruese/green
5. Pink

Pretty traditional, but they still work.

[Centerpin]

Billy,

Chummer is still hung up on bugs. He has that brand new bug pump and it is ready to roll. I think if Dave H gets his way with the bait ban there will be an old fashioned lynching going on somewhere down a north island backroad. Somehow I think that bait ban or not those 20 odd chum skeins will be getting used. Mr. Steelhead better pray that the bait ban doesn't come into effect. I think he has 4 days off a week to fish.

I don't really care much for corkies but you could put Billy's color list on my spin n glo collection as I tend to use glos over corkies. Personal preference.

[Fishhead]

The colors I like to use depends on what river I'm fishing. The Clackamas fishes well on chartruse and rainbow corkies or birdie drifters.The Sandy has always fished great on pearl pink or pink with white yarn,Even though that I've thown everything at them and had someone come in and throw a glow in the dark and dark red yarn, with only 3 casts walked away with 2 fish. Go figure.......

[Fearsnofish]

I mainly fish the Sandy for winter Steelhead. The corkies I like to use are.
1. pink pearl
2. hot pink
3. peach
4. rose glow
5. red scale

[This message has been edited by Fearsnofish (edited 12-09-2000).]

[Shannon]

Clear- Purple/Gray scale, Black Yarn

Colored- Cerise with Black spots, Cerise Yarn

I used a permanent black marker and make my own spots.
2 weeks and counting. I've been biting my nails and can't wait to make a sweep of the Sandy and Clackamas.

Shannon

I really like the image of those 2 color combos Shannon. I'm going to have to try them. Thanks. - RT

[parker]

How does that old saying go? "When in doubt, think pink!"

The only colors I carry are pinks, peaches and reds. Toss in some pink, white, and chartreuse yarn, and VOILA, fish on!

If I could only carry 3 drifters, they would be the pearl/pink corky, peach winner and rocket red corky.

Parker



[This message has been edited by parker (edited 12-08-2000).]

[smilesforu]

The blind pig finds another acorn

pink today fished with guide Guy Ruble
Tight lines

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[hustlerrjim]

rt. whats a corkey????????

Hi Jim. A corky is the cylindrical cork that will come out the top of a bottle of Oregons's finest when you raft Jen and I on the N.F. hatchery down run to fish jigs for the winter steelhead. E-mail me when the water is the right height and you can go. - Steve (RT)

Hey Marty, we have a limit of one steelhead limit pic per thread .

[Centerpin]

Keep them beauties coming Marty. I love to see fish pictures. I wish RT would get a few more out of the archive.

Good one CP. I agrree that Marty looks a little younger in those photos . jk

[smilesforu]

I only post when I actually take pictures of fish . Besides I only catch fish when I have a day off work. Hopefully I can catch some tomorrow....the next day off Besides I didn't post a single silver limit during the season and the limit was 4/day and I had lots of days off . Looks like a pink and orange day again tomorrow. The Natives are running.....wheeeeee!!!!
Tight Lines

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[smilesforu]

No pictures for you today but I was 2 for 3 on red today. My brother had 3 on peach today. We had a double header when my brother tried getting his gear out of the way when I hooked up. The fish surface struck his spin glow and missed, so he dipped his rod and the fish grabbed on. Lot of fun today in the glaring sun. Total we hooked 6 and I was the only one to land fish (lucky again :rolleyes . Lots of nice fish when you can find them . The big one was 13-14 1b and a small hen for the landed ones. The ones that got away were nice sized.. all would have gone 10+
Tight Lines ...get out there and fish even if its low.

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[meyersbilly]

Marty: I may be joining you down south pretty quick -18C with the windchill today brrrr. So cold the waders were freezing stiff. Pretty tough moving when you're encapsulated in an ice-cube. Cool pics.

[smilesforu]

Yikes
Billy that is collllld. I was suppose to be snowing today but it ended up being like a spring day on the river. It was just awesome weather...all could change tomorrow. But it would seem like Hawaii compared to your conditions. If you head this way let me know and maybe you can catch a American fish

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[Centerpin]

Marty,

You should have been using Vision hooks. I went 15 for 20 today. Adverse conditions as Billy stated. If you could put a cast between the icebergs they were on it like starving bluegills. The Vision 2/0 performed great even when the fish got hung up in floating ice and slush. I must say they are like a cross between gamagatsu and eagle claw. Impressive. Flame orange corkie with white wool took 5. The remainder were on BC Orange Gooey Bobs and white wool.

Should be the last day of fishing for quite some time. The rivers will be frozen solid until it gets back above freezing.

The fish get a little lethargic but only in the fight. They will still chase your gear to hammer it. The only time we stop getting takers is when the river is frozen over. Maybe winter run fish are a little different but I have seen guys take them out of a slurpee on the first cast. I think pressure has everything to do with agressiveness. Your rivers get low, clear, and cold. Guys still hammer the river. I think cold water is a myth. You find fresh fish in cold water and they are as agressive as in warm water. Sure their metabolism slows down but I don't think their instincts (brain) are effected by the cold. Just my 2 cents worth.

[This message has been edited by Centerpin (edited 12-11-2000).]

[smilesforu]

Cp the one I lost was due to somebody elses gear. I snagged their line when the fish went after my bait. It broke the leader on the other guys rigging. So if your using 8# test for winter run I am mad at you. I am a dyed in the wool mustad user. Just can't beat a point put on strong steel with a file.
The fish escaped after biting both a flame orange and red bobber. More proof that fish will eat more than one color.
Tight Lines


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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[Centerpin]

I know what you mean when you say that it was lost to another anglers line. We lost a slab chinook this summer because Elvis on the beach wasn't paying attention. He was busy setting the hook on our fish. The fish got hung up in his winch cable line and busted off.

I agree that you can't beat a good hook file. If the steel is good then a great hook can be made with minimal effort.

[meyersbilly]

Oh my god not Mustad! CP I don't know whether to cringe or chuckle. I was a sworn to the end mustad user, until I moved to Skeena country. Wow, how many hooks have I straightened?

Marty I may be moving down south sooner than you think. I still can't feel my toes after my weekend adventure. Hopefully frost bite hasn't settled in. Usually takes about six months for the feeling to come back.

Here's another cold water tip: Ski goggles and snow shoes.

Do you guys ever use corkies for back bouncing or bar fishing. I always find monster corkies and I wonder what people use them for. You'd need a shark float if you were to float fish these things.

[smilesforu]

Billy we use the large corkies for drift fishing. As with all hooks you need to use the right strength. I use mustad 92363E these are a fine wire hook that is extra strong. It holds a great point with out rolling over and is strong enough to take the abuse I put it though with my 20# cable. The low water conditions is allowing us to fish water we can't normally fish this time of year . Nice to see healthy December NATIVE STOCK still exists.

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[Centerpin]

I can't believe Billy ties those damn hooks on for personal use. He lent my brother a rig for springs down on the Nass. My bro tried to put the brakes on a decent slab and the hook bent. I was sure glad I wasn't in the truck for the ride home. I was also near tears when Billy himself tried to slow down a Kitimat slab and the hook bent. Too bad he has nearly 1000 of those damn things. I think we should tie them on Ande line and sell them to the Germans at $.25 a piece.