Buy some 10-12mm beads. Put your floating line on and a 6-10' leader depending how deep of water you are fishing. If 6' deep use an 8' leader. Peg your bead 2 finger widths up from the hook. If you need to get the bead down a bit more put a bb size shot about 1-2' up from the bead. You want it ticking along the bottom like a real egg rolling down the river.


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Buy some 10-12mm beads. Put your floating line on and a 6-10' leader depending how deep of water you are fishing. If 6' deep use an 8' leader. Peg your bead 2 finger widths up from the hook. If you need to get the bead down a bit more put a bb size shot about 1-2' up from the bead. You want it ticking along the bottom like a real egg rolling down the river.

That is the information I was looking for. Thanks Shane.
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Beads are very effective methods for catching steelhead. There are many different styles of rigging the beads, Shane explained the basis of the setup, most others are just variations that are preferred by the fisherman. I use the Hevi-Beads which uses a rubber band to hold the bead in place. I have fished with guides who paint the beads to get a preferred color. I used to have a link to a site that showed several different illustrated rigging methods for the bead but I deleted it. A quick search should reveal some rigging methods.

The first time I ever used a beads was fishing in Canada and a couple of the guys in camp were in the only way to fish is swinging an Intruder style fly on a sink tip. So to avoid the argument of beads are not fly fishing I said that I had caught my fish on a new fly the guide had developed called a Basic Exploratory Adaptive Design (bead) fly.

 

The topic of this thread is clearly stated in the OP. Some posts that were not directly related to the topic have been removed to keep the thread moving in a positive and respectful direction, as is the norm here on the FF forum. If anyone wants to have a debate about something, please start another thread.

 

I fished with a young man who is very expert in bead fishing for trout and steelhead. I don't use fluorocarbon leader material, but it is part of his system, 20# butt section, 15# mid, and 12# tippet, and 10# dropper. Total leader length is 9 to 10' long. Peg the bead about 3 to 4" from the hook. He uses size 2. The thing I found interesting with his method was how little weight was necessary to fish effectively. Usually 2 size BB split shot above the first bead, never more than 3. Then a 12 - 16" dropper for a second bead and hook. Could be a smaller size or different color or the same as the top one. Thing-a-ma-bobbers are popular for the float. Don't use one any larger than necessary so that it's less likely to be detected by the fish.

All I can say is the method is so effective it should probably be illegal, and I seldom make use of it.

Sg

 

Great layout salmo g, I am way far from an expert of any type, but you are spot on from everything I know about it, I like a #6 hook, but that and hook spacing is pure preference.

 

Thanks guys for all of the good information. I cant wait to try this. The Clearwater just blew out but I will be ready when it comes down.

 

I just started using beads this year on certain waters (primarily waters that are known to contain a high percentage of hatchery fish). As stated, it's pretty deadly. I usually set things up pretty similar to how salmo_g outlined above, except I don't use a dropper as I always seem to have issues with fish when fishing droppers and having them get tangled up around the snout of fish often enough that I no longer use them with most of my nymphing setups.

I actually really enjoy fishing them as it's just like any sort of nymphing with a fly rod. No, I couldn't fish them on "fly fishing only" waters, but I certainly enjoy using my fly rod for this type of fishing.

Cheers

 

Yarnball with bead dropper is murder for winter.

Summer= Big bead with small bead dropper
think 12-14mm with 8-10 under that. I like contrasting colors such as steely orange, and a light pink or red glass

 

Simplify! 20 to 25# butt section, albright knot to 10 or 12# flouro, either blood knot or micro swivel to tippet, best to attach weight to a dropper and space evenly if using multiple shot, nail knot stopper with 20# and size 6 to 1 hook snelled. The new Air lock indicators are the slickest on the market and made by an American Company Fish-Field in Tigard. Vary leader length depending on depths fished and amount of weight prefered.
Presentation is key, minimize mending and keep fly line indicator and basic nymphing principals apply.