Steelhead tips~The “Grandpa” technique

Posted: April 25, 2010 by Hellcat in Fish Reports



“Who doesn’t like to watch a bobber go down?”

An angler and friend who I respect a lot for the job that he does, Kelly Reichner (Kelly once appeared on the cover of STS with steel in the mid 2000’s & is a very well-known river angler here in the Pac NW) coined a float-fishing method that is new to my repetroire…and that is the “Grandpa” technique.

I absolutely love it. Big Jake showed it to me first during the ‘6 steelhead in 7 miles’ video…..And I’m going to share it with you today. Boat or bank, this technique will help you catch more steelhead in your favorite river, no doubt.

When you are looking at a piece of water you assume to be holding steelhead…you deduce this as such due to the breaks, riffles, seams or runs that you have scounted out or have whacked metal in before. Either way, you set up for your presentation and feel confident.

Many of us have grown up fishing rivers and ‘dead-drifting’ baits, lures or flies in order to try to fool a trout, salmon or steelhead….but most of us have not tried the afforementioned “Grandpa” technique.

The best thing about river fishing with a float is your ability to control your presentation. Meaning; with a drift outfit, as successful as it may be much of the time, will always give you a belly in your line to deal with…no matter how uniform the current of the run you are fishing/scouting.

Even running a braided line on your drift outfit presents you with this same scenario only downgraded in severity due to the no-stretch factor of spectra braided or fused lines.

On to the featured technique:

From the bank, the “Grandpa” technique would be more difficult than from an anchored drift boat. But still possible with a long enough (10′ + ) float rod and a floating braided line.

Mainly the idea with this method is to identify any area where a fish may lay to rest from it’s upstream progress….however insignificant the slot may seem. Pun intended. Anyhow, you’ll want to locate the broken water in question and then position yourself up river from your target water far beyond what you normally would.

The idea is to float your bobber down into the target water without standing or anchoring anywhere near it. Maybe it’s a seam in the middle of the river that looks like it will hold a single fish. It’s worth a cast or an anchor and a “Grandpa” float out to see if anything is holding or taking a break in that holding water.

“The Grandpa Technique”: Floating your bobber/float down river into your target water without being anywhere near…..this usually requires a floating line and a long rod to achieve the desired results.

Once you’ve found a spot that looks ‘fishy’ to you…simply position yourself above that water and release your float down river over/into the target water. Fool around with your depths a little bit to make sure your covered your bases…then move on. If you’re the first one to that water the fish will strike in the first few drifts if it’s there.

Got any questions about a specific river/fishing spot where you think your normal approach has spooked the fish and the “Grandpa” technique may just be the ticket?? Just leave a comment here and let’s start a thread!

H3llcat the fish tatooed professor

Comments
  1. daheller says:

    Interesting. I love float fishing but usually stand about the mid section of the length of water I want to fish and cast up and let the float go well down river. I have not tried targeting likely water from upstream but will definitely give it a go, especially given the chance of more fish. Sal

  2. Nookslayer says:


    I really like this post Heller. I have done this before (not always on purpose) and didn’t realize it had a name. It makes perfect sense though for both gear and fly. I will be adding this to my arsenal as soon as I can get back on the water!

  3. big jake says:

    This was supposed to be a secret heller…..now everyone will know how easy it is……gosh cant tell anyone anything any more…..im just kidding I hope it helps some people get into some more fish as it is an easy way to target those pesky slimy chrome rockets!!!!

    Big J

  4. Hellcat says:


    It’s easier said than done. Trust me. Thanks J Money.

    capt

  5. Big Burge says:

    Nice, thanks for the tip. Gonna try my hand at that for sure.

  6. MME says:

    That is a great article man. This is a great way to target un suspecting steel man it works.

    MME


  7. If I could give you prize for your post I would! Very Nice Job!

    Lloyd

  8. Hellcat says:


    I’m glad you like that one my friend. Glad to have your visits…

    H3llcaptain

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