Beads

I am a avid steelhead angler & have used a ton of different egg patterns to ctach steelhead. but while guiding in Alaska i was introduced to fishing with beads for steelhead, it works amazing. But, i would just like some peoples opinions on this method.

Proguide, welcome to the forum I hope you will like it here.

Haven't angled steelheads myself so unfortunately unable to give personal experience account - However am also interested in knowing what other members think of using beads

we use mostly egg patterns and an ocassional stonefly here in the Lake Erie tribs...tell me more about the beads. i'll give it a shot!

The way i fish the beads is as follows. I use a size 12 bead, that is red. They can usually be ordered at trout beads.com. I then, this is going to sound crazy, but I paint the beads using a shear blush colored nail polish. Yes you will get some funny looks in the beauty section of the store, but it is well worth it. Once the nail polish has dried I put just a dab of shoe goo on the painted bead to give it a jelly look under water. leave the bead on a tooth pick to allow it to dry, and it's ready to fish! I rig the bead by sliding the bead onto my leader, then tie on my hook. I then place the bead about 1-1 &1/2 inches above the hook, and peg it by inserting a tooth pick in the hole and breaking it off flush. That's it it isn't much for the purist but I have fished it on several rivers in alaska and have cought steelhead in excess of 28-30 inches in huge numbers. I fish it exactly like I would dead drift a nymph. If ya have any questions let me know.

what size are the beads?

I have used as small as 8mm to try to duplicate the size of the natural eggs usually coho eggs, but if there are kings in the river spawning no smaller than a size 10mm. In a perfect world if you can find them, 12mm are the way to go.

did you know that the eyes of prawns also reflect (in sunlighted water)?

in any case: why the 12mm hasn't been produced then? (in beads that is)

I had no idea about the prawns! interesting though. The 12mm are produced, but for some reason they are harder to find. Not even sure why. I do know that when I find some I buy all of them!

Actually I just looked at trout beads.com & found some 12mm. But they did not have them in my prefered ruby Roe color. they did have them in my second choice of color which is dark roe!

That's great

So, you bought them all?

Yesterday I asked anglers here about the many dead crabs I keep on finding near the water and they told me they use their meat as bait as well cause fish seem to like it?

hi
i am kevin i think it is interesting. i would like to know more about it.
VermontDrugAddiction

Kevin, welcome to the forum.
I see a lot of this 'drug addiction' signatures.
Care to explain why?
What is the deal?
Aren't those websites only interesting for drug addicts?
Why to promote it so much on forums like a fishing forum?

I'm curious...I plan to try your rig in Erie Pennsylvania this steelhead season..I'll keep everyone posted on my success or lack of

Ok1MoreCast I would like to keep you to that promise. I am really curious to know how this works out for you


Ohh and OF COURSE: tight lines and success in Pennsylvania.

Post edited by: Danube, at: 2008/08/28 17:16

There is a new product on the market now too, called Moe-roe. I have fished Moe-roe with trout beads at the same time. Moe-roe works 5 times better. This group of guides created them and they have a sweet website with some great media. You can get Moe-roe beads there as well. Go to www.flyfishingbuddies.com
Tell them Willy C. sent you.