Floats Down

Are you like most sitting around during winter dreaming of a FISH ONLINE? While most lakes have nothing but thin ice many anglers don't know what to target this time of year. They assume that even though most steelhead streams are free of ice at this time of year that steelhead cease their migration due to the cold. However on a warm December such as the one we are having many fresh steelhead continue to run with many early fall drop backs mixed in.

If you've invested any amount of time pursuing lake Ontario Steelhead then by now you are likely aware of the environmental influences that are responsible for triggering the autumn migrations. While steelies begin to trickle into the tributaries come late September, stronger numbers become more prevalent as the weeks progress - especially when influenced by cool temperatures and autumn freshets.

Split shots are an essential tool when float fishing. By placing them in different positions on the line, the angler can greatly modify his bait presentation. Once a float fisherman understands how the different shotting patterns work, he can effectively cover nearly any spot in a river. The ultimate goal in shotting is to achieve the most natural drift and bait presentation possible at the required depth. The key is to understand how the various shotting patterns affect the speed at which the bait will reach depth and how the bait will be affected by the current once it is at depth.