FS Digest

Planning on getting a twitching rig made up, and was wondering what a good reel for it would be (would be targeting winter steelhead)? The rod is an 8'6" Okuma SST carbon, 10-20lbs, if that matters.

So far, ones that are within my price range that i've been thinking of are:

- Shimano Sahara 3000

- Okuma Trio 40s

- Okuma Epixor XT 40(s?)


would any of these be suitable, or are there any others you could suggest?

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by mazeofmystery

FS Digest

I'd go Sahara, but I'd do a 2500. Also a 10-20 rod for steelhead is a little overkill, and while I have caught steelhead twitching I wouldn't even consider it a tactic I use to fish for them, and don't know anyone who does.

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by Deadlysteelheader

FS Digest

from what ive been told, and from what i saw of salmon fishing this year, the fish are pretty big here. the smallest salmon ive caught was 15lbs, the biggest being a little over 30lbs (river). The reason why i wanted to twitch for steelhead is so im a little more active in my fishing when its -20*, as float fishing is rather stagnant in comparison haha (although effective). Plus, it gave me a new hobby of tying jigs which is fun! Also, most people float/drift fish here, so my thinking is that something different may attract more bites on days where floating just isnt productive.

Edit: also, thanks for the reel input!

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by mazeofmystery

FS Digest

You mean 1/4oz or smaller jigs right?

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by SpreadNSpit

FS Digest

depends on the water that day i guess? the river i normally fish is getting pretty nasty right now, but i was told 1/4oz jigs would work.

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by mazeofmystery

FS Digest

I like your enthusiasm, but in temps that cold it's gonna be even harder to get one to take a twitched jig. I'd suggest a spoon or maybe a spinner if you're looking for something more active, but in those temps a float is gonna be the best choice.

As far as size, the average steelhead is 6-10lbs, salmon are a completely different animal. While steelhead will get over 20lbs, I have caught thousands in 20 years of fishing from northern bc to Oregon and have only 2 that have broken 20lbs.

A 10-20 isn't going to necessarily hurt your chances of hooking up, but you won't have as much fun.

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by Deadlysteelheader

FS Digest

I was just thinking that the reason fish go for spoons/spinners, is out of a predatory/defensive reaction, which is why they would go for jigs.


and yeah, you're right about the different species haha. I just had such good luck with salmon, my head may be getting a little big :P


As for the fun part, i tend to use lighter line than what the max is on my rods, just so i have to play more, instead of just muscling a bite in. Ive seen that with snaggers so much i dont even know why they fish. And also so i dont end up snapping my rod, as my luck with anything but hooking fish is awful.

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by mazeofmystery

FS Digest

I get that, the difference between a jig and hardware is hardware has more "piss off value" I guess you could say, they thump, flash, vibrate, generally just hard to ignore. Jigs don't really incite the anger hardware does, you need a willing and eager fish to hammer a jig. For the most part.

The bummer about a stout rod and light line, is you're going to break fish off that would have been saved by a limber rod, I've come to do the exact opposite. My go to steelhead rod is a 6-10 I run 50lb braid and 17 flouro leader, never had a worry of the rod breaking but if fish get too close to wood I can stop em.

In the end though it's up to you! I'm just trying to pass on some wisdom, ultimately you'll have what works for you and more than likely you'll find that out by personal trial and error, if you end up building a twitching rod for steelhead I look forward to hopefully seeing some pics on here!

Good luck out there!

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by Deadlysteelheader

FS Digest

Thanks so much for all your help!

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by mazeofmystery

StlhdSlayer Loc: Portland, Oregon

I have the shimano 2500 with 8 lb p-line fluoroclear paired with a 8-15 lb 9’6” cabella’s rod that I use exclusively for twitching. That being said, I’m on year 2 with the reel. Doesn’t perform well in the rain. I typically fly fish for steelhead, but a twitched jig is deadly for all salmoniods. Most run it under a bobber, I never have. I have noticed that when I’m elevated above the river, my success goes way up. I’ve had pretty good luck with Okuma fly reels. Great reel for the price.