“Noodle” rods have been the mainstay of steelhead trout fishing in Ohio for close to 30 years. A noodle rod is basically an elongated spinning rod that comes in different actions, such as light, medium, or heavy action. Light action rods allow for better sensitivity and a better fight. A heavier action rod allows for better hook-setting ability. Choice of rod actions is an individual matter. The length of these rods generally ranges from 7’ to 12’. Noodle rods can be purchased at many tackle stores that supply steelhead trout tackle or they can be custom made. Young anglers will likely be able to perform better using shorter, rather than longer rods. Long rods are more sensitive and certainly more flexible to use in a variety of fishing scenarios. The fish really “plays” the rod rather than the fishing line, which would more be the case with an ultra-light spinning rod that might only be 5.5’ or 6’ long. Thus, the longer rod allows the angler to use much lighter line, which is a key to effective steelhead fishing. A 3-5 foot section of fluorocarbon leader (4-7 pound test) increases success since it is virtually invisible to steelhead trout.

It is important not only to have a quality noodle rod, but also a very sturdy and dependable spinning reel for steelhead trout fishing. Spinning reels are “taxed” to the maximum with the normal scorching runs of the steelhead trout. It is worth the extra money to purchase a mid-range to high-end priced spinning reel with a dependable reputation and a good drag system. The typical spinning reel is loaded with approximately 150 yards of 7-8 pound high-quality monofilament fishing line. Other important stream accessories are a pair of polarized sunglasses and a ball cap. A good landing net is also helpful but not an absolute necessity.

Noodle rods are most often used for steelhead trout in stream fishing settings. However, noodle rods can also be used for pier or breakwall fishing. Noodle rods can be used to fish bait, lures, or flies. The normal casting technique on streams is to make an upstream cast of about 45 degrees. The line is reeled enough so that it “telescopes” down to the water from the rod tip resulting in the line having a slight “belly”, rather than laying flat on the water. It is important that once the cast has been made the rod tip moves with the line downstream so that there is no line drag. Also, this allows a quick strike to be made, which can be indicated by the line twitching, bobber submersing, etc. The line is retrieved once the rod reaches a point about 45 degrees downstream of a “dead” center position.

The most important aspect of stream steelhead trout fishing is staying in contact with the stream bottom, where these fish generally reside. It is oftentimes necessary, when using flies or bait, to use some minimum amount of weight (e.g. split shot or micro split shot) to keep the bait or fly close to the stream bottom. Always assume that when the line twitches or the bobber starts to submerge that a steelhead trout is on the end of the hook. It is important to make a quick wrist strike and hold the noodle rod arched high while fighting the steelhead trout. There are only a few instances where the rod tip should be dropped while fighting a fish. One example is when a steelhead trout or other fish clears the water. Drop the rod tip only until the fish hits the water’s surface, so that the fish doesn’t fall on a tight line, potentially risking a broken line. The second instance is when the fish swims under a log, into debris, etc. and there is no other way to control the fish.

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It is actually a valuable technique to allow the fish to have slack line under these circumstances. The fish thinks that it is free of any resistance and oftentimes swims back in the same manner that it entered. Another trick is when a steelhead trout is holding in fast water and won’t budge. Hold the noodle rod steady and gently start taking small steps backwards until the fish is no longer in fast water. At this point, it will be much easier to fight the fish.

Whether the angler uses a noodle rod or fly rod there are certain areas to search for steelhead trout. When the trout start making fall upstream migrations, it is important to realize that these fish have spent the summer in deep, poorly illuminated water. So, the first thing that the steelhead trout searches for as it enters a stream is the deepest areas that it can find, where there usually is a singular current moving through, which insures a satisfactory flow of oxygenated water. These lake-run rainbow trout can be found in the streams from September through mid-May and these deep pools should never be overlooked, since pre-spawn and post-spawn fish will utilize these sites. From December through May it is also important to search out gravelly shallow areas where there are oftentimes multiple water currents evident. These are potential spawning areas. Once a few fish have been spotted in these reaches, it becomes relatively easy to spot spawning steelhead trout if polarized sunglasses and a ball cap are utilized. Flies or lures are the most effective choices for catching spawning fish. These fish will react positively in one of two ways or not at all. Instinctively, certain flies, e.g. stone flies, may be sucked in since trout are accustomed to seeing them. The second response is attacking a large fly, streamer, or lure, which the fish view as a threat or annoyance to their spawning activities. These spawning fish are not actively feeding and will not do so until they have completed their spawning activities.

Regardless of what fishing gear is used, the success of a stream steelhead trout trip is strongly associated with existing stream conditions. The best stream conditions are when the water is greenish in color, with 8”-12” of visibility, and is close to normal or slightly above normal. If the water is high, fast, and muddy, there are two choices to consider. Find a smaller stream or tributary that has cleared sooner. A muddy stream can also oftentimes be fished but it is important to find slower moving water along the bank or in side channels. Expect that the time between bites will be much greater than under normal conditions.