I feel this frustration. I was also on my third year of pounding the trails before I caught my first one. What really helped me was taking the steelheading class at pacific angler with Alex. Literally the first time out fishing after the class I got my first one. My presentations didn't really change but how I fished them and where did. Learning to read the water better was the biggest takeaway for me. I was fishing for them the same as I fished for salmon and it's worth remembering that they are trout. There's a reason the "top rods" are pretty consistent on the river every year. They know the most likely spots in a run that they will be, can pick through them quickly, and move on efficiently. I ended up really loving how much river you tend to cover chasing steelhead vs trying to find a gap on a busy run in salmon season.

Too bad  Alex left Pacific Angler.  He is now working somewhere else.

I've saved this article for years. Reading Water Tutorial:
There are 3 things you got to ask yourself before you decide if the section of river you are fishing is "Steelhead water" and will you have a chance of catching these magnificent fish. 
1.) Adequate depth to protect the fish from predators, boaters, and anglers. Rarely will you find a fish in water less than 2 1/2 feet, try focusing on water that is in the 3-15 foot range.
2.) Current Velocity, the best speed would is anywhere from a slow walking pace, to a slow jogging speed. Remember Steelhead want to get from point A to point B using the least amount of energy required. They don't want to be battling rapids, but they like a little water disturbance. 
3.) River bottom structure, Steelhead DO NOT like sand..Sand irritates a Steelhead's gills. They will rarely hold in sandy bottoms. Instead look for structure that consists of small to medium sized boulders. These could be the size of a baseball, basketball, or bigger. 

Pocket water: Pocket water is associated with swift water and structure.  In a boulder-strewn rapid, there are areas of slower/slack water that may be found in front of, behind, or beside large rocks. Float fishing is a very effective technique for fishing boulder strewn water, and pocket water. Spoon fishing is also a very effective technique, especially during the winter months when Steelhead are lethargic.
Side Channel: A well defined narrow band of deep water that is surrounded/bounded by shallower water. These are often by the rivers edge and are darker than the rest of the water surrounding it. Think of these as a fish highway, migrating fish will move up this stretch of water when they can find depth/structure to make them feel secure.
Tailouts: The smooth/slower water upstream from a rapid/faster flowing section of water is a tailout. Tailouts are usually anywhere from 1-5 feet deep, and 20 to 100+ feet long. Tailouts have flat unriffled surfaces, and is the shallowest holding water. Fish are more exposed in a tailout and are on the alert more than a fish in a pool or back eddy.

Pools: These are anywhere from 5-20 feet deep, and at times are a good bet to find Steelhead. I start at the top section of the pool, and work my way downstream covering this water thoroughly. Work through the water column covering all aspects of it. However: Just like in Bill Herzogs book he stated that fish in deep pools are suspended, so your offering doesn't necessarily have to be near the bottom. Unfortunatly I can't get the pics to post with this article.

I feel this frustration. I was also on my third year of pounding the trails before I caught my first one. What really helped me was taking the steelheading class at pacific angler with Alex. Literally the first time out fishing after the class I got my first one. My presentations didn't really change but how I fished them and where did. Learning to read the water better was the biggest takeaway for me. I was fishing for them the same as I fished for salmon and it's worth remembering that they are trout. There's a reason the "top rods" are pretty consistent on the river every year. They know the most likely spots in a run that they will be, can pick through them quickly, and move on efficiently. I ended up really loving how much river you tend to cover chasing steelhead vs trying to find a gap on a busy run in salmon season.

I would suggest keeping a journal. Make note of where you see fish caught….not just the general spot but exactly where they are caught. I often hike and climb to fish a spot the size of a bathtub. Sooner or later,your  float will go down. I have a “milk run” for low, medium, and high water. The water level data is very important. If I am fishing a system that does not have a gauge, I estimate based on a nearby system with similar attributes. The fluctuation really changes depending on whether the system is mediated by having a lake.
Key points
Spots where you have seen fish hooked….make note of water height
My leader is usually under24” unless fishing slow deep pools
I use 3 things 90% of the time..bait sack, pink worm (Beau Mac pearly one), and a Spin and Glo for old times
When I feel motivated I pump bugs but it’s not necessary. Steelhead are not super picky….its more about putting your gear in front of fish wants to bite.
Set float to weight as 75% of depth…. Eg. in 8 feet deep, I go 6 feet float to lead

Just over one week until the sale. I was updated a few days ago that around 15 tables have been booked. If you want to get a table, be sure to do it soon.

My advice is observed what the steelheaders are using and catching in which part of waters. I learned this about 44 years ago when I first start out fishing the Vedder river by putting my rod down and watch the local old timers casting and catching steelies.


Silex-user

what you don't know is that they have caught on and now will only fish the sweet spot when nobody is around 

My advice is observed what the steelheaders are using and catching in which part of waters. I learned this about 44 years ago when I first start out fishing the Vedder river by putting my rod down and watch the local old timers casting and catching steelies.


Silex-user

Yes they should work.

Should mention that there is at least one well known local guy who swears by slim olive leeches in a size 10 or 12.

Does anyone know if Mickey Finns work?

Stringers are actually mentioned in the regs in the context of keeping live fish on them (ie dont do it) but since one is not allowed to have any live fish in their possession at all, it's kind of moot.

Basically any retained fish of any type has to be dispatched immediately, but then you can use all the stringers you want.

thanks. from page 8:

"Have any live fish in your possession  in the wild, or move any live fish or live aquatic invertebrates around the province, or transplant them into any waters of
B.C. Do not keep angled fish alive in a “livewell” or other device, or on stringers, and never use live fish as bait or release your aquarium fish to the wild. “High grading” is illegal."

... I've always thought of stringers as a kind of torture. If you are going to kill it to eat do it right away.

Yes @Canadian Anglerz, it can be complicated! And sometimes, to further complicate matters, a body of water may also have municipal-specific rules not listed in the provincial synopsis.



For example, at Green Timbers Lake, which is an artificial man-made lake,  you are not permitted to wade in, or boat on, the water. At one point in time, you were also only permitted to use natural baits (worms/salmon eggs: yes, Powerbait: no) although I’m not sure if that’s still the case.

.

By-laws like this are becoming more common so it's time for the Province to incorporate them into the regulations or declare them "ultra vires" (beyond their power to regulate) of local governments.