As of this writing, nearly all of the Washington and Oregon steelhead rivers are low and clear. In fact, the water flow is so diminished that most streams cannot be floated, even with a shallow running drift boat.

There is still steelhead action to be had, however, but you will likely only find decent numbers of fish in the extreme lower portion of rivers.

The exception is on large river systems like Oregon's Umpqua or Rogue, or southwest Washington's Lewis or Cowlitz Rivers, where steelhead will continue their upstream movements even during low water.

At the head of tidewater is where steelhead, waiting for rivers to rise, will often be found when water flows have been reduced to only a trickle. The numbers of fish can vary from a few to a surprising stockpile; since the entire upriver-bound run may be staging here in anticipation of their upstream move when fresh water does arrive.

Although Steelhead can be caught any number of ways when rivers are clear as gin, one fishing method that often produces like no other is maneuvering a bobber downstream in the current with a steelhead jig suspended below it.

It's easy. If your bobber disappears, quickly set the hook.

Surprisingly, steelhead will come off the bottom for a steelhead jig. For example, your jig may only have to extend one-half to two-thirds of the way to the bottom. Still, if the water is deep, you may find the need to set your bobber six feet ahead of your jig.

Having to cast a light-weight bobber with a one-eighth ounce jig trailing three to six feet, or more, behind will likely make you realize the need for a spinning reel and longer than normal fishing rod. My favorite outfit for this method is Mitchell 300 (the all-new model featuring 8 ball bearings) or Abu Cardinal 804 spinning reel (an all metal reel with 9 ball bearings), combined with a nine and one half foot IM-7 Air spin rod, and 10-pound test monofilament line.

Although monofilament lines work, they don’t float nearly as well as some super lines. Berkley’s Fireline is used by many bobber n’ jig anglers because it offers thin diameter, near zero stretch, resists line twist better than mono, floats well, casts great on a spinning reel, and is available in a fluorescent green color that you can see.

If you try Fireline, splice a two foot length of clear monofilament leader (or invisible fluorocarbon) to its end and fix you bobber on your main line and jig to the leader.

Be aware, there is an all new Fireline "Crystal" on the market that is being touted as the first translucent super line. Although it appears pearl on the reel spool it is much less visible in the water than above it, and may allow you eliminate splicing in a clear leader - just tie direct.

Steelhead jigs come in different colors, which can make a difference in your success. Pink Pearl is the most popular, but sometimes other colors, even black or purple, can produce best. Some anglers find that tipping their jig with a sand shrimp tail or the tail section of a Gulp! scented float worm can increase their chance of success.

One tip worth repeating is to rig your jig so it rides horizontally in the water; the fish like this presentation best. This can be achieved by making sure your line tie is positioned at the top of your hook eyelet.

Keep in mind that long-shaped floats that will tip with the slightest drag, will tell you what’s going on better than a round one.

Float fishing is like drift fishing in that you cast out, across and slightly upstream, pick up any slack line, and allow your float to drift through the holding water. Steelheads prefer a jig moving at the same speed as the current, not faster. For this reason you may need to mend your line upstream if a belly starts to develop in your line.

Although fishing bobbers is the go-to method when rivers are low and clear, this method should not be overlooked when the next Pacific storm restores stream flows. When river levels return to normal try working your bobber n' jig in the slower moving holes and tail outs and along current edges, where steelhead often hold while migrating upstream.