Float Fishing In New York: Trout, Steelhead, Salmon Tips
As a fishing guide for trout, steelhead, and salmon, I consider only three methods to be effective enough that I will use them, and float fishing in New York is often the most effective method.
New York has many great steelhead and trout rivers, and the reason float fishing works so well is the ability to keep your bait suspended in the strike zone for extended periods. This dramatically improves the amount of fish you can catch.
I have guided for over 1000 days using the float fishing method for trout, salmon, and steelhead. There are some things I’ve learned over this time on the water that have greatly improved my client’s ability to catch more fish, and I share this info with you here.
There are things most anglers do or don’t do that prevent them from catching fish that could be caught. Once you understand these simple tips, you can catch ten times more fish and do it consistently.
Whether you are the guy on the river catching the most or the least fish, I assure you that the guide methods and tips I will share can improve your success when float fishing New York streams.
What is float fishing?
Float fishing generally refers to a fishing method where you suspend your bait below a specialized float or bobber designed for river fishing and allows the bait attached to drift naturally down the river following the current.
Float fishing is widely used and is the most effective steelhead, salmon, and trout fishing method.
As simple as it seems, there are certain complexities associated with this form of fishing, and I have discovered that the recipe for success comes down to 4 things.
- Speed Control
- Depth Control
- Presentation
- Bait Selection
What New York River Can You Float Fish?
All New York rivers are suitable for float fishing. You need to ensure that you adjust your float fishing setup based on the type of water, which primarily means the current’s depth and velocity.
Float fishing is an excellent method on all types of waters, from fast to slow and deep to shallow rivers.
If the water is deeper than 3 feet deep and is shallower than 13 feet, it is good for float fishing.
Under 3 feet deep, especially if it is very clear, the float can spook the fish, and therefore, in this type of water, or in tiny pockets less than a few feet around, I will switch to bottom bouncing.
Float fishing is one technique that even an entry-level angler can easily figure out.
Reels For Float Fishing
If you are planning on float fishing in New York, one of the most important things you will need is the right kind of float reel. Some reels are better than others for the float fishing method.
Generally, the commonly used types of float reels for fishing under a float are centerpin reels and spinning reels.
Centerpin Reels Are Best For Float Fishing In New York
A Centerpin reel is a large round spool that sits on a center pin or post, giving it its name, the Centerpin. It also called a float reel by many anglers.
Centerpin reels are characterized by their extremely high-quality bearings that allow for free spool spin as the current pulls the float down the river.
Using a centerpin reel makes for very long, precise drifts without mending or feeding the line out. This greatly improves your ability to keep your bait in the strike zone for longer and improves your success.
Based on about 30 years of experience using Centerpin reels and comparing them to spinning reels and even baitcasting reels, I can honestly say that the Centerpin reel is the best reel for float fishing in any river.
Check out my recommendations for Centerpin reels.
Spinning Reels For Float Fishing In New York
Spinning reels are, in my opinion, the second-best reel for float fishing in New York rivers, and they are by far the most popular reel. I only use a spinning reel if my clients insist or if I need a multipurpose reel for other methods.
Even though the line does not come smoothly off the reel compared to a Centerpin reel, with practice, the spinning reel still maintains a good presentation.
The best spinning reels for New York float fishing should hold a large amount of line, provide good smooth drag, and a large smooth spool where the line is able to come off freely.
The spinning reel you use should also match the size of the river and the size of the fish.
I recommend a spinning reel of size 30 for most river and fishing conditions.
Float Rods For Float Fishing New York
The importance of float rods in Steelhead fishing cannot be overemphasized. You use the rod to get a good presentation and fight big fish.
To increase your chances of success on the river, you want to ensure that your float rod is the right length, weight, and stiffness for where you intend to fish.
Generally, when float fishing in New York rivers, whether for centerpin or spinning reel, long rods between 10 to 14 feet are best, and my go-to size is 13 foot.
The size of the river you’ll be fishing will determine the length of your rod; the larger the river, the longer the rod.
Basic Float Fishing Rig
Below is a quick visual on the basic float fishing setup or gear required outside the Rod or Reel.
Hooks For Float Fishing New York
This is one piece of gear that is often overlooked by many anglers. Using the right hooks will go a long way to improving the success of your float fishing in New York.
Some hooks suck, and the wrong hook obviously will mean few fish.
The best hooks will penetrate better and will hold on better.
I and other guides use only 5 or 6 types of hooks, but to keep it simple, my top two recommendations for float fishing hooks are the Raven Specimen Hook and the very popular Gamakatsu Octopus Hook.
The choice of your hook size will depend on the different water conditions, the size of the fish, and different baits.
As a rule of thumb, bigger hooks will be suited for bigger baits and smaller hooks for smaller baits and smaller fish as well.
Generally, a size 8 or 10 will work for most New York rivers and for both trout and steelhead. I probably use size 10 more than any other size.
However, all these are subject to personal preference. I discuss more on float fishing hooks on my page: 5 Best Hooks For Float Fishing: What The Guides Use.
Leader Line
The trout and steelhead leader line you use is very important when it comes to float fishing in New York rivers.
When it comes to leaders, you want a leader so light that the fish do not see it, yet heavy enough that the larger fish do not keep breaking you off.
Through years of experience, this is what I have found to be best in New York:
- Trout Fishing: 3 to 4-pound leader
- Steelhead Fishing: Clearwater, smaller rivers: 6 pounds (0.18mm) Best general purpose leader: 8 pounds (0.20mm) Large rivers, fast currents, large steelhead: 10 pounds (0.22mm)
- Salmon Fishing: Very clear water and small streams:10 pound (0.22mm), General purpose: 12 pounds (0.24mm), Fast water and large rivers: 14 pounds (0.25mm)
I only use fluorocarbon leaders and i use two sizes on my leader setup.
Generally, there are two sections (the shot line section and bottom section) of the leader set up, and you will need two different leader sizes. As a rule of thumb, the shot-line leader should be about two sizes heavier than the lower leader size.
Swivels
The swivel helps to untwist the line during line retrieval. This way, you would prevent undesirable tangling of the line, which can lead to its weakening.
The Floats
A float is the center of floating, as suggested by its name. Not all Centerpin floats are created equal, and some floats suck while others do the job right.
The right float will help you control your speed, gauge your depth, and ultimately catch more trout, steelhead, and salmon.
You need a float that is suitable for the type of water you intend to fish, whether in terms of the depth and size of the river. My go-to floats are:
In water deeper than my rod is long, I will switch to a slip float which, if set up properly, will enable me to fish spots even over 20 feet deep. Otherwise, when float fishing in water 3 to 10 feet deep I always use what is know as a fixed float.
Drennan Loafer Floats: Best for clear water and slow water Raven FM Floats: great for most situations.
You can learn more on how to choose the best floats for your float fishing by checking out my page on 5 Best Centerpin Floats.
Split Shots / Weights For Float Fishing New York
I only use round split shots that are dark in color. I do NOT use the shiny weights or the ones with the little removable wings.
Best Baits For Float Fishing New York
There are a lot of baits that anglers use; however, guides are selective and have narrowed down the most effective and consistent baits, which they use 95 percent of the time, ignoring the less effective baits.
I choose my baits based on the conditions, and at certain times of the year or under certain water conditions, a normally effective bait might not be.
For this reason, I always have multiple good baits with me, and I rotate through the baits, sizes, and colors to figure out which baits are going to trigger a strike response.
Consider these baits:
- Salmon Eggs and Trout Eggs: At certain times of the year, this is an effective bait for trout, steelhead, and salmon.
- Worms: Worms are generally effective in spring, but they can also be effective all year.
- Artificial Flies: Artificial flies, the kind the fly fishermen use, can be effective at any time of the year, and at times, they are the most effective.
- Live baits: This can include insects like crickets, hellgramites, stoneflies, beetles, mealworms, grubs, minnows, leeches, crayfish, etc.
- Artificial baits: This can include plastic imitations of the above baits as well as baits like Powerbait Doughs.
Tips To Catch 10 Times More Fish When Float Fishing New York Streams
There is a simple formula for success when it comes to float fishing, and if you screw up even part of it, you will struggle to catch fish.
I have said this many times, a well-presented bait dramatically improves the possibility of a hookup, but so does each part of the formula, and if other parts of the formula are wrong, even an excellent presentation won’t work.
As an example, I don’t know how many times I’ve had two anglers on a guide trip, both using the exact same gear and same bait, and one catches 90% of the fish.
There is a reason for this, and once you understand it, you can catch a lot more fish.
So, let me explain this so you understand it and so you can start catching more fish. If your presentation is perfect, but you use a hook that is too big for the bait, you will struggle.
If your presentation and your hook are perfect, but the leader is so thick the fish see it, you will struggle.
If you use the perfect setup and the most effective bait, but your speed or depth are off, you will struggle.
Think about it, if everything is perfect and you have a great bait on the line, but that bait is 5 feet above the fish’s heads and the fish are only willing to move 2 feet for a bait, everything that is perfect is useless because your bait is too far for them.
What I’m saying is that each part of the formula needs to be perfect or the other parts of the formula CANNOT be as effective.
The reason why one angler catches 90 percent of the fish when they are both using the exact same gear, the same setup, and they are both fishing at the same depths, is the speed of their presentation.
Almost always, the angler catching 90 percent of the fish is able to present their bait at the same speed as all the natural food sources the fish are feeding on, while the other angler’s bait is moving unnaturally fast and deterring fish from biting.
I’ve often said that speed control is the most critical part of your presentation, and I say this from experience.
Everything needs to be perfect, and you cannot use a bad hook or a bad leader and think it does not matter because I guarantee you that it does matter.
I discuss speed control, depth finding, and how to set your float depth, as well as baits and leader setups on these pages:
Regulations and Rules
Be sure to visit the New York DNR website to check the regulations for fishing the species and rivers you are targeting.
Float Fishing New York Q&A
If you have questions or want to share some of your tips and tricks and advice on float fishing New York rivers, let us know in the comments section below.
Tight Lines,
Graham
Can you use a slip float even in shallower water like 3 – 6 feet range?
Hi David,
You sure can use them in shallow water, some angler like slip floats for all water depths, however, I’m not a fan of them for various reasons which is why I only use them in deep water situations.
Graham