Float Fishing Soft Beads on the River

Photo: Rachel Eyre

Float fishing soft beads in rivers has been growing in popularity in recent years. Whether targeting salmon, steelhead, or trout, this technique is proving to be very effective and versatile. As with many aspects of river fishing, there is an aura of mystique and secrecy that goes along with float fishing soft beads. However, once one understands how to choose and rig soft beads, it is a relatively uncomplicated style of fishing to get into.

Soft beads are basically soft rubber imitations of fish eggs that are used when fish are eating the eggs of other spawning fish. Fished under floats, they make for a minimalist rig that is drifted through the water to represent a fish egg floating downstream. Here on Vancouver Island, the egg represented is almost always a salmon egg, and this method has proven very successful at taking salmon, steelhead, and trout. It is easy to learn the basics of this style of fishing and get started with a reasonable expectation of success. Of course, as with most things about fishing, getting good at it can take years.

First, one may wonder why salmon would eat salmon eggs. Salmon are sometimes thought to stop feeding when they return to fresh water. It is said by some that salmon seem to develop “lockjaw” when it comes to many lures that they would readily take in the ocean. However, this is not the case when it comes to fish eggs. It may come as a surprise, but salmon regularly consume other salmons’ eggs, even eating the eggs of their own species.

Cutthroat Trout Eating Eggs, Photo: Jorden Lee Murray

While this may not be helpful for the survival of the species, it does help them on an individual level. Of course they get the nutritional benefits from the eggs. But it is also possible that there is a Darwinist survival strategy at play. If the salmon consumes the eggs of its fellow salmon, its own eggs may have less competition for resources when they hatch.

This may be overanalyzing it, as it could just be that salmon eggs are delicious. See my Salmon Ikura recipe  below and check out the the recipes in this super article Curing Salmon Roe for Bait or Caviar.

Salmon Ikura Recipe

Fishing Bead Size Matters (As Does Colour)

The first thing to consider is the size of bead you are going to fish. For this you must consider your target species. Generally speaking, the larger the fish, the larger the bead that can be used.

Assorted Beads

However, water clarity and fishing pressure also play into the decision. Salmon typically take beads from 12- 32mm, steelhead 10-20mm, and trout 8-12mm. Most of the time, running the smaller sizes in each of these ranges will be most productive. A 32mm bead is massive and looks completely unrealistic. But if the popular Wonderbread and Blueberry Muffin salmon spoons have taught us anything, it is that fish often will hit ridiculously unnatural-looking lures. In the right circumstances a huge, oversized bead may be the top producer. For example, in poor visibility conditions such as cloudy water, running a very large bead in an obnoxious colour may be the best choice. In clear water or at times of heavy fishing pressure, running a small, less-visible bead is a better idea. Most of the time, 12-14mm beads are going to be the most useful on Vancouver Island’s rivers.

Next you need to choose the bead colour. They are available in a wide variety of colours from very plain and dull to eye-wateringly bright. Some look like very realistic salmon eggs and some look like some sort of nuclear, mutant, space-alien’s spawn. Most are variations of red, pink, and orange. However, there are also blues, greens, chartreuse, cerise, and several colours I don’t even know the names of. So, when choosing the colour of bead, it again should be specific to the species of fish you are targeting and factor in the eggs that are naturally going to be in the river at that time. The general rule of thumb is that salmon take bright, highly visible beads such as bright reds and pinks.

Trout prefer more realistic beads that match the colour of the eggs in the river at that specific time. This would mean red beads when Chinook or coho are spawning and orange when pinks are in the river. Steelhead, being steelhead, are a different kettle of fish and go for either colour depending on their mood that day. And what worked one day may not work the next.

You should already be checking the stomach contents of any fish you are cleaning, but also start paying attention to the colour of their eggs. This will help you build up the knowledge necessary to match them with your bead selection.

How To Rig Your Bead

Once you have chosen your bead, the next step is to rig it. First, tie on your hook. Typically for salmon and steelhead this will be a barbless #1-sized, single hook. Next, measure your leader based on the maximum length you will need for the water depth. Extra is good, as shortening your line is much easier than lengthening it. Then you will need to thread on a clear bead stop. Bead stops come on a piece of wire with an eye at one end like a sewing needle. Thread the line through the eye and slide the bead stop off the wire and onto the line. Place it a few inches above your hook. Thread the line through the bead itself. If the bead has no hole for this, use an actual sewing needle. Slide the bead down to the bead stop and jam the stop into the bead to hold it in place.

Photo: BnR Tackle

Next, measure out your leader. This will be based on water level and where you want to present the bead. In clear water you may want it close to the bottom, representing an egg bumping along the river bottom. In cloudy water, higher may be wise as it increases the visibility and height of the bead. Tie the leader off to a swivel and choose your weight. The weight size must match the float size and be adequate for the current in the river. This takes some practice, as the correct weight is very important. It should ensure your float stays upright at the correct water level as marked on the float but with enough weight that it keeps the bead down in the strike zone. The float should be a clear torpedo style, typically around 20 grams. A classic round, red-and-white bobber float is not what you want for our clear river waters. The entire float-and-weight setup should be as invisible as possible, especially if targeting steelhead.

Time To Fish!

Soft Beads ready to fish, Photo: Jorden Lee Murray

You are now ready to start fishing. Cast the rig out upstream and let it drift as naturally as possible though the section of water you think (hope) holds fish. Check that your float is sitting upright in the water, neither pointing upstream nor downstream. If pointing upstream, you may need to add more weight until the float is sitting upright. If pointing downstream, the bead is likely dragging the bottom, meaning your leader is too long. Once the float is floating correctly, you must now focus on mending your line to maintain the least amount of slack line between your float and your rod tip. Any big bows or slack line will cause problems. Firstly, it can prevent good hook sets when a fish bites. It also can cause the drift of the bead to look unnatural, as the extra line can cause drag in the current and make the drift too fast or too slow. Watch the float carefully and be prepared to give a short, firm hookset if it gets pulled down by a strike. A little flick of the wrist is often enough to pull the hook into the jaw. Remember, the hook is a few inches below the bead so you are just taking up this space when setting the hook. There is no need for a massive reeling of the rod to set the hook. That is more likely to yank the bead away from the fish than anything else.

Photo: BnR Tackle

This simple but effective technique can be used all fall and winter in our local rivers. This is a great way to extend your fishing season when the salt water is not an easy option. So don’t be intimidated by the mystique that surrounds river fishing and especially steelhead. While this is only a very basic description of soft-bead fishing, it should be enough to get you started in the right direction.

This article appeared in Island Fisherman magazine. Never miss another issue—subscribe today!