You can tie or purchase bags of spawn or use wax worms. Both are available at local bait shops. Tube jigs work well when tipped with wax worms. Fly-fishing for steelhead Most steelheaders use fly rods to pursue rainbows in medium or fast water. Fly line is rarely used because you are typically casting only 10 to 20 feet of line upstream and drifting through runs and rapids.
Rainbows prefer to lie in current breaks near fast water.
Also consider a fly reel with a disk drag and multiple retrieve. These reels can be pricey. The disk drag will allow you to play a large fish with one hand while freeing up the other to help you keep your balance and wade downstream. For tackle, try yarn, egg imitation flies, spawn and various streamers, nymphs and wet flies. We like to drift a homemade yarn fly, a piece of colored yarn tied to a size 4 or 6 steelhead hook.