First off, thats a beautiful fish...
No question the coastal rivers are better...but, when you live in Western Montana and hunt from Sept. through November, not much choice, and its close enough to allow for weekend trips.
I agree that there is quite a bit of water that is better fished via j/b but theres also a lot of water thats all but impossible to fish with anything but drift gear. I also agree that j/b is steelhead fishing with training wheels, and much easier, IMO.
I also agree that big rivers are tougher to fish, no matter the terminal tackle...and the main stem Clearwater is a big river...for anywhere.
You can compensate for a lot of line mending via higher gear ratios, treating line, and 10 footers...
Also fair to note is that while a rag might work on the coast, you'd fish long days in Idaho to even bump a single fish with one there. Coastal fish, IME, are much more willing biters and many times like they like big aggressive tackle...even pink bubble gum worms at times.
Idaho fish...better be thinking small, light line, and perfect presentation. I've caught lots of steelhead in Idaho on 1/16th ounce jigs while those fishing around me didnt hang a fish all day. Most just think you're lucky when you out-fish them 10-1....
Always preferred to roll my own from start to finish as small jigs and good hooks were hard to come by where I lived...and choices of "patterns" were limited, as were colors. In particular I always had good luck on a "Michael Jackson" (White head and a Black body), or the Charteuse/Black.
This is the biggest steelhead I ever caught on a j/b...just shy of 41 inches on a 1/16th ounce orange/orange right at daylight...
