Age-old fishing float designs are vital tools that act as visual indicators and keep angler presentations at the right depth. Vintage design custom-made floats by David Pearce of England are still available today, like these shown here. Photo courtesy of Andrew Brydalski

There is something special about understanding how early fishing traditions were born and even more meaningful when those innovations are still in use today.

Long before graphite rods, braided line and digital fish finders, anglers relied on creativity, craftsmanship and a deep respect for the fish in the water. Those early ideas continue to define some of the most enjoyable and effective steelhead fishing methods in 2026.

That reality came into better focus for me during a recent lunch conversation with noted Western New York steelhead master angler Gerald Brydalski, President of the 7,400-member Western New York Steelheaders. Brydalski, a youthful 72, was briefly escaping winter in Venice, Florida, when the discussion turned to the roots of centerpin fishing and the ingenuity behind it.

Early artificial lures were simple: feathers tied to hooks, designed to pulse and suggest life in the river currents. Then came fishing line holders, the earliest reels carved and fashioned entirely from wood. These tools allowed anglers to control drift, manage line, and present baits naturally. In Nottingham, England, those wooden line holders gradually evolved into combinations of wood and metal, and eventually into the smooth, free-spooling centerpin reels we still cherish today.

The philosophy born there remains unchanged: simplicity over speed, balance over mechanics and a direct connection between angler, float and fish. No gears. No drag. Just control, feel and reading the water. It’s hard not to think of Nottingham’s legendary history — Robin Hood, sheriffs and taxes — and smile at how something so enduring also grew from that place.

Brydalski also shared insights into one of the most overlooked fishing innovations: floats. Early anglers devised incredibly sensitive bite indicators made from cork, balsa and hollowed materials such as porcupine quills. These floats weren’t decorative; they were precision tools designed to detect the faintest take.

That craftsmanship is still alive today. Legendary float maker David Pearce of the United Kingdom is very much active and continues to hand craft traditional floats for anglers who appreciate vintage performance. Pearce’s balsa float designs are prized for their balance and sensitivity, and Brydalski himself owns a notable collection of Pearce floats. Many of those will be on display next week at the Greater Niagara Fishing Expo, offering anglers a rare chance to see functional traditional vintage fishing art up close.

Modern float fishing still follows the same principles. Slip floats and stick floats allow precise depth control. Split-shot weighting balances drift and keeps offerings natural. Floats serve as snag preventers, visual indicators and finesse tools that neutralize even the spookiest steelhead.

Today’s terminal offerings build directly on those old ideas. Plastic beads tied above small octopus hooks, lightweight VooDoo jigs from 1/80 to 1/8 ounce, and marabou feathers that “breathe” in current, all echo the earliest feathered lures. Their lifelike motion suggests larvae, crustaceans or tiny minnows; proof that subtle presentation still wins.

For local angler steelhead anglers just getting started in 2026, note that centerpin fishing remains refreshingly simple. A balanced rod, a quality centerpin reel, floating main line, fluorocarbon leaders, a selection of floats, split shot and a few beads or jigs are all that’s needed. The real investment is learning to read water and enjoy the process.

That’s what makes steelhead fishing in Western New York so special. As Great Lakes tributaries fill with spring steelhead and brown trout through April, anglers are fishing with traditions nearly 150 years old — ideas born across the Atlantic and perfected here.

Because fishing, like life, is better when it’s shared. Old tools. New conversations. Same joy.

Gotta Love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

Feb. 11: Lyme WNY, monthly meeting, 6-8 p.m., East Seneca Fire Hall, 100 Lein Road, West Seneca; visit https://www.lymewny.com.

Feb. 12: Chautauqua County Federation of Sportsmen, monthly meeting, 7 p.m., Lakewood Rod & Gun Club. Agenda: Election of officers; Right to hunt, fish, trap; Drone/WNY Deer Search.

Feb. 14: WNY Walleye Fisherman’s Flea Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Knights of Columbus, 36 Pierce Ave., Hamburg; Info: Chris Kempf, 716-400-9258; Jim Plinzke, 716-861-8817.

Feb. 17: Erie County Fish Advisory Board, monthly meeting, Bison City Rod & Gun, 511 Ohio St., Buffalo, 7 p.m., Open to the public.

Feb. 17: Children in the Stream, Youth Fly Fishing program, free, Costello Room, Rockefeller Art Center, SUNY Fredonia, 7-8:30 p.m., 12 years old and older, info: 716-410-7003 (Alberto Rey).

Feb. 19-22: Greater Niagara Fishing Expo, Niagara Falls. Over 200 seminars. Visit www.niagarafishingexpo.com.