Steelhead South WA

[SkookumHntr]

Skookumchuck is a complete bust this year, worst ive seen ever!

[GEARHEAD]

LOL, say that again when March arrives.

[Dhoey07]

Skookumchuck is a complete bust this year, worst ive seen ever!

LOL

[TheHunt]

I only get to fish until 11 AM so I am hitting the Skookumchuck and then home.  Pretty close to home. 

It was either that or Snoqualmie... 

[SkookumHntr]

You guys are really busting my balls here! 

[Bullkllr]

If just catching a fish is the important part, then yeah, head to Blue Creek. You won't learn much there though, other then how many slobs there actually are. If you want to learn how to fish for steelhead (reading water, ID'ing structure, working the water grid style) Blue Creek is not the place to go. Head to the Kalama, Grays or the Wynoochee/Satsop. The upper Wynoochee has MILES of water that is bank fishing only and gets little to no pressure. You'll be on your own, which in my opinion is the most important part of the day, and you'll be able to learn how to do it all without 100 guys on either side of you and worrying about getting tangled up or having some russian guy steal your fish, just sayin.

Not having fished BC in awhile... has it really gotten that bad?

Of course you are right about fishing "other" places to really learn how to really fish for steelhead and actually enjoy your time on the water. That said, one of the more important factors for most rookie steelheaders is having some reasonable chance for success. Not knowing too much about the OP, I am assuming he is brand new to the game. The Cow has more fish per mile of river, hence a greater chance for a rookie to make a connection w/a fish. And there are other places to fish the Cow besides the heart of the line-up at BC. If he fished the Cow, he would at least be likely to see what other successful anglers were doing.

He will want to learn the basics and the finer points, but that takes time. And gas. And money. The biggest thing to accelerate the learning curve would be hooking up with an experienced, ethical fisherman; otherwise he could spend a lot of time/gas/money wandering around and figuring out little or having minimal chance for success.

Keep in mind, every time you mention a river or spot by name on the web...someone

[xX Let ER Rip Xx]

 

Bullklr......

I couldnt agree more......when I was first trying to figure out these creatures called steelhead, I put so many miles on my rig trying to find placws to get away from people and trying to find a good piece of water to fish. I wish I would have had the luxary to be able to go with someone who was experienced...............un fortunately back then everyone I talked tp always said just go to the cowlitz....................

Since then I have learned a ton of good places and the proper techniques to be succesful, but it will take time, money, lots of different gear, and again........TIME........

[GEARHEAD]

you can bankfish the cowlitz, you may be even able to catch fish, but you will not enjoy your time there, too much garbage and white trash, its really pathetic down there, especially at the disabled spot, just a tragic abuse of privilege and out right fraud.. nothing but combat fishing, and snagging, (ehh-hem..., i mean flossing), redbull and monster cans all over the ground, and thousands of yards of fishing line on the trail, might want to bring a russian interpreter with you as well.

[bankwalker]

I would hardly call success at the cowlitz as real successful steelheading. 80% of fish caught from the bank are flossed. The fish are not the best biters, when fishing off the bank. You have big competition from sleds casting towards the bank, bank fishers casting towards boats, tons of spooked fish with very little bite windows throughout the day.
It's hardly a place for a rookie to learn the ins and outs of steelheading. AND will teach very bad habits, when the successful people are using less than ethical techniques to catch fish.


If you are a rookie and want to legitimately catch steelhead. Go fish the nooch. There are a lot of fish, a lot of people (like the cowlitz), you can observe people being successful and ask questions. You'll see a lot more proper steelheading success and techniques to catch steelhead. And have a very good chance at catching fish.



If all else fails. Meet up with me and I'll gladly show you the ropes

[huntnphool]

I would hardly call success at the cowlitz as real successful steelheading. 80% of fish caught from the bank are flossed. The fish are not the best biters, when fishing off the bank. You have big competition from sleds casting towards the bank, bank fishers casting towards boats, tons of spooked fish with very little bite windows throughout the day.
It's hardly a place for a rookie to learn the ins and outs of steelheading. AND will teach very bad habits, when the successful people are using less than ethical techniques to catch fish.


If you are a rookie and want to legitimately catch steelhead. Go fish the nooch. There are a lot of fish, a lot of people (like the cowlitz), you can observe people being successful and ask questions. You'll see a lot more proper steelheading success and techniques to catch steelhead. And have a very good chance at catching fish.



If all else fails. Meet up with me and I'll gladly show you the ropes

Not everyone uses those methods, we "legitimately" catch fish there quite often.

[KenPCPilot]

Went out Thursday for the first time with a guide.  Total skunk!  only saw one on the beach at Blue creek on the Cowlitz river.  Other guides reported same results.  He did offer use another 1/2 price Springer trip but very disappointing.  Hope some others are having better luck.

[huntnphool]

Went out Thursday for the first time with a guide.  Total skunk!  only saw one on the beach at Blue creek on the Cowlitz river.  Other guides reported same results.  He did offer use another 1/2 price Springer trip but very disappointing.  Hope some others are having better luck.

Last Friday/Saturday they raised the river almost 4000cf/sec, and left it until yesterday, when they dropped it a bit again. I have found the bite to be off a bit when they raise it that much, until they drop it again or leave it that way for a couple weeks. Could be part of your problem on Thursday.

[Bullkllr]

Man, some of you guys sure hate the Cowlitz...

...maybe a little too much

[bankwalker]

I would hardly call success at the cowlitz as real successful steelheading. 80% of fish caught from the bank are flossed. The fish are not the best biters, when fishing off the bank. You have big competition from sleds casting towards the bank, bank fishers casting towards boats, tons of spooked fish with very little bite windows throughout the day.
It's hardly a place for a rookie to learn the ins and outs of steelheading. AND will teach very bad habits, when the successful people are using less than ethical techniques to catch fish.


If you are a rookie and want to legitimately catch steelhead. Go fish the nooch. There are a lot of fish, a lot of people (like the cowlitz), you can observe people being successful and ask questions. You'll see a lot more proper steelheading success and techniques to catch steelhead. And have a very good chance at catching fish.



If all else fails. Meet up with me and I'll gladly show you the ropes

Not everyone uses those methods, we "legitimately" catch fish there quite often.

I'm not arguing people don't....I catch plenty of fish on float/jig or drifting bait on the cowlitz.

But it still does not change the fact that 80% of the fish caught off the bank are flossed....

If you want to argue that fact, you are only fooling yourself.

Most people who go there hoping to learn to catch fish, will see guys catching more fish flossing then other methods. Then think that is the better method to catch steelhead....then bring that method to other rivers. It's a simple fact...look at how flossing has progressed throughout salmon fisheries.

Again, no argument on people catching fish legally on the cowlitz. I'm just making an obvious statement.

There are a lot other rivers I would suggest a rookie to fish over the cowlitz.

[bankwalker]

Man, some of you guys sure hate the Cowlitz...

...maybe a little too much

I don't hate the cowlitz, I have never left the cowlitz having a bad time. I always catch fish and have a great time fishing.

I just dislike the way some people fish there. It's sickening at times