steelhead guides

[deerhunter_98520]

I've been contemplating going on a day trip for steelhead...I've never done a guide before and a co worker said he would go also so now I need to find a guide....any of you guys suggest a guide and what's the best time of the year to go? I'm open to westside rivers

[D-Rock425]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,148480.0.html

[D-Rock425]

Some good info and guides in that link i posted

[Bullkllr]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,148480.0.html

Great info & guides in that link, but it kinda depends on what kind of experience you want.
Cowlitz in a sled for summer runs is fun, and should be good for numbers (hopefully a good year).

If you want a chance for bigger fish, and to fish out of a drift boat, look to fish north of you between late January-March. Lots of good guides- I'd recommend local and experienced (but those aren't the only good ones): George Rose, Oneill, McGee, Larry Scott, Kratzer, Zavadlow, etc.

[deerhunter_98520]

Thanks guys

[Westside88]

I fished the Hoh with Oneil a couple years ago. Fishing wasn't great, but he worked his butt off and got me on a couple steelhead. We didn't keep any as they were natives but it was worth the money

[WAbowhntr]

Tracy Zoller on the klickitat. You won't be disappointed.
www.adventurefishing.net

[mossyoak arrow slinger]

I recommend Justin Tenzler of Olympic peninsula outfitters. Great guy and great fisherman. Catches some brutes each year.

[Buck_Nasty11]

Jared Cady with Get em dry is an awesome steelhead guide! As well as rob with R and k Guide service. both are great guys and great steelhead fisherman.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

If you are wanting to catch shear numbers, Cameron Black or Paul Ambrose on the columbia for summers can not be beat. Those guys put on absolute clinics.

[deerhunter_98520]

Sure numbers would be nice but I'm just lookin for a good fun day of fishing with a good guide

[WSU]

Do you want to keep fish or just catch fish?  Do you want to fish a small river in a drift boat or a larger river in a sled?

[deerhunter_98520]

I'm fine with either...I won't be disappointed in a fun day of catch n release....the more I think about it I want a smaller river in a drift boat

[bearpaw]

I've never caught a steelhead so I'm watching this topic too. Do most of these guides usually get on at least 1 fish per day in the summer? When is a good time to go?

[snowpack]

I think most of the guides will at least get on one fish, more than likely it would be 3-5 for summer depending on river and time of year. 
I think if you go to some of the bigger rivers where they have sleds, anytime after the springers are done should work...until the fall Chinook come in. 
For the smaller rivers, it seems like more fish come in late (August) but are easier to catch early (June).  The rivers still get a lot of snow melt early and decent flow and water color.  Later in the year they get really low and gin clear and the fish can spot a human walking on the bank or see your fishing line so you have to move down to 6 lb test or lighter.  You have to use rafts instead of driftboats in places because the water gets so low.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Bearpaw, I'm not a guide but I can guarantee you a fish if you want to come down and fish. I have all the gear and I catch fish everyday.

[rackattack]

Bearpaw, I'm not a guide but I can guarantee you a fish if you want to come down and fish. I have all the gear and I catch fish everyday.

Chris, are you still trolling for chubs, or are you targeting the trowser trout now?

[SeaRun1]

I recommend Justin Tenzler of Olympic peninsula outfitters. Great guy and great fisherman. Catches some brutes each year.

Lots of these guys are good people and great fisherman.  I know Justin and he is one of the most knowledgeable fisherman you will ever meet.  He approaches the water like a scientist and really knows his fish, their habitat, and all of the nuances of the OP rivers.  Great guy as well.

SR1

[deerhunter_98520]

Does justin have a website?

[WSU]

If I were you, I'd pick something out your way that you can do on your own.  You are in a great location for a small stream angler!

[deerhunter_98520]

If I were you, I'd pick something out your way that you can do on your own.  You are in a great location for a small stream angler!

I have a co worker with a drift boat that said he would take me but I've always wanted to just try a guide one time and he said he wanted to go too

[WSU]

If I were you, I'd pick something out your way that you can do on your own.  You are in a great location for a small stream angler!

I have a co worker with a drift boat that said he would take me but I've always wanted to just try a guide one time and he said he wanted to go too

I would definitely go with a guide.  I'm just saying to figure out a river you'd like to fish in the future.  You will have fun and learn a ton for the future while you're doing it.

[floatinghat]

What type of experience do you want?  Big river, numbers and lots of people, little river chance at fish and solitude, gear or fly?  If you want a little of both I would fish the Deschutes in Oregon with a spoon. 

You could get a guide for one day and spend a couple DIY. 

[deerhunter_98520]

I've fished most of the rivers around the harbor here for salmon and hooked into a few small steelhead but I want to find a guide that I can learn to some things about steelhead fishing...I know I won't learn everything with one trip but would like to learn basics to start out....Im thinking I'm going to do one of these local rivers....I don't want to fish something like the Columbia....I'm thinking like the wynoochee, humpulips, quinault river....I don't want to combat fish either...I want to stay in Washington for now

[WSU]

George Rose fishes the Hoh for summers.  Everyone and their mom fishes the nooch for summers.  The hump gets damn-few summers.  I'm not sure who guides it in the summer.

[deerhunter_98520]

Anyone ever fish the lower quinault? I've had a few guys around here tell me that's where to get big steelhead

[WSU]

I haven't but you won't be able to go on your own.  It is tribal only.

[Forks]

George Rose fishes the Hoh for summers.  Everyone and their mom fishes the nooch for summers.  The hump gets damn-few summers.  I'm not sure who guides it in the summer.

Goerge gets my vote on the coast. He's a great guy and you will learn a bunch by watching and asking only a couple questions a trip.

[deerhunter_98520]

I haven't but you won't be able to go on your own.  It is tribal only.

I know...that's why I was told it was such great fishing

[Bullkllr]

I have fished the Lower Quinalt several times and always had good experiences. It's like any other river- there are good days and bad. You can hit it right and have a hey-day, or work and scratch for a couple bites. With a decent guide fishing can be as good there as anywhere on the coast.

Pros: it is less crowded (mostly); 30+ miles of river; can run a sled (most guides do);doesn't go out easily; lotsa hatchery fish; can keep wild fish (if that's a +); as good a shot at a bigger fish as anywhere

Cons: native guide is required/can't learn with a guide to fish it on your own; wild fish escapement is not great; ; when it gets high and colored it can stay that way for weeks; better guides are pretty busy

For a one-time deal I'd think you might learn more that you could apply on your own on a different river.

So you're thinking about next winter?

[deerhunter_98520]

I'm thinking this summer if possible or next winter...maybe both

[Curly]

check out Mike Z if you want to give some Oly Pen rivers a try.   

[wildmanoutdoors]

I haven't but you won't be able to go on your own.  It is tribal only.

I know...that's why I was told it was such great fishing

Used to be. It gets the crap netted out of it. There is a good hatchery summer run fishery in late Sept and Oct. And for big hogs look to the end of Jan when the monster hatchery fish come back.

[SeaRun1]

Does justin have a website?

Yep...

Olympicpeninsulaoutfitters.net

PM me if you have any questions or want a referral.

SR1

[mossyoak arrow slinger]

Does justin have a website?

Yep...

Olympicpeninsulaoutfitters.net

PM me if you have any questions or want a referral.

SR1

Dang good guide.

[mossyoak arrow slinger]

I recommend Justin Tenzler of Olympic peninsula outfitters. Great guy and great fisherman. Catches some brutes each year.

Lots of these guys are good people and great fisherman.  I know Justin and he is one of the most knowledgeable fisherman you will ever meet.  He approaches the water like a scientist and really knows his fish, their habitat, and all of the nuances of the OP rivers.  Great guy as well.

SR1

Just saw this! I have only fished with justin one time but my cousin has a few times. Very very knowledgable and determined.

[deerhunter_98520]

His website says he's in Alaska till sept.

[Bullkllr]

I'm thinking this summer if possible or next winter...maybe both

Reason I was asking (and I'm sure you can find exceptions to this); runs of steelhead on the peninsula are much stronger in the winter than in the summer. Not really enough water or fish to keep many guides in business. That's why many of them move to SW streams (Cowlitz, etc.) where consistent amounts of water and summer runs are more prevalent.

I'd look to Cowlitz/Columbia this summer, peninsula late Jan- March.

[mossyoak arrow slinger]

Not sure he went this year he usually guides up there in the summer and down here for winter run and fall Salmon

[deerhunter_98520]

Thanks guys for all the info...I think I'm going to end up doing 2 trips....try a summer trip and book one for next winter

[SeaRun1]

His website says he's in Alaska till sept.

He is staying home this year.  Give him a call.  I know he has been doing some Springer trips on the OP and summer run trips as well.

He is tied up literally right now tying 1000's of flies for his (former) lodge.  He has plans for expanding his winter guiding and knows the summer runs on the OP pretty well.  He got me started on them.

SR1

mossyoak are you a long time GH guy?

[mossyoak arrow slinger]

Yes sir I am!  How about yourself?

[WSU]

Good call on 2 trips.  There aren't a ton of guides around on the peninsula in the summer but you probably have a decent shot with the ones that stick around.  Winter is much easier to get into fish.

[deerhunter_98520]

I figure even if I don't catch one this summer I'm still getting out on the river