Winter Steelhead

[BigGoonTuna]

I've never fished the Coweeman, but there are better rivers around for sure (IMO).  WDFW quit stocking hatchery fish on the Coweeman about 5 or so years ago, so it is essentially a run of wild stock and probably a few leftover hatchery fish, plus strays from the Cowlitz. 

not so, it still gets stocked by the state. The damned shame of it is that there was the option to make it or the little green(a river with public access and a good hatchery run) a wild fish sanctuary, and they chose to shut down the green and keep planting the coweeman, which has nearly no access.  I think somebody in the dept has property there...

[lokidog]

If your new to steelheading don't overlook casting spinners, They always work! winters, summers it don't matter, if you find a biter he will crush a spinner, and cover a lot of water! #4 Blue body silver blade bluefox is a winner! Good luck!

I found a great spot I’d like to throw spinners in. My pole is set up with braid line. So what I think a lot of guys do is lug two setups around to be able to switch it up without having to re rig everything or use the wrong line??

Why change line?  I had a nice pone slam a spinner I tossed through the fish we could see after trying for over an hour to get them to bite anything else. Unfortunately, I lost it.  Here's a tip, if everyone is throwing floats, don't toss a spinner through them, or be careful to time things to not mess everyone up. ;-)

[huntnphool]

 The Cowlitz has been screwed with and messed up the last decade or so but still has a decent run of fish, I'd target the Blue Creek area.

[PolarBear]

I'll be hitting some Grays Harbor rivers starting on the 11th.  Mostly side drifting yarnies and possibly a jig or 2 under a float.

[HntnFsh]

I've never fished the Coweeman, but there are better rivers around for sure (IMO).  WDFW quit stocking hatchery fish on the Coweeman about 5 or so years ago, so it is essentially a run of wild stock and probably a few leftover hatchery fish, plus strays from the Cowlitz. 

not so, it still gets stocked by the state. The damned shame of it is that there was the option to make it or the little green(a river with public access and a good hatchery run) a wild fish sanctuary, and they chose to shut down the green and keep planting the coweeman, which has nearly no access.  I think somebody in the dept has property there...

Ahh.. the old gene pool debacle! What a joke. And what was the deal, they only needed 1 gene pool river per region and this region got like 3. I think they were all on rivers with hatcheries. Hmmm wonder why!

[dc]

Im a sucker for a pink ish jig.  That's a beauty right there.   

I'll be hitting some Grays Harbor rivers starting on the 11th.  Mostly side drifting yarnies and possibly a jig or 2 under a float.

[Blacklab]

I’m gonna wait just a little longer. At least another week or two. Low #s over bonnie now. When those start comming up and consistant is when I’m gettin after them  GL All 😉🥃

[Jason]

I’m gonna wait just a little longer. At least another week or two. Low #s over bonnie now. When those start comming up and consistant is when I’m gettin after them  GL All 😉🥃

Same here on waiting a little longer. Lately I have been replacing jigs that didn’t make it home last year and I’m also trying different slip weight setups for running my yarn balls and corkies.

[Wolfdog2314]

GOT ONE! It was wild and had to go back. 12-14 pounder. That was a blast!

[Skyvalhunter]

Got pics?

[tlbradford]

GOT ONE! It was wild and had to go back. 12-14 pounder. That was a blast!

 

[Wolfdog2314]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[boneaddict]

 

[Skyvalhunter]

That's a beautiful fish thanks for posting

[jstone]

What’s it usually cost for a guide