Winter Steelhead

[J.Brower]

Anyone get out much in the winter for metal heads? It’s been a few years since I’ve hit it hard and thinking I should dust off the float rod and spend some time this winter on the crik. Never done real good, but always have a good time on the smaller rivers looking for a needle in a haystack.


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[2MANY]

Better do it.
Fishing on hatchery fish?

[87Ford]

Forgetaboutit, at least for hatchery fish in the Puget Sound rivers.. 

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,246083.0.html

[2MANY]

Wanna sell that 87?

[J.Brower]

Better do it.
Fishing on hatchery fish?

Depends on the location. Couple places open next month that don’t have many hatchery fish left. Mainly just whatever bites that day, or doesn’t


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[2MANY]

Good luck.
I hope we get some returning fish.
We shall see or another sled might hit the market.  Lol

[spoonman]

I normally fish 2-3 days a week in the winter chasing steelhead. I try to stay away from the “hot spots” and find mine own little stretch of water. I primarily swing spoons and every once in a while grab the spay rod. The take on spoons and a swung fly are in my opinion way more intense than drift or float fishing.

[csaaphill]

I have on trips to Idaho, just before Clarkston, seen them out on the water. always wanted to. Then in the Clearwater too... I may have with dad on the shore around Chief Timothy park but never in a boat. 

[7mmfan]

It's a thorn in my side. I've logged well over 1000 days winter steelhead fishing. Last year I went one time. My home rivers have virtually no hatchery fish left and are not open for catch and release. I could head to the peninsula but fishing in the parade and beating up the few fish returning there doesn't feel right either. It's a tough one. I may finally be coming to terms with the saying, "If you truly love something, let it go." Makes me sad my son most likely won't see even then modest steelhead fishing I was able to experience growing up.

[2MANY]

I feel ya R Dog.
Let's go catch some fish.

[huntnphool]

It's a thorn in my side. I've logged well over 1000 days winter steelhead fishing. Last year I went one time. My home rivers have virtually no hatchery fish left and are not open for catch and release. I could head to the peninsula but fishing in the parade and beating up the few fish returning there doesn't feel right either. It's a tough one. I may finally be coming to terms with the saying, "If you truly love something, let it go." Makes me sad my son most likely won't see even then modest steelhead fishing I was able to experience growing up.

 Well said! +1

[WSU]

It's a thorn in my side. I've logged well over 1000 days winter steelhead fishing. Last year I went one time. My home rivers have virtually no hatchery fish left and are not open for catch and release. I could head to the peninsula but fishing in the parade and beating up the few fish returning there doesn't feel right either. It's a tough one. I may finally be coming to terms with the saying, "If you truly love something, let it go." Makes me sad my son most likely won't see even then modest steelhead fishing I was able to experience growing up.

I feel the same. Sad.

[Ironhead]

It's a thorn in my side. I've logged well over 1000 days winter steelhead fishing. Last year I went one time. My home rivers have virtually no hatchery fish left and are not open for catch and release. I could head to the peninsula but fishing in the parade and beating up the few fish returning there doesn't feel right either. It's a tough one. I may finally be coming to terms with the saying, "If you truly love something, let it go." Makes me sad my son most likely won't see even then modest steelhead fishing I was able to experience growing up.

I made this same decision about 10 years ago.  I really miss Steelhead fishing!

[chukar58]

December 2013 I fished the Sky and caught a nice steelhead and was thrilled.  While reflecting of the past decades of Winter Steelheading and how the fishery had changed so much the sick feeling this would be my last winterrun fish from the Sky set in.   I miss the glory days of Winter Steelheading.

[BigGoonTuna]

i've also really tapered off my steelhead fishing in the past 5 years, hell, it's probably been closer to 10 now.  especially this time of year, wdfw in their infinite wisdom stopped planting most of the little rivers i loved fishing that had early returning fish.  my favorite of all was the grays, just not many rivers where you can walk for miles and catch fish.  sadly, that one is now a "sanctuary" river.

the places with any catchable numbers of fish left just get so crowded that i get turned off to it really quick now.  i would have once considered myself a "hardcore" steelheader, but it seems what people will put themselves through is more than i'm willing to put in.  i've got a wife and a couple little kids at home and i have to really budget what little free time i have these days.  if i need to get out and scratch the itch i usually just go down and troll around the lake for trout, or sit on the hook with a diver out on the chehalis, the results are usually the same

[7mmfan]

I feel ya R Dog.
Let's go catch some fish.

I'm in. Just let me know when to show up

[Wolfdog2314]

Generally do pretty good since I started a couple years ago. 15 or so fish each season. Pink worm under a float with an 1/8 ounce jig gets them every time!

[Brushcrawler]

I have also nearly stopped fishing Puget Sound rivers after many years of great fishing. The runs have gone from incredible, to ok, to terrible. I really miss it. I might just make a few trips this winter anyway.

[WoolyRunner]

Yea, I mainly plunk for metalheads. Side-planer with a 3.0 Maglip with a little shrimp gel on it.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

It's a thorn in my side. I've logged well over 1000 days winter steelhead fishing. Last year I went one time. My home rivers have virtually no hatchery fish left and are not open for catch and release. I could head to the peninsula but fishing in the parade and beating up the few fish returning there doesn't feel right either. It's a tough one. I may finally be coming to terms with the saying, "If you truly love something, let it go." Makes me sad my son most likely won't see even then modest steelhead fishing I was able to experience growing up.

One of the main reasons we moved from that side to this side. You probably know by my avatar where we fish now.

[7mmfan]

It's a thorn in my side. I've logged well over 1000 days winter steelhead fishing. Last year I went one time. My home rivers have virtually no hatchery fish left and are not open for catch and release. I could head to the peninsula but fishing in the parade and beating up the few fish returning there doesn't feel right either. It's a tough one. I may finally be coming to terms with the saying, "If you truly love something, let it go." Makes me sad my son most likely won't see even then modest steelhead fishing I was able to experience growing up.

One of the main reasons we moved from that side to this side. You probably know by my avatar where we fish now.

I've spent a lot of time there as well! Love it there. Wish I had time to spend more there.

[ASHQUACK]

Avid steelhead guy here, well used to be. I'd fish the Columbia to the coast every chance I had. Then a little shoulder injury has me almost completely sidelined. I have a sled and a drifter that I can't row anymore. I have a buddy who'll row for me and I just live for the bobber drop or the feeling of a fish picking up drifted eggs. I will agree that this state has gone from first to worst as far as fisheries management goes.

[Jingles]

Guess I'm the odd ball out. Can't say I miss it cuze never done it or even salmon fished, never really had the opportunity.

[metlhead]

Started steelheading with my dad in the late '70s and witnessed some incredible fisheries. He was a hardcore steelheader, year round. Those fish fed our family. I followed his footsteps and really got fishing dialed in. I since have read the writing, and gave up on winter fish about 5 years ago. Always been partial to summerruns anyways. Even that is becoming a joke. Living in a wonderful place that has many, many rivers within easy driving distance, and all I really look forward to is chasing smallmouth on the east side, or late summer sea runs. Curious to see how many fingers point and which direction when the last steelie perishes.

[7mmfan]

Here's a few from the days in my teens when I really got the itch and started catching a lot of steelhead. It only got worse from here. I'll say this though, steelhead payed my way through college.

[Trapper John]

Nice 

Yep one can get "Hooked" on stealhead fishing.  I know 

[Alchase]

This thread bums me out, and pi$$es me off at the same time. I grew up fishing the two bit hole on the Sky and fishing the a crossed from the Carnation Farms on the Snokwalmie.
Seeing the Puyallup when it was rated on of the top 5 Stealie rivers in the state.

Now basically extinct on the Puget Sound rivers do to gross mismanagement and incompetence from out fisheries department.

[SeaRun1]

No kidding...  I was a diehard steelheader as well.  BC Steels were my weapon of choice and I fished as much as I could whenever my pet rivers were in shape.  I gave up skiing for a decade because I was missing steelheading on the days I was up at Crystal.

Haven’t caught a steelhead in three years and didn’t even go last year.  I miss it a bunch.  It’s never coming back I’m afraid.  We had Europe and the East Coast to learn our anadromous fish lessons and well guess what...

Love the pictures.  Feel bad for kids today.

SR1

[xX Let ER Rip Xx]

It’s a MESS!!! I came here in 97 with the US COAST GUARD, and grew up fishing, when I got out here I couldn’t wait to catch steel head and salmon, took me 3 years of many miles on my rig and lots of different tactics to finally catch my first one!! I figured out, from bait to spoons, bobbers and jigs, and now I’ve seen the fisheries steadily decline and it is really sad! I don’t like it and honestly haven’t been winter fishing in about 3 years now and don’t really even attempt summer run fishing anymore. It’s a sad state of affairs to witness the fish decline all over our coastal rivers from salmon to steelhead! They gotta do something!!!