Columbia Steelhead day 1

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

Today was a great day on the water! the FISHING was fantastic! the CATCHING not as much....... the current was really ripping from the dam, the fastest I have ever seen it this time of year in fact, and that played a huge part in the sad sad total for the day...... we ended up 3-19  yes  3 FOR 19!!! we had 19 hook ups on steelhead along with a half dozen drive bys...... so 25 takesdown in just under 12 hours! on a normal day these 3 guys would have been limited by 7 am with 6 fish and their way back home!  the fishing is great right now and only 1500 fish a day are going over the dam, the run has just begun!!! last years peak was over 11k and it will stabilize at  3-6k/day here in the next few weeks........ IMO there is not another steelhead fishery that can touch the columbia this time of year, with our 19 hook ups, we also saw id guess 15 fish landed and plenty others lost......... this fishing is relaxing, fast paced and fun! the gorge is some of the most beautiful scenery on earth, especially on days like today!

[Drop Tine]

sounds and looks like a great day. 

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I watched a boat yesterday had 22 on in 4 hours while i was there, not sure how many they had before i got there.
What pissed me off is they were anchored 30 feet from the bank in front of a normal plunking spot and the guys there said they came in to the spot while they were fishing, had words and were told basically so what, get over it. That guide had the whole river but chose to sit right there where the bankies usually fish.
Water also came up 2 feet while i was there. 100 degree weather in CA plays a part in the water flow.

It is starting, i had 5 on yesterday and i only fished for 2 hours.

[tmike]

Are you pulling plugs? Bait divers? How are you getting them in the heavy current and can you drift fish for them? Never fished the Big water for steelies. I imagine your still working the softer seams.

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

I watched a boat yesterday had 22 on in 4 hours while i was there, not sure how many they had before i got there.
What pissed me off is they were anchored 30 feet from the bank in front of a normal plunking spot and the guys there said they came in to the spot while they were fishing, had words and were told basically so what, get over it. That guide had the whole river but chose to sit right there where the bankies usually fish.
Water also came up 2 feet while i was there. 100 degree weather in CA plays a part in the water flow.

It is starting, i had 5 on yesterday and i only fished for 2 hours.

 22 on in 4 hours might have been why he fished where he did? if he came in after the bank guys thats kind of messed up, but these fish run really close, so  boats/bankies will always have issues, where I fish bank guys are all around but I TRY  and give them as much room as I can, we cna all fish and have fun.

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

Are you pulling plugs? Bait divers? How are you getting them in the heavy current and can you drift fish for them? Never fished the Big water for steelies. I imagine your still working the softer seams.

  I use bait/spinners   and you try and find soft seams but in the gorge there really isnt any, where I fish is a current seam along the bank, the fish come right up it

[tmike]

Thanks! I've got to try that, sounds like a blast!

[LongTatLaw]

Yes Tmike...

WEEEEEEE  definitely gotta try that! Ill be in WA in less than two weeks! I got gas money bro

Nice post hoyt

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

If you guys want to see what it is about, I have seats on my boat.....

[MuleySniper]

Thanks! I've got to try that, sounds like a blast!

YAWN.... Dude if you have never been steelhead fishing, try to book a float trip up on the peninsula. I know anchor fishing is productive, but you will never do it again after a day floating the bogi, queets, ho, the duc, etc. Not trying to jack business from anyone, but you can't even compare the two styles of steely fishing.
MS

[huntnphool]

the fishing is great right now and only 1500 fish a day are going over the dam

 Hey Hoyt, where do you think these fish are heading?

[tmike]

I'm not trying to book a guide, I've never fished the Columbia for steelies and was wondering what the technique was. I've floated and caught 100's of steelhead on all those river you mentioned out of my 68 Eastside. Have 3 over 20 under my belt. Sometimes it's nice to explore different rivers and different techniques. That's all.

[MuleySniper]

Right on! I was just assuming. I know everyone has their own style. I would just get bored anchored up but thats just me.  Good luck if ya go out. PS: If were bragging, I'm in the twenty pound + club too
MS

[SkookumHntr]

Thanks! I've got to try that, sounds like a blast!

YAWN.... Dude if you have never been steelhead fishing, try to book a float trip up on the peninsula. I know anchor fishing is productive, but you will never do it again after a day floating the bogi, queets, ho, the duc, etc. Not trying to jack business from anyone, but you can't even compare the two styles of steely fishing.
MS

--I fish all the forks area rivers and Fish the Columbia more then most and I know guys that would take summer run fishing on the Columbia over any other fishery anyday of the week and visa versa. In the winter I fish with my forks guide buddys and in the summer they fish with me, They have as much fun fishing with me as I do with them! There both killer fisherys!

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

the fishing is great right now and only 1500 fish a day are going over the dam

 Hey Hoyt, where do you think these fish are heading?

i would guess  amlot are heading to the snake system, along with the clearwater, although those fish come in more in august, along with every other trib above the dam, john day, klickitat, wind river, yakima, grande ronde, salmon river etc...... hence why the fishing is so good