fishing the snoqualmie

[Swannytheswan]

well i tried steelhead fishing on the snoqualmie today...I was fishing on private land just north of chinook bend and had no luck i was using a jig under a float I was really having a hard time getting a dead drift and I don't really know what I am doing as far as reading a river also the water was really high today so I don't know how much that had to do with it. If ya'll have any tips I would appreciated it.

[goosegetter79]

Sorry no advice from me but good luck!! I'm sure someone on here will help you out.

[jackelope]

Where's Chinook Bend?
The river is big and ugly right now.
If you're fishing now with the river like it is you need to be fishing the soft current areas out of the main flow where they can rest...like right up against the bank. I never had much luck downstream of Fall City much. I'm sure some have, just not me.
Line control is key to good drifts.

[Bearhunter]

Caught quite a few years back from the falls down about 1/4 mile, used to be my favorite place to go after a hot summer day at work, go fish and cool down at the falls!!

[Swannytheswan]

chinook bend is just north of carnation I was fishing the slowest water I could find which was out of the main current on the back side of a rock bar trying to fish the edge of the main current hoping to catch some resting from the fast current (I don't know if that is the right idea or not but one article I said to fish the edges)

[Caliber]

WDFW stopped planting summers in the Snoqualmie two years ago.  I guess you could still catch a stray or a nate headed for the Tolt.

[chongo469]

If there is a foot or less of visabillity I would use bait under the float instead of a jig...right against the bank and I mean if there is only 2 feet of water there then keep it tight to the bank.....when the river is dirty and the silt and mud are coming down stream, the fish tend to hug the bank in soft water to keep that stuff out of there gills..........Once the water color starts turning green again, you can put that jig back on and fish the current seams with good success.......Most steelhead will be caught in the first couple of day after the water starts to clear a bit...they will be on the move and normally pretty aggresive

[Swannytheswan]

what should I use for bait shrimp with that pink die stuff??

[Wingin it]

Good eggs or sandshrimp. Even a chunck of prawn would be good.

[chongo469]

When the water is dirty, a glob of eggs about the size of a quarter or larger will work, a whole sandshrimp w/ claws or a prawn or even a piece of squid.... and bright obnoxious colors..... I will even tie my own jigs with large yarn bodies so I can use some shrimp oil......when the water clears up, you can down size your presentations to about the size of a dime or so and colors tone down just a bit, instead of bright pink or orange, think lighter pink or peach colors.....if the water is real clear, you will want to go down to real small like in pea size and tone down colors to olive, brown or black.......

[nanum]

No fish have been planted in the Snoqualmie this summer, you would be better off fishing somewhere else if you want some action. Or maybe your fishing for nates.

[bankwalker]

no bait this time of year guys, not till dec 1st.

nanum, there is alot more summer fish in there then you think. just cause they arent planting them anymore doesnt mean a thing. 

[chongo469]

I guess that is why I concentrate on the Snohomish and the Skykomish....Bait is allowed..........and for the most part, a lot more public accessible areas...just watch out for the tweekers breaking into your car......leave your expensive stuff at home

[bankwalker]

I guess that is why I concentrate on the Snohomish and the Skykomish....Bait is allowed..........and for the most part, a lot more public accessible areas...just watch out for the tweekers breaking into your car......leave your expensive stuff at home

breakins are at record levels this year on the sky. its a shame, every year fishing gets worse...and breakins get more common

[jackelope]

No fish have been planted in the Snoqualmie this summer, you would be better off fishing somewhere else if you want some action. Or maybe your fishing for nates.

Nobody's fishing steelhead anywhere that have been planted this summer.
 
You're fishing mostly nates this time of year anywhooo...
Later on in the summer the hatchery brats will show up in more force.

[TheHunt]

I fished the green on Friday and I only heard one fish being banked.

[Swannytheswan]

so wait till later this summer...

[bankwalker]

No fish have been planted in the Snoqualmie this summer, you would be better off fishing somewhere else if you want some action. Or maybe your fishing for nates.

Nobody's fishing steelhead anywhere that have been planted this summer.
 
You're fishing mostly nates this time of year anywhooo...
Later on in the summer the hatchery brats will show up in more force.

idk about that, there are gonna be alot of down river nates still in the systems, the last summer nate i caught on the snoqualmie was 4 years ago. but i have caught a few winter nates every summer up at the falls. but my punch card begs to differ on the summer brats.

usually if you want to catch summer fish on the snoqualmie...you want to fish from big eddy to the falls. the fish shoot up the river in may-june with the high water. and they will hold up high until the river starts to level out and consistanly stay around 3000fps or lower. which is usually in july. in fact, looking at my notes i dont start hitting fish below spruce hole till late july early august

throw hardware for the most part, even in the slower water. a slow retrieve will get the job done if you cant affectively swing the spoon. always hold in the tailouts aswell. copper is my go to color this time of year. also i like to float pink 6" pink worms

at the risk of sounding cocky, the snoqualmie is the one river i know better then most people. and punch out every summer by july 1st. this year though i have been focusing on scouting for bear/elk so i have only got out a few times. but the fish are there thats forsure.

fish high, throw hardware...very simple. and if you cant do that, float a pink worm 

also early morning and late evening. if you can get to the falls, without tresspassing. you will have the golden ticket any time of day.

 

[bankwalker]

also please be carefull with all the smolts in the river right now. they are thick around big eddy and plum landing boat launch.