salmon and steelhead help.

[Maverick]

i say dont even think about it. if its about filling the freezer, you can choose to pay a thousand dollars a pound or 4.99 a pound. just think of all the cool smoked salmon, halibut and sturgeon, marlin etc etc,  you can buy for a hundred times less, lol.

I'm the kind of guy that likes to eat as much of what i catch, hunt or grow as I can.

[TommyH]

i say dont even think about it. if its about filling the freezer, you can choose to pay a thousand dollars a pound or 4.99 a pound. just think of all the cool smoked salmon, halibut and sturgeon, marlin etc etc,  you can buy for a hundred times less, lol.

I'm the kind of guy that likes to eat as much of what i catch, hunt or grow as I can.

It more about time spent with family and friends doing something we love to do! It can get spendy but its well worth it


Once started tho it will be all you think about every minute!!! I cant wait till i go! 2 weeks! lookout steelies here i come!

[Huntbear]

It will become an obsession, it does with everyone.  You will be seen driving like a mad man from store to store, looking for the new hot lure/spinner that you have to have, have 15 lbs. of egss curing on the counters at dinner time,  going out the door with one rod, coming home with two hoping the missus does not count...   

Do not forget the Springer run is coming.  Drano is a must experience at least once, in your lifetime.

[trippledigitss]

Don’t start would be my advice  You want to fish from a bank, boat of both? There is a lot of people that are always looking for someone to share expenses with and go out fishing on this site. Start with Salmon. There is a ton of opportunities for them all over the state. You can go simple with a nice rod/reel and minimal terminal gear and do well. Unless you have a good mentor it will be a little frustrating at first till you start to figure it out. It is a sport where you can keep it simple of spends thousands to put some fish in the freezer. Steelhead are getting harder and harder to catch; just not a lot of them any more.

I hate to be cynical - but yeah thats what I say! DEFINITELY dont go getting into trying to catch a steelhead! I HATE them freaking steelhead! In fact F**# THEM DANG STEELHEAD!    It took me about 3yrs, a couple grand in gear & guided trips before I finally got one last month, and even then it was small and havent seen #2 yet!

But seriously, like the guys said above, different areas & methods require different gear. For steelie's you can usually use a spinner or spoon too vs to float & jig, and the metal gear is much easier to rig for a starter. But unless you are fishing by yourself, which wont happen often for salmon, and even less for steelhead, you kind of have to use the same method the guys around you are using. Otherwise, you'll make a bunch of new 'friends' right away!

For sure see if you can find a guide for the area & species you want to fish, you will learn alot and probably get fish the 1st time out, so its worth the dough. 2nd would be start on salmon, preferably pinks too, I love them, they make me feel like I know what I'm doing!  For me salmon seem easier to catch and that gets you started, you can use alot of the same tackle (rod & reel) and gear & tactics for steelies too - wait a minute, maybe thats why I never get steelhead, cuz I dont know what the heck I'm talking about?? 

Anyway, over on the east side I dont know what they are doing. Read the local reports, a few of the websites and books mentioned - I like a few book Bill Herzog put out - and find a good local tackle shop and ask them. They should help you out alot, if not, dont buy there and find another one! Then when you find out what is working where you want to fish, just google the setup and you should find info about it.

But again, my best advice for steelhead - quit now and save yourself the headache, money, and frustration! 

Good luck! 

[JODakota]

Maverick if you really want to catch some fish let me know. If your willing to travel a little I am willing to help you out and put some fish on your catch card. I'll show the ropes and (knock on wood) get you into some steelhead. Just pm me. I have plenty of eggs and gear for you. All you'd need is a rod, waders and ready to have a good time. But just to let you know we would be bank fishing! which is my favorite. I don't think and I'm sorry trippledigits that it is necessary to hire a guide to learn to catch these fish.

[Stickerbush]

I met a guy that says he caught over 65 steelhead this year, 20 or so this winter. I think he just fishes a couple rivers but knows them wellll! Ive been out for them 3 times, havent caught one yet. mostly bobber and drift fishin

[Maverick]

Thanks guys I'm going to give it a try!

[JODakota]

I met a guy that says he caught over 65 steelhead this year, 20 or so this winter. I think he just fishes a couple rivers but knows them wellll! Ive been out for them 3 times, havent caught one yet. mostly bobber and drift fishin

I am getting very close to that number as well....

[Bone_Collector]

Just hang in there and you will start catchin some fish! They are not the easiest fish to get!

B_C

[JODakota]

  I spent an entire year and only got one wild after about 100 hours of going after them. Then I got my first and then it clicked. It seems to be getting better and better. One thing I have learned is when in doubt set the D&@# HOOK! Seriously that has help a lot. If I feel my bobber is moving weird or the line is acting different than normal I set the hook. You will lose a little more bait that way but Ive also hooked up a lot more fish while as before I wouldn't have though anything of it!

[trippledigitss]

I spent an entire year and only got one wild after about 100 hours of going after them. Then I got my first and then it clicked. It seems to be getting better and better. One thing I have learned is when in doubt set the D&@# HOOK! Seriously that has help a lot. If I feel my bobber is moving weird or the line is acting different than normal I set the hook. You will lose a little more bait that way but Ive also hooked up a lot more fish while as before I wouldn't have though anything of it!

Hmmmm... thats good to know for sure. I've heard it many times but still wait until I think I had a pretty good lick. I dont know how many times I've gone 'hey, what was that, that was weird, I wonder if it was a...' only to figure it out too late and miss the fish.... or have the float torpedo back up! 

[TommyH]

I spent an entire year and only got one wild after about 100 hours of going after them. Then I got my first and then it clicked. It seems to be getting better and better. One thing I have learned is when in doubt set the D&@# HOOK! Seriously that has help a lot. If I feel my bobber is moving weird or the line is acting different than normal I set the hook. You will lose a little more bait that way but Ive also hooked up a lot more fish while as before I wouldn't have though anything of it!

  I yank it every time there is a possible nibble, sometimes the bobber doesnt go under it will just move abit diffrently, set the hook!

[TommyH]

It will become an obsession, it does with everyone.  You will be seen driving like a mad man from store to store, looking for the new hot lure/spinner that you have to have, have 15 lbs. of egss curing on the counters at dinner time,  going out the door with one rod, coming home with two hoping the missus does not count...   

Do not forget the Springer run is coming.  Drano is a must experience at least once, in your lifetime.

  Havent made it there, but have heard the reports! might have to try to make it down there this spring.

[kbyers]

Maverick- Shoot me a PM if you are still interested in salmon info.  If you don't have a boat and are wanting to fish around the Tri Cities then Ringold is your best bet.  And if you are wanting to get into steelhead fishing let me know, I usually have room on the boat when I go out