Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: GermanShorthair on October 13, 2009, 09:18:17 PM

Title: Methow River
Post by: GermanShorthair on October 13, 2009, 09:18:17 PM: Hey guys, my father is looking to making a trip to the methow river for some steelhead. :) We have never been there, and we were wondering what kind of fishing access is there, and any info would help. thanks in advance
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: Firstlight on October 14, 2009, 12:50:32 AM: Lots of access, and lots of fish. Flies, and gear are both picking off a lot of fish. Sounds like the wardens are out in full force writing tickets for people not retaining the hatchery fish, so make sure you keep them.
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: Buschingc on October 14, 2009, 06:50:06 AM: Lots of places to fish, but there were a ton of people last week when I was there.. It looked like stealhead fishing on the cowlitz... Just way to many people. Anyways.. I heard a rumor that they closed the methow down..My brother called me yesterday about it.. Its only a rumor, but I just wanted to give you a heads up.. Check with the Fish and Game...
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: fisheral87 on October 14, 2009, 07:45:47 AM: Looks like they just moved the closure up from the 30th to the 26th of September. FYI.
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: boneaddict on October 14, 2009, 07:51:15 AM: You mean October?
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: twisp_river_slayer on October 14, 2009, 10:29:48 AM: you have to stand in line just to fish a hole. There were people sitting on holes in the dark just to fish them. Its pretty crazy. Especially since the wenatchee is open and is produceing fish, that usually takes a lot of pressure off the methow
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: oldschool on October 14, 2009, 10:33:24 AM: All done to many people hit it to hard. >:(
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: twisp_river_slayer on October 14, 2009, 10:45:55 AM: no it was september. They closed the river for catch and release trout becuase people were targeting steelhead. Now its open until they meet their requirment for hatchery fish kept
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: boneaddict on October 14, 2009, 10:49:23 AM: gotcha. I was chasing moose when it was prime, but man its hit hard. Sure miss the 80's
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on October 14, 2009, 10:53:12 AM: Ok, so hatchery Steelies open.. I'm assuming anywhere down stream from where the Twisp combines? It would be nice to take a mid-day from hunting to cast a few times. Hopefully once Deer opens then the pressure on the river will reduce.

-Steve
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: twisp_river_slayer on October 14, 2009, 10:54:40 AM: haha yeah thats what i hear. I have seen some awesome pictures from the 80's and even older. This year it just seems like it every magazine or article you read said something abut the methow so it got the word out to everyone. Yeah its an awesome fishery but it has its capacity for the amount of fishermen.
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on October 14, 2009, 11:35:52 AM: Quote
I have seen some awesome pictures from the 80's and even older.

Yup.. You should have seen things before the Boldt decision.

-Steve
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: boneaddict on October 14, 2009, 11:38:08 AM: I used to get my deer as close to the opener as possible and then spend the rest of my time landing big fish after big fish.
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: MtnMuley on October 14, 2009, 12:56:31 PM: Very crowded. Get there early and hold your ground. Not my syle of combat fishing, but the fish are there. Good Luck.
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: GermanShorthair on October 14, 2009, 02:43:14 PM: Thanks guys for all the info we are not the combat fishing style ouselves so don't know if we will make it, but thanks for the info.
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: oldschool on October 14, 2009, 03:20:09 PM: Remember if the hole is occupied please find another there a lot of holes to fish. Thank You :)
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: boneaddict on October 14, 2009, 03:25:34 PM: What bothers me are the pontoon boats that float in and set up and fish right below you in the hole.

This will sure to start a battle, but I hold flyfisherman to a higher degree of tradition and ethics than gear guys. Really pisses me off when they break rules of stream ethics.
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on October 14, 2009, 03:54:57 PM: No one in an inflatable pontoon boat should ever tick off a shore fisherman.

Dart blow gun... Um cross bow.... :chuckle:

-Steve
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: jackelope on October 14, 2009, 04:13:22 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on October 14, 2009, 03:25:34 PM
What bothers me are the pontoon boats that float in and set up and fish right below you in the hole.

This will sure to start a battle, but I hold flyfisherman to a higher degree of tradition and ethics than gear guys. Really pisses me off when they break rules of stream ethics.

F'IN LO-HOLERS....
usually see the gear guys low-holing you on the river. *censored* flyfishermen.
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: twisp_river_slayer on October 19, 2009, 12:45:34 PM: went and fished the methow this weekend. the rain brought the river up and added a little color to the water which helped. Put seven on shore on saturday before i hade to go home. The whole maditory retention rule is stupid if you ask me. it filled the smoker up though so it wasnt all that bad. lol
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: huntnphool on October 19, 2009, 12:49:04 PM: Saw loads of guys in the water this weekend.
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: Red Dawg on October 20, 2009, 05:56:05 PM: here ya bone, I have launched a few rocks in drift boats in my day. People just dont have respect anymore. Great river to fish, if its open I would say it is good all winter as long as the water is warm enough.
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: twisp_river_slayer on October 21, 2009, 09:19:09 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on October 14, 2009, 03:25:34 PM

I hold flyfisherman to a higher degree of tradition and ethics than gear guys.

hey bone just wondering why you said this? not calling you out on it but im just curious
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: boneaddict on October 21, 2009, 09:24:33 PM: Years on the rivers. Gear guys usually fish shoulder to shoulder. They can line up 20 to a hole. I don't think they have the mentality that a flyguy fishes the way they do.....so when on a river, generally you go inbehind a fly guy and fish behind him as he works his water. Have had a lot of gear guys that steo in right in front to fish. Of course thats rude to a fly guy that stood there and waited for hours to obtain "his run". Hope that makes sense.
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: twisp_river_slayer on October 21, 2009, 09:34:51 PM: thanks for the explanation, makes sense and i have seen it happen a millions times
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: fishcrazy on October 22, 2009, 08:06:31 PM: PICS!!!! :bash:

Kris
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: boneaddict on October 22, 2009, 08:25:27 PM: hard to take pics of natives by yourself.
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: twisp_river_slayer on October 22, 2009, 10:42:32 PM: im fishing it this weekend, ill post some pics when i get back :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: thinkingman on November 03, 2009, 05:00:21 PM: Any update on the river?
Worth a drive to fish it?
Thanks for the help...I don't have $60 for gas to find out it's dead or blown
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: fishcrazy on November 04, 2009, 07:01:59 PM: I'm betting it's a bust as I don't see any pics.

Kris
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: Okano-gun on November 04, 2009, 07:49:40 PM: The River has come up while the water temp has gone down. Definately turned the fish off, alot harder fishing but they are out there.
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: ribka on November 04, 2009, 08:01:20 PM: Picked up 12 in 2 days of fishing on a fly rod two weeks ago. Temps 50-53 degrees in the river and water was rising. Almost all were natives. Impossible to take a pic of a native fish by yourself and get the fish back into the water in good shape. I usually try and not even touch natives when fishing alone. Did not have a net with me that day. Took a few pics of clipped fish with cell phone and will attach.

Tried swinging flies and ended up catching on nymphs and egg patterns
Title: Re: Methow River
Post by: thinkingman on November 05, 2009, 10:26:19 AM: Thanks for replies...maybe update tomorrow to see if I go?
Thanks again.