Steelhead South WA

[derekeking]

Hey everyone, new to the forums here, I'm living in Olympia, trying to get into some steelhead fishing.  Was checking stuff out at the wynoochee and the satsup last weekend with no luck.  Does anyone know of a good river close by to check out this time of year that might be running?

[huntnphool]

Hit the crack pipe, you can be in fish in 45 minutes.

[BOWHUNTER45]

yEAH ...HIT THE SKAGIT  ....THEY ARE THICK !

[huntnphool]

yEAH ...HIT THE SKAGIT  ....THEY ARE THICK !

He's in Olympia not Everett

[Disturbed1]

The cowlitz is always a viable choice but can be little crazy trying to fish from the bank when they are running good.

[Button Nubbs]

You live in probably one of the best places for access to steelhead. Head west south or north they all have fish in them including the two you mentioned.

[Dhoey07]

Wynootchee, Toutle, green, nisqually, cowlitz, newakum, skookumchuck, coweeman, chehalis, take your pick

[Smossy]

Cowlitz is hott right now, has highest count of 20,000+ annually steelhead caught.
Dec/Jan being the best months for steelies, Teetering off in march when the chinook start to show.

[derekeking]

thanks for all the suggestions, guess im living in the right spot.  Im plannin on headin to the cowlitz next day off, heard to explore around blue creek. 

[Smossy]

thanks for all the suggestions, guess im living in the right spot.  Im plannin on headin to the cowlitz next day off, heard to explore around blue creek. 

Blue creek would be the spot.

[jumpin]

yEAH ...HIT THE SKAGIT  ....THEY ARE THICK !

He's in Olympia not Everett

mount vernon ?

[dawei]

Wynootchee, Toutle, green, nisqually, cowlitz, newakum, skookumchuck, coweeman, chehalis, take your pick

Nisqually is closed as of 01/13. Skookumchuck will be good in Feb & March; Cowlitz is hot NOW!

[Bullkllr]

Wynootchee, Toutle, green, nisqually, cowlitz, newakum, skookumchuck, coweeman, chehalis, take your pick

Nisqually is closed as of 01/13. Skookumchuck will be good in Feb & March; Cowlitz is hot NOW!

Nisqually has not been open for even fishing for winter steelhead in like 20 years.

WDFW is really changing the way they do smolt plants in many streams as well. Many smaller streams are not even getting plants at all any more. Info is available on the WDFW website. http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/plants/steelhead/2011.html

IMO if you want to learn something, and have a chance to actually catch a fish, go to the Cowlitz. It not the river it used to be, due to decreased planting, but it puts out a couple thousand fish in Dec/Jan still. As you gain experience you will want to branch out from there.

[BigGoonTuna]

just don't pick up the nasty habits that a lot of the guys have on the cowlitz if you're just starting out, like the 10' leaders, jerking at the end of every drift, thinking it's ok to walk up to someone and start fishing next to them(in other places) etc...

the last few weeks have been more crowded than i've ever seen during the week on the rivers in my area, probably due to the nice(but cold) weather, even on a few that i fish that don't get hatchery plants.  time to call up a few land owners and see if they'll still let me fish on their private property...

[7mmfan]

If just catching a fish is the important part, then yeah, head to Blue Creek. You won't learn much there though, other then how many slobs there actually are. If you want to learn how to fish for steelhead (reading water, ID'ing structure, working the water grid style) Blue Creek is not the place to go. Head to the Kalama, Grays or the Wynoochee/Satsop. The upper Wynoochee has MILES of water that is bank fishing only and gets little to no pressure. You'll be on your own, which in my opinion is the most important part of the day, and you'll be able to learn how to do it all without 100 guys on either side of you and worrying about getting tangled up or having some russian guy steal your fish, just sayin.