It's getting close to me leaving for steelhead fishing in Washington. I need all the info I can get. If you have helpful links that would be great. If you have personal experiance of fishing in washington that would rock. Anyway let me know Please. They are all dead in washington message board post my only hope is all you
Chris
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Sorry i dont ahve any info, but man am i jealous. I hope you have a good time.
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im not much of a steelheader but i would recommend going online and just doing a general search. or go get the latest f and h mag. i just read it and covers steel heading alot in the latest one. good luck up there.
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[cool]Hey maddawg, good on ya. You're goin' to God's country for some of what have to be God's favorite fish. I don't claim to be any kind of diety, but steelhead are definitely one of my favorites.
I lived in northern California for several years, and both work and fishing took me all over Oregon and Washington. Hated the work. Loved the fishing.
You didn't mention whether or not you had made plans for any specific part of the state, or whether you were wide open, depending on the forecasts. If you were going in the summer, I would recommend the Lewis River for the fantastic summer run fly fishing. Steelies in skinny clear water on six weight rods and tiny flies.
This time of year I would recommend the Olympic Peninsula. There is water everywhere, since it is an official rain forest. Over a hundred inches of rain a year. I think I have been then when they got the whole hundred in one weekend. So...take rain gear. But, with the short, steep well-forested drainages, the rivers get high but are still relatively clear and fishable most of the time.
You also didn't mention type of tackle. I have included a link at the end of this post with a site for fly patterns, if you are a fly flinger. Also, take a stout outfit along with a more modest one. I use a 7-8 for average water conditions and fish running under 10 pounds. If the big boys and girls are in the river...up to 20 plus...break out your 10 weight and fast sinking lines.
I don't know how experienced you are with steelhead, but if you haven't fished them before, leave your cheap gear home. They will destroy reels with poor drags, pop bad line and break even good rods. You need good tackle to have a chance to bring any to the bank. Spinning tackle is favored by many, but serious big fish specialists use quality baitcasting rigs, with long rods.
Where bait is allowed, you will use either a gob of fresh roe, prepared roe from a bag or bottle or shrimp. The local tackletoriums will have what is currently working best...at a price, of course.
In clearer water, you can use a wide range of spinners and wabbling lures. Silver...with some hot red, orange or chartreuse highlights...usually work better than brass or gold...except in colored water. Many of the "corkies" and winged spinners used ahead of roe or shrimp are best in the hot colors. And, don't overlook basic black. Many of the most popular steelhead fly patterns are mostly black...and some are purple. There are some good spinners and wobbling plugs that are effective in black too.
Be sure to check the website I provide for the state regulations. many waters have restrictions on bait, or on the types and sizes of hooks you can use on your lures. Also, many rivers do not allow you to keep wild fish. They usually clip the adipose fin on hatchery fish to help you quickly identify them, as opposed to the wild ones.
[url "http://www.fishingnorthwest.com/"][font "Times New Roman"][#800080][size 3]http://www.fishingnorthwest.com/[/size][/#800080][/font][/url][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] Washington Steelhead[/size][/font]
[url "http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/regs/fishregs.htm"][font "Times New Roman"][#800080][size 3]http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/regs/fishregs.htm[/size][/#800080][/font][/url][size 3][font "Times New Roman"] Washington Regs.[/font][/size]
[url "http://www.angelfire.com/wa/salmonid/"][font "Times New Roman"][#800080][size 3]http://www.angelfire.com/wa/salmonid/[/size][/#800080][/font][/url][font "Times New Roman"][size 3] Steelhead Flies[/size][/font]
Bring up Yahoo.com and enter Washington Steelhead Fishing in the search blank. You will get tons of sites to look at. Most are for guide service, but even those have maps and local info you will find useful in building your game plan. These three sites are some that should get you started. The top one has a lot of links that will really keep you busy for awhile.
Good luck, and you better post some reports and pics when you get back.
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