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Full Version: Jonesin' for steelhead
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I've got it bad. Bad enough to blow off elk hunting and look for a fish instead. IDF&G sent me an email saying they won't be planting steel in the Boise river this year, due to low numbers. I hope it's a mistake, but most likely not. That was where I'd get my fix, usually- so now I've got the steelhead DT's.

Can some of you steelhead specialists give me a rough destination of where I should go? I have no boat, so I wade. I generally flyfish with a (gasp) one-handed rod, but I'm also learning how to spin fish for them.

Any suggestions as to a river in the western part of the state, or Eastern Oregon that has some fish in it this year to try would be greatly appreciated. PMs welcome if it's to secret or sacred to share out to the general interweb.
Thanks,

Dale
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I jumped the border last week and fished the Ronde for my first time. all i have to say is it was one of the best decisions ive made in awhile. four of us went out. two of us armed with fly rods and the other two using bait casters bottom bouncing. the later technique did not yield any fish. my other friend and i with fly rods had a blast. it was his first time ever fly fishing for steelhead and only his third or fourth time fly fishing period. i let him use my 8wt. we hiked up river just a little bit and we came to a spot that was pretty fast but just screamed fish. my buddy ended up landing 6 steelhead and a few white fish. I ended up landing two and hooking up three other times on my 6wt. after two i ended up handing off the fly rod to one of my friends who was getting discouraged at how much fun we were having with out him. he then proceeded in hooking up twice but never landing them. all the fish were small between 5 and 8 pounds but holy crap were they fiesty. every fish went airborn multiple times and would run in to the heavy water. i took some pictures and i just havent had a chance to post them yet.

im hoping to get this deer hunting done soon so i can get back out there and do it again.

hope that got your blood pumping a little bit. if you ever head up this way and want to fish it let me know i will make sure we can meet up.
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Man that sounds like a blast. My wife and I are heading up to Moscow and Coeur d'Alene, maybe I can get her to stop at a few places along the way up and back.
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