fishingaddictsnorthwest.com

Summer steelhead can be one of the most aggressive best fighting fish to target. They exert explosive runs and huge acrobatic jumps. They also come into the rivers with lots of fat content, making them an exceptional table fare. SW Washington’s rivers have some great summer steelhead fishing. The East Fork of the Lewis, the Kalama, the Washougal and the Elochoman all continue year after year to produce good runs of summer fish.

The East Fork is a great river for all techniques of fishing. The smolt release for this year’s return wasn’t a great one. The release was almost cut in half with only 32,300 smolt released. It’s going to be tough to pick up summer runs in this river, but they will be there. On the river you will see good bobber, drift, plug, and fly fishing water. Two great places to start for bank and boat anglers is Lewisville or Daybreak Park. The float from Lewisville to Daybreak is a really nice float. You can launch at the top of the park and go all the way to daybreak or la center. There is plenty of good water all the way through the float. Daybreak down to La Center is a long float; you will be oaring about 45 mins to an hour once you get to the dead water a few miles below Daybreak. For bank anglers you can park at either of the parks and walk up and down river. There are quite a few spots to fish from the bank. Jig and float fishing is the most popular on this river because of the quality float water up and down the river. From daybreak down, there is a lot of plug pulling water as well as drift fishing sections. Early in the summer you are going to want to concentrate low in the system, as the water begins to heat up, you should start to fish higher in the system cause that’s where the fish will be, trying to survive in the low warm water.
The Kalama should be a different story. With 84,150 smolt released this river is expected to be on fire. I talked with Monty Thierry of Reel Adventures Guide Service (www.reeladv.com) and he said the run this year is going to be a very good one. There are 3 popular floats on the Kalama. The first is from Pritchard’s/Red Barn down to the Slab Hole. Be aware of a large exposed boulder in the rapids just below Pritchard’s ramp. It comes into play as the water drops into summer steelhead time. You’ll need to run the rapids out in the chop to the right of the boulder as there isn’t enough space to clear the rock if you choose the left side. Not an issue if the water is high but as the water drops into summer flows this rock has turned a few boats over in the past. There are some nice runs in this stretch of river, good float and jig fishing just below Pritchard’s rapids and all through Weber’s run. The deep waters of the Upper Bridge hole has good bank access and can be fished with float and jigs up in the fast water at the top of the run and can hold fish all the way to the bridge. The Gazebo run/hole is another boat access only drift that is good for floating jigs/bait as well as divers with bait or small plugs. There is some small pocket water from there to the Slab run/hole that should be fished with floats and jigs.The second good float is the Slab hole to Modrow Bridge. There is good bank access on the Slab hole and can be good for jigs and/or diver bait if you’re in a boat. The lower hatchery run/hole puts out fish all summer long with floats and jigs, as well as drift fishing eggs or shrimp. Just below the hatchery is the Beginners hole with great bank access and is another good float and jig hole with good results for boaters as well pulling plugs or bait divers. Fishing the boulder laden flats below the beginner’s hole with the sun low on the water at first light or late in the day for migrating fish with spinners or floats and dark colored jigs. From this point down there is some limited bank access and better for boaters and can be good plug and bait diving when the water volumes are high enough in the early summer. After the water drops stick to floats with bait/jigs or spinners in the faster white water.
The Washougal River is another smaller SW Washington river that year after year puts out good numbers of summer steelhead. With a smolt release of 64,600 for this year’s return fishermen on this river can expect good fishing results. Highway 14 provides good bank-fishing access to the Lower Washougal, and there are three spots along the lower river where boat anglers can launch to fish. This is a smaller river with lots of boulders so experience is needed for floating this river. When the flows are low on the river it’s not a good idea to even float. The bowling alley hole and cop shop hole are both very good places to fish from the bank. You can find good jig and float as well as drift fishing water by walking up and down the river from either of these spots. The upper shoug can also be very good when the water flows begin to drop. You can find fish trying to survive the heat and low water, in deep pools as well as fast riffles. Casting spinners up here can produce very well.
The Elochoman River is a small river that flows into the Columbia River near the town of Cathlamet, Washington. This river is always a good bet for putting some summer steel on your plate. Fishing this river can be fairly easy just because of its small size, the fish are easier to find. The river should produce a good run this year with a smolt release of 29,200. For such a small river, even if 5 percent returns, you’re looking at a good run. The river is bank fishing only, with most fishing being done below the beaver creek hatchery. It’s best to target the fish as soon as the river opens early in the season, because as the summer goes on and the river drops the fish get very spooked. Later in the summer going higher in the river can produce better fishing. The water between the two hatcheries can be very good water as well as the water above the hatcheries. This river has limited access and a lot of the water is private. Be sure not to trespass and always ask for permission to fish someone’s land. Fishing on the river is primarily done with bobber and jig, but there are a few runs good for drift fishing.
No matter what river you choose to go to in SW Washington you’re going to have a good chance at some summer steel. The good thing about all these rivers is the fact the most of them are fairly close. You can fish the East Fork, and if it’s not producing drive up to the Kalama or down to the Washougal. Fishing for summer steelhead can be one of the most exhilarating fishing experiences. Nothing is like the power and beauty of these awesome fish. I hope that you will be able to create some memories on one of these great rivers.
Marlin LeFever

I thought April showers were supposed to bring May flowers, not monsoon rains and record-setting cold temperatures? It’s the third coldest May on record around these parts. Friends and I were wondering if plunging water temperatures might just put Bass on rewind, back into pre-spawn mode.

If you take a look at my most recent Largemouth picture, you will see that this big female is still carrying eggs and has a sore tail from preparing a bed for the spawn. Definitely a pre-spawn fish. Though all fish do not spawn at precisely the same time, even on the same body of water, I think we will find a similar story in most Southwest Washington waters. Every cloud comes with a silver lining, and the cold rain might just extend some crazy spring Bass fishing. I can deal with that.

The pictured fish could not resist a new River-2-Sea, double-jointed, floating stick bait in Rainbow Trout pattern. I had placed it right next to a corner of flooded brush. She hit near the surface of 3 feet of water after I gave up on twitching the bait. I had just started to move it toward me when she grabbed it and then tried to dive back into the brush. Even in chilly water, this fish had plenty of fight. Three times on the way to the boat I had to wrestle her back out of different spots along the brush line. The water was dingy with new run-off and because of our tangles in the brush, I was not really too sure how big of a fish I was dealing with. After finally being forced away from the shoreline she made a dash for the boat, freight-trained underneath and right out the other side. When I tried to pull her back to my side, I had to pull so hard that I thought maybe she was wrapped on something. No, just a strong, heavy fish. I netted her, amazed at the depth of her body and the thick hump of her back. The backwaters of the Columbia hold such treasures, but finding high enough water and pre-spawn-attractive flooded brush can be a challenge. With all the recent rain, it wasn’t too much of a challenge this time. Who knows? Maybe the water will stay up as the temperature comes up and we’ll have a few more weeks to try such areas?

I still have some more River-2-Sea baits to try out, including some really detailed, realistic salamander imitations, complete with adjustable brush guards. There is also a dandy, sinking, single-jointed Rainbow Trout patterned bait that seductively ‘walks the dog’ underwater with a little practice. It has a hard body, but it comes with a replaceable soft plastic tail. Now that’s attention to detail! If they are as productive as the floating version, I’ll be very pleased. I have not tried them yet but there are also some very highly detailed soft plastic crawdad imitations as well. This new line of baits is available at Wholesale Sports in Vancouver, and I know I’m not the only guy picking them up.

A few weeks ago my friend Ken and I went East up the Columbia Gorge to see if we could find some Smallmouth. We found three foot waves and cold wind, but we also found some good fish. Using the old standby lipless crankbaits, we found fish around the usual suspects: Underwater humps and small rocky islands. Sheer rock walls that work for me in warmer water seemed to hold no fish at all. Though I fished them with confidence, soft plastics such as grubs or tubes produced only a few fish. The water was barely 50 degrees and probably too cold for a good grub bite. But it was great to get smacked by Smallies chasing the crankbaits. Lucky Craft seemed to produce the best, and I also did well with a blue and chrome Rapala and a red Rattle Trap. The size of the fish was nothing to write home about, as you can see in the picture, but the rollicking, racing, yanking fight of a Smallmouth of any size is always a thrill. Just a week later, my friend Josh was able to blast a 5+ pounder in the same general area. It’s just going to keep getting better as the temperature rises, and I recently heard a rumor of Salmon fishermen complaining about ‘nuisance’ Smallmouth hitting their baits!

Every Spring has its own character. Usually May is a dependable, uniformly warming month, but not this year. I suspect that we will snap back into more ‘normal’ weather and a rapid warming spell in the next few weeks. This means that Bass fishermen will need to stay adaptable, ready to hunt pre-spawn or spawning fish, and ready with either foul-weather gear or shorts and T-shirts!

I recommend having several rods baited up and ready to go. Have a stickbait rod, a soft-plastic rod, a spinnerbait rod, a crankbait rod and a top water rod with a Zara Spook, a River-2-Sea floater or a buzzbait ready to tempt surface-striking fish. Low-light hours will probably be better for your top water offerings. Remember, never give up after being short struck on any hardbait. Immediately put a soft plastic such as a worm, a tube, a creature or a lizard right back into that same area. You might just score big on the second strike! Use scents! They work, and the lubrication helps your baits move through weeds and snags more freely. Vary your retrieves, especially with spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Short pauses and bursts of speed will arouse fish more than a steady, predictable retrieve. Remember that Largemouth can have spawning beds anywhere from 1 foot to ten feet deep. If you use your Polarized sunglasses and look for them, you might just find them. When fishing flooded brush during midday, cast to the deepest shade areas and don’t pass up indentations or ‘pockets’ in the brush. Even small changes in a brush line  or any weed line or shoreline – might hold big fish!

If it stays cool and rainy, just put your rain gear on and get out there! I hustled off the water when the thunder and lightning started today, but the rain wasn’t so bad. Catching a nice big fish can make you forget having to wear a raincoat!

Your fellow Bassing fanatic,

Bob

If you want to literally be afraid of what is on the end of your line and really second guess ever getting in the water again, try fishing for tiger muskie. These things are a crazy scary and aggressive predator and will eat whatever crosses their path, including a dangling toe off the end of the dock. But aside from that, their also a blast to catch on a fly rod.

The tiger muskie is a hybrid of the musky and northern pike. Hybrids are sterile although females sometimes unsuccessfully engage in spawning motions. Some hybrids are artificially produced and planted for anglers to catch. Tiger muskies grow faster than pure muskies, but do not attain the ultimate size of their pure cousins as the Tiger muskie do not live as long. The body is often quite silvery and largely or entirely without spots but with indistinct longitudinal bands.

Tiger Muskies are found in lakes across North America. They are solitary predators at the top of the food chain. Known as the fish of 10,000 casts, they can be elusive and frustrating. Those who experience the ferocity of a tiger musky strike will never forget it. It takes dedication, perseverance and practice to become a successful tiger musky fisherman. They are a challenging fish and those who pursue them with a fly rod must be well-prepared.

Tiger muskies will eat anything they can get their mouth around. Their diet includes other fish, frogs, ducklings, muskrats, mice and other unlucky animals. Like most members of the pike family, tiger muskies are an ambush predator. They prefer habitat with structure such as weed beds, rock piles and areas with sharp drop offs. Tiger muskies are notorious for following a fly a long distance before striking. Many fish are hooked less than 10 feet away from the boat.

Most serious tiger musky fishermen use an 8 1/2 to 9 foot, 9-, 10- or 11-weight graphite fly rod. Any large arbor reel with a good drag system will suffice. A heavy weight-forward fly line will quickly load the rod and turn over bulky flies. This allows for less false casting and quick follow-up casts. Consider a heavy sink tip or shooting head when fishing deep water. Fly lines designed for saltwater species often work well for tiger fishing and are available from most manufacturers.

It takes a big fly to get the attention of a tiger muskie. Most tiger muskie flies are 8 to 12 inches long with some topping 15 inches. Streamers and top water flies are both effective. Saltwater poppers and large divers create commotion on the surface and elicit violent strikes. The best color choice is a subject of much debate. Experiment with different color combination’s and don’t be afraid to change flies. White, black, orange, and chartreuse are all popular tiger muskie colors. The mouth of a tiger muskie is tough, bony and full of razor sharp teeth, so make sure your flies are tied on razor-sharp hooks.

Tiger muskies are not known to be shy, so long leaders are not necessary. A 4- to 6-foot tapered leader is adequate. Longer leaders will increase the odds of fooling trophy bass that may chase your offering. Regardless of leader length, a bite guard is essential. There are several brands of notable wire that will stand up to the razor sharp teeth of a tiger muskie. Heavy monofilament in the 60- to 80-pound class will also prevent bite offs. Tiger muskies will often inhale a fly, so make sure your bite guard is at least a foot long.

Keep your casts short-40 to 50 feet is sufficient. This will improve your hook setting ability and help you spot fish that may be following behind the fly. Vary the speed of your retrieve. Tiger muskies are attracted to fast sudden movements, so don’t be afraid of moving the fly too fast. Never stop or slow down the fly if a tiger is following. This is unnatural and often results in a lost opportunity. If a fish follows the fly but turns off it, quickly cast again in the same area. Consider rigging a second rod with a different fly to use on follow-up casts.

It’s almost that time of year when the tiger muskies become most active on the top of the water, so any sunny day we get from here on would be a good opportunity to go try for these monsters! Try fishing at Mayfield reservoir, Merwin, or Yale, all holding good size muskies! Good luck, good fishing! Hope to hear some stories soon!.

-tight lines

-troutbum89

As avid Salmon, Steelhead, and Trout fishermen we all can appreciate the advantages that floating the river can give us. Many times I find myself wondering what boat I like better, a pontoon boat or a drift boat. There are so many great things about each craft, and they both get you down the river to those untouchable holes which most bank fisherman cant access. Let’s take a moment to go over the pro’s and con’s of each boat, so you can decide as a fishermen which one suites your needs better.

Drift boats are definitely the most popular and sought after floating device for many reasons. This boat will fit multiple people and tons of gear, which makes it the perfect craft for guiding. Drift boats are also designed to glide easily across the water to make for less strain while oaring. They come in all different shapes and sizes, and are made from many different materials such as aluminum, fiberglass and even wood. Any fisherman can appreciate how comfortable and spacious these boats are, especially when being out on the water all day.

Although there are so many great factors to having a drift boat, I still have couple of issues with them. Drift boats can be extremely loud from bouncing off rocks and scraping bottom which tends to scare fish and let them know your presence. Fishing is all about being elusive and not being seen. Water levels can drop making floating a drift boat very hard if not impossible, then you’re stuck hiking around like everyone else. I also feel that fishing out of a drift boat by yourself can be a little difficult at times, especially launching and loading your boat.

Pontoon boats are not quite as popular as drift boats but are very capable and user friendly crafts. I find that pontoon boats are great for beginners because if you can’t avoid a rock or a log, most of the time you can just go right over it! These boats are also very quiet and can easily be navigated in tight spots. When the river is low these crafts are good to go, they float in 3 inches of water and if you get stuck you can easily drag them to deeper water. When Drift boats can’t float the river, Pontoon boats can!
There are also a few downsides to pontoon boats. With Pontoon boats you are limited to how many fisherman that can float with you, there are 2 and 3 seat pontoons but they are big and can get really expensive. Gear storage can be very limited, and normally you are limited to 1 or 2 fishing rods. There are platforms for a box or a cooler and they usually have a number of pockets but you have to limit yourself to what gear you bring. It also is very hard to pull plugs and bait-diver set ups because lack of hands. If you don’t have an anchor set-up you are usually forced to pull to shore to fish the hole, if there is no bank access I run a rope across the front of my boat so it can’t float away and I wade while fishing.
I hope that this information could help you on your decision on which boat would fit your needs best or maybe both if it’s in your budget. Each boat is a great at floating the river and will do so for many years with the right maintenance. While on your next adventure down your favorite stream, whether it is in a Drift boat or a Pontoon I hope you catch many fish and have a safe float.
Your fellow fishing addict,
Shaun Keller