fishingaddictsnorthwest.com

Nymph fishing is probably one of the most challenging of all fly fishing techniques. Nymphing, since the fly is underwater and is often extremely small, can test the abilities of any angler, and often leaves the beginner angler frustrated to extreme levels. Yet, the ability of have good nymph fishing technique is essential for productive trout fishing. The reason for this is simple – most trout have a diet that consists primarily of sub-surface insects (nymphs). An angler who does not know how to nymph fish will be greatly limited on where they can fish and what they use.

Just like dry fly fishing, there are many, many ways to fish a nymph. Which one you should use really boils down to how skilled you are in nymph fly fishing and what you are attempting to catch and where you are doing it. Make sense? Probably not, but let’s move forward to give you some idea on the different nymphing techniques available when fly fishing.

Dead drifting-

Dead drifting can be done several ways, the most popular way is under a strike indicator but some people don’t like using one claiming its impure. The purpose of the dead drift is to make your fly imitate a dead insect larva drifting with the current. Fish target these because they’re an easy meal, you can also dead drift attractor pattern flies to grab the fishes attention.

How to dead: simply start by casting upstream above where you think the fish may be laying, allowing time for your nymph to sink into the strike zone. Strike indicators and weights attached to the line are popular tools for reaching the proper depth.

Swinging-

Swinging can be an effective way to cover large amounts of water rather quickly, and also an exciting way to fish because the takes are mostly BAM! Fish on, similar to drift fishing with terminal tackle. The swinging of the nymph for example the stone fly nymph is imitating the male stone flies swimming across the current towards the shore.

How to swing: make your cast strait across the current, usually standing above where you think the fish may be laying, letting the current take the line down, mending at first if necessary to properly present your fly let the fly continue downstream until it reaches its terminal point directly downstream, let sit for a count of three and retrieve take a few steps downstream, and repeat.

Nymphing can be very effective for most all fish, expecially in heavily fished areas where fish strike for food not off aggression, and where water conditions are super clear.

Good luck good fishing.

-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

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

We finally got the rods in the water around 8pm, setting ourselves up for a night of steelhead fishing! Pulling lighted plugs and glow in the dark Spin-N-Glos with sand shrimp. Everything was perfect, the weather, the water, and fishing with your best buddies. Anticipation was high; it was up to the fish now.

Summer Steelhead, Salmon, and sturgeon fishing the Columbia River and its tributaries can be an angler’s haven, thousands of salmon and steelhead poor over the dams every year on their journey upstream. Chinook salmon reaching over 40lbs, more steelhead than you can shake a stick at, and lots of keeper sturgeon! It truly is a great time to be fishing this Columbia River fishery.
Summer Chinook fishing is extremely hot! With fish averaging from 16-22 pounds and some well over 30 lbs, you really can’t beat fishing for these monsters. Sardine wrapped kwik-fish and Spinners are extremely productive. This year the season runs straight through July so we get a lot of time to target these huge chromers. Water depth and current flow are extremely important, try to stay in between 8-20ft of water on a normal day but some day’s fish are being caught as deep as 30ft of water. According to the preseason forecast there are almost 90,000 Summer Chinook expected to return to the Columbia this year! These Summer Chinook are by far the best tasting fish and they put up a heck of a fight.
Steelhead numbers over the dam continue to grow! Lots of fish are being caught in the lower river system already and it will only get better. A lot of places allow night fishing as well as day fishing so you never have to stop! Summer steelhead will continue to trickle into our river systems all through summer and into early fall. These fish have tons of stamina and will give you quite a show when hooked! Fishing Spin-N-Glos with sand shrimp, spinners, and small kwik-fish are all great ways to pick up steelhead in the Columbia. When it comes to night fishing, pulling lighted plugs and rigging up a glow in the dark Spin-N-Glo will knock them dead! There are so many fish and a ton of time to go catch them, it is definitely worth it!

Sturgeon is also a hot summer fish on the minds of many anglers! Sturgeon in the Columbia River vary from 20 inches to 20 feet! A keeper sturgeon will have to be within 42inches and 60 inches, making it difficult sometimes to find a fish to put on your dinner table. These fish are very hard fighting (some say the hardest), and taste amazing if prepared right. My favorite is fishing for oversize sturgeon! These monsters average between 6-12ft long, they will tear you up and keep fighting for up to an hour or more. There are many different types of baits used for sturgeon. Sand shrimp, smelt, anchovies, herring, sardines and squid all work well, make sure to use lots of scent also. If you are after the big fella’s then try a fresh whole shad.

We are all very lucky to get to enjoy this great Columbia River fishery. I hope that everybody will help preserve and protect our waters we are so fortunate to have here in the great northwest and enjoy every last minute you have on them. Whether its salmon, steelhead, or sturgeon fishing this summer I hope to all the best of luck!

Your Fellow Fishing Addict,
Shaun Keller

Well, here we are in another year for great trout fishing. The past winter, or lack there of, is hopefully going to be a big plus come June. The lack of snow and our mild late winter/early spring time provides a promising look at what is in store for us. Little snow in the mountains means little to no run-off, which botched the June opener in 2008. Last year was alright, but the water was still ashy on glacial streams and made them run a little higher than we would like, but this year should be picture perfect, knock on wood.

So this spring I encourage everyone to get out and do a little early fishing on some of the year-round trout waters, like the Skagit, which a portion of is open for all trout, including bull trout. Some of these year-round rivers would be a great place to get some early fishing in because of the fact that most guys who fish these rivers during the winter and spring months are targeting steelhead, making it easier to target trout with smaller streamers and dries. Some other rivers to look into fishing include the Middle fork of the Snoqualmie, which has selective gear rules, and part of the Yakima , which is open year round for brook trout. Also you can find other rivers to fish by doing a little work at home. Get your fishing regulations out and scour the pages for year-round listings, and call fly shops or guides in the areas you want to try to fish.

Preparing for a trip to one of these rivers is a must. I don’t recommend just heading out with your usual gear in hopes of catching fish. Call the local shops to see what they recommend you take with you, let them know where you are from and let them know you when you will be in the area, so they can give you all of the specifics. They may have some hatches that we don’t get this early, or special flies you may have never heard of. Don’t forget to stop at the shops you call and mention that you talked to them on the phone. This is always good because they may not give you all the secrets over the phone, but may be more willing if you actually use the shops, even if it’s just for a few extra leaders or flies.

So let’s talk about some of the things that are always good to take, that most of us already have. Woolly buggers are always a good pattern to throw and they will usually produce fish. Go to any local store that carries flies and check out some of the new developments in these patterns as well, you just might find your new favorite pattern.. You can also always count on the trusted favorite nymphs and dries. There are a lot of hatches that occur at roughly the same time everywhere, like midges or blue winged olives (BWO).

Aside from streams, you also have lakes as an option. Like I mentioned before, we had a pretty mild winter, so a lot of the lakes that would usually still be frozen over are open, and haven’t had much pressure for a while. While the gates may be closed still, you can always hike in with a float tube or pontoon and expect some good fishing. If you find the lake you head out to is still mostly frozen, don’t turn around and go home. Look for places where small streams are feeding in there will usually be enough open water to cast to from the shore. These places can often provide some of the best fishing anywhere on the lake. The fresh water brings in tons of food for fish, causing them to school up around the openings in the ice. Try tying on nymphs or cripples and let them dead drift from the moving water into the deeper still water, and be ready to set the hook because these fish will be hungry. You can also throw woolly buggers imitating smaller fish. There will always be small fish coming into these areas to gorge themselves on the fresh food source in hopes of getting bigger, and the big fish love to eat them.

Another necessary preparation for the summer months to come is checking your gear. If you haven’t fished for a while, things can get kind of worn out and old, mainly your lines and leaders. I always highly recommend buying new line at least once a year, and always use fresh leaders because who knows how long they sat in a store before you bought them and stored them with your trout gear all winter. Flies are always good to check as well. I hate tying on a fly only to find that the hood has weakened from sitting in a box too long. Take a selected amount of flies out and give the hook a little tug, you’ll probably find that some of the cheaper flies have hooks that will break behind the material from being put away wet and rusting out. It would suck to hook a good fish and have the hook break or bend.

Something that people often overlook is checking waders and wading boots. I’ve had waders that were in perfect shape when I put them away, but from being folded up for a while developed weak spots that turned into small leaks. With your wading boots make sure the soles are still in good shape. Sometimes the thread can wear out causing the soles to separate in spots, which can be dangerous in the water. Also check your laces, you don’t want to get out there and have the laces break because you never want loose boots when walking on wet or slippery rocks.

I hope you all will take this advice to heart, and get out there and try some great spring fishing. I know that all hardcore trout fisherman will enjoy themselves, even if you don’t catch fish. Hell, anything beats staying in town daydreaming about the summer fishing we all look forward so much. An early trip and that first fish of the season always makes the time waiting for June go much quicker. So good luck, and good fishing.

Your local Fly Fishin’ Addict, the Troutbum89

As my friend Jim would say, you can’t make a rod work for everything from Tuna to Trout.  Anyone who has been fishing for a while has come to realize that even going after just one species requires more than one rod.

A Steelhead fisherman might have one rod for side-drifting, one for pulling plugs, one for bouncing bait and another for jig and float fishing. And if he’s anything like us Bass fishermen, he’ll still want more rods!

The reason is that varying conditions and tactics require varying equipment. It’s just that simple.

When I am fishing a jig-and-pig, I want a stout rod that can take a smash-mouth attack from a big fish, then wrestle him out of heavy cover with enough authority to prevent the him from see-sawing away from me and down into an area of hazardous pad stems, rocks, sunken logs or limbs and make his escape. My brother calls such rods ‘pool cues.’

If I am fishing light soft-plastics or drop-shot rigs and finessing the fish, I want a rod with a tender, sensitive tip that will help me detect subtle taps or movements, yet with enough power to ‘stick’ the hook in when I make my move.

When I am fishing a crankbait, I need a flexible rod that lets the bait work and ‘dance’ in a way that allows me to see and feel the action, making sure that the crankbait is working how I want it to, and that will allow the fish to grab and go, without yanking the lure away before the Bass really has time to crunch it.

When I’m throwing a spinnerbait, the rod must have the flexibility and power to launch the bait as far as I want, and it must have the sensitivity to allow me to feel the bait contacting cover and feel my blades spinning. I have caught more than one Bass because the bait was still coming toward me without resistance, but the blades had stopped turning. Setting the hook – because nothing was happening! – I found that sure enough, a big fish that had taken the spinnerbait and maintained its course and speed was there on the other end!  It is crucial to be able to sense such changes, and a good rod will give you that ability.

Do you want to fish a floating, minnow-immitating stick-bait?  You’ll need a rod that will help you give subtle twitches to the bait, yet will be powerful enough to give you a good hook-set when the time comes.

Sound complicated?  It really isn’t. Choose your line size and application, and you can choose the right rod.

Almost all good rod manufacturers give you helpful information near the butt of the blank.  This includes length, power, line weight ranges,  bait weight ranges and sometimes even specific designations such as ‘Crankbait.’  There will also usually be some information, sometimes on a tag, regarding the composition of the blank and guides.

A fiberglass rod, for instance, might be a good choice for a crankbait rod, though many graphite blanks will perform extremely well too.

Here is some useful technical information about how a rod bends:

http://www.fries-rods.dk/lang/uk/rods_action.htm

And here is more good information about composition and rod flex:

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/rodselection.html

I don’t get too caught up in the technicalities.  I simply look for a rod that will do what I want it to. Most of the time I can tell right away by first deciding whether spinning or baitcasting best suits my application, by looking at the specs on the blank, and finally by hefting, flexing and examining the rod for the characteristics I’m going to need. Sometimes I will do a little research and find out what other fishermen are using for a certain application.

If you live in or around Southwest Washington, another great resource can be found in the Fishing Department at Wholesale Sports in Vancouver.  With combined experience of over 175 years of fishing, the experts there can offer information and suggestions on all species of fish and the right rods to catch them.

You can make a rod serve several purposes, but I strongly suggest that as you become more experienced it is best to demand exactly the right rod for the right situation.  This will give you more success and help you to get more satisfaction out of your fishing.

But then, you’ll still need another rod!  Right?

Fishing is slowing down a bit and we are in between runs. Anglers are getting frustrated and worn out because fishing is getting tougher and tougher. Many people start to give up and stay off the water until summer. It happens every year, but there is still fish in the rivers to be caught!

Most steelhead anglers have a certain comfort zone they do not like to break, but don’t be afraid to try something new. Get away from places that get fished by a hundred people every day, walk that extra mile upstream to find that secluded hole. Like one of my good friends always says, “I don’t let the fish come to me; I go where the fish are”. If you fish a spot hard for a half hour picking each and every seam apart with no luck then it’s time to move on. Taking that extra effort to get away from everyone else will greatly increase your odds of catching more fish this time of year.

Switching up your gear a little bit is always a good idea. You have to remember that these fish have been in the river for a while now so they have had just about everything thrown at them, so don’t be afraid to try something that might look a little more natural. Also if you have not tried any scents yet this year it might give your bait that little extra to entice the fish to bite, but it can also be your worst enemy so be careful with it. One of my personal favorite tactics for enticing steelhead to bite when they just will not cooperate is tipping my jig with a little bait. It gives you a little reassurance when fishing.

When all has failed and the fishing just really sucks then it’s time to move on. I use times like these to go scout other rivers and look for future fishing spots. If one river is not producing fish, there is another river that is. With a little research online and a few phone calls to local shops you can find rivers and streams that still have lots of fish. This will also help you choose what tactics and gear to use when fishing a river you haven’t fished before.

Finding steelhead is only as frustrating as you let it be. Being a little adventurous and exploring new tactics will pay off if you put in the time and effort. Keep pursuing the elusive steelhead that swim in our rivers and let us do everything we can as fisherman to keep them here.

Your Fellow Fishing Addict,
Shaun Keller

Fishing for steelhead with a fly is one of the most difficult ways to be a successful steelhead fisher. One contributing factor is the deterioration of local fisheries due to habitat degradation and excessive harvest from commercial fishers. Even with the odds against the angler here are several techniques that will produce action.

#1. Deep swing with retrieve-

This is an effective way to catch fish in deep water. Stand upstream of the fish, cast across the water and a little downstream. Strip enough line to get your fly to the depth of where you think the fish are holding. Let the fly swing through the drift until its below you. Retrieve the fly at the desired speed, try switching speeds to find one that works.

#2. Dry fly swung-

Cast your fly across the current and down stream a bit, then let the current swing the fly until it is hanging below you. Walk downstream a little to cover all the water fish may be holding. Effective flies for this need to be super buoyant, such as the waller walker and riffle dancer.

#3. Nymphing-

Cast your fly well upstream of the targeted area and allow the fly to drift naturally with the water. Using a strike indicator is suggested and helps keep the nymph at a desired depth. Another trick is to add on a bead trailer about 10inches below the nymph. Make sure the bead isn’t against the trailer hook, this can cause missed hooksets.

#4 Wet fly swung-

Cast the fly across the river and a touch downstream, allowing the current to swing the fly downstream. Take a couple steps downstream to cover all the desired water. Copying the same technique used in trout fishing in streams. An easy method to cover a lot of water.

#5 Wet fly retrieved near surface-

Cast across the river, either upstream or downstream, and simply retrieve your fly by stripping in the line with either long slow strips or short fast strips. And you be the judge on what is attracting the most fish.

Even though steelheading on a fly can be difficult and frustrating, it is definitely one of the most rewarding experiences a fisherman can have. It may seem like an endless struggle to master the arts, but I’ve seen on many occasions avid fly-steelheaders out fish conventional tackle fisherman. Good luck in using these techniques, it takes practice and some dedication to make them effective but I assure you its rewarding in the end. Good luck, watch the back cast, and keep your lines tight.

-tight-lines -troutbum89

Every steelhead fishermen’s head hits the pillow at night in the late winter months hoping that the next time he or she gets out on the water, that one big 20 pound plus steelhead will be persuaded to eat his offering. At least I hope I’m not the only one that lives and sleeps in hopes of catching a 20 pound plus steelhead. All steelhead fishermen know that the native species of steelhead are so much more capable of giving the fish fight we are all after, and to be able to hook on that is 20+ would absolutely be a feat that would be remembered for the rest of his or her life!

The first thing you need to do to even have a chance at one of these fish is to go fish the water that is most likely to hold them. There are a lot of rivers in Washington and Oregon that are capable of producing these big natives. For Oregon waters include the Wilson, Nehalem, Trask, and Salmonberry just to name a few. In Washington your best bet is to focus your time in the Olympic Peninsula. Rivers like the Hoh, Sol Duc, Bogachiel, and Queets. The best time to venture out and give any of these rivers a try is going to be mid February to the end of March. This is when you will have a lot of these big fish in the systems and they will be fairly spread out. Don’t let some of the other rivers in these states out of your head though. There is 20 pound fish to be had in a lot of the rivers. A couple local rivers that I fish have been known to produce a few here and there. The thing to remember is always target these fish when you know they are there. You do not want to waste your time trying and trying early in hopes of getting the first fish, I have done this time and time again, yea you might get lucky, but the fact of the matter is you will probably just get burnt out. March is going to be your best bet so that is what I would focus on if you really want a good chance at these fish. Make sure to check your rules and regs because a lot of these rivers have specific rules and boundaries.

River conditions are going to play another big role in trying to land of these monster steel! In most of these systems the rain and other weather conditions can really change the outcome of what the river is going to look like on any certain day. A lot of these rivers are glacier fed as well, so unexpected snow level drops or temperature changes can also hurt your chances. In most cases the best color to look for when fishing any river system is that brilliant glacier green! This is when fish seem to just be on the tear! The water has good visibility to the fish but perfect for keeping you hidden a little. Most people think that the river level deters them from catching fish, and in some cases it can. What I have found though is that as long as the river holds a good color you can catch fish no matter how high it is. The main thing to focus on is finding places moving slowly or inside seems the fish can sit and rest to get out of the rest of the raging river. Snow is a great thing! If it’s snowing outside it seems to trigger something in these fish, they become really aggressive and move a lot, moving and feeding on the way. Every time I have got out on a day it was snowing was always an amazing day of fishing. Water temperature is going to be another thing you’re going to want to know. If your facing really cold water these fish will most of the time stage up in deeper water and be a lot less likely to move far to feed. You will really need to get your bait right into their nose to entice a bite.

When going after big natives you can use all kinds of bait. These fish most of the time are very aggressive. One of the most effective baits for catching these monsters is the pink worm. This bait is very versatile and can be fished under a bobber, drifting, or plunking. My favorite technique is under a float. I like to take a 1/8 or ¼ ounce jig head in pearl pink color. I will use the Berkley 6” pink worm and cut them down right after the collar. This makes for a perfectly looking presentation under the water and these big fish can’t resist it. This technique is extremely effective when the water is that Glacier green color like I was talking about. The other main technique I like to use on these big fish would be spoons. The big flash and flutter of these baits is irresistible to these fish. My preference is the 2/5 ounce Little Cleo in blue/silver pattern. I will take the treble hook off and replace it with a single siwash. You also want to make sure to use a barrel swivel on the eye. Swinging these spoons through tail outs of any water can be very deadly. I also like to flutter them down into deep pools. One good trick that most people fail to do is put scent on the spoon. A little smelly jelly in shrimp/anise works wonders!

These beautiful native fish are a thing to cherish! There is nothing like hooking into to one of these beauties. It’s sad to say but the numbers of these fish have really declined in the past years. We all need to do everything we can to conserve these fish so more continue to reproduce. Please always practice catch and release and make sure you take extra care of the fish. If at all possible keep them in the water except for one quick picture and then make sure they swim away strong and on their own to go off to their distant gravel bed and reproduce offspring for you or someone else to catch another day!
Your local fishing Addict,
Marlin LeFever

Winter fishing is finally upon us here in the great Northwest. The weather can change in a blink of an eye with temperatures dropping below freezing and water levels can change drastically within a couple of hours. Fishing conditions become more and more dangerous as the winter days go by. Being prepared for these conditions will make your next outing much more safe and enjoyable.

First things first, you need to wear a good set of thermal layers and warm socks for they keep your body heat in the best. If you are going to be wading make sure you buy a good set of waders, I regrettably know firsthand that buying a cheap set of waders can make a great fishing trip miserable. If you are not wading try to have a good warm pair of water proof pants. At last make sure you have a nice durable warm coat that is also water proof.

Water conditions will be very dangerous this time of year. Before wading make sure you test the depth and the current of the river. If possible try to use a walking stick for extra support while crossing. One slip could not only ruin a whole fishing trip but put your life in immediate danger. If you are not sure that it is safe then do not do it. Take every precaution possible to make your next fishing trip safe.

We all get pumped and let our minds fill with excitement when the fishing is going to get good but we also need to be extra careful out there, especially now. I hope everyone has an awesome winter of fishing and keeps those lines tight!

One of the most deadly and effective ways to target steelhead in low clear water is with spinners. For some reason summer run steelhead just can’t seem to resist the vibration and flash of a spinner in their face. Most steelhead fishermen quite often use spinners to fish for steelhead in all the summer months and they use this technique for a reason….it works!!!

When I first started steelhead fishing for summer fish I was exclusively all about bobber and jig fishing and that was it for me! One day while out on the river, I was walking into one of my spots and another fisherman was walking out. I couldn’t help but notice that he was carrying a limit of fish! I said, “Good job man, what did you pick those beauties up on?” He said, “I was using a #2 tarnished brass vibrax spinner.” He showed me his lures and I took some pictures for him of his fish, and I went on my way up to my whole. I kept thinking the whole time how I almost didn’t believe that was what he was using. I had heard of spinners doing well but this spinner to me just looked really ugly, like why would any steelhead hit that lure? From then on I was determined to try to catch my first steelhead on a spinner. I had grown up fishing for trout in small streams with spinners so I knew how to fish them, it was just getting to the store to pick up some steelhead spinners and getting back out on the water to fish them. For me the lure of choice was a blue fox in brass color size 2. This spinner from then on out was the most deadly spinner I have ever used for summer steelhead fishing. The first time out I spotted a fish in some low clear water just below a fast riffle. I casted the spinner upstream and let it drift right into him……WHAM!! She almost tore the rod right out of my hand! After a couple acrobatic jumps and good runs, I landed a nice bright hatchery hen. This was my first ever steelhead on a spinner. I began to master the art of fishing with spinners and they became my lure of choice when fishing for summer steelhead in low clear water.

Picking the lure is easy when it comes to summer steelhead. You want something small and something not to bright, as bright colors will often spook the fish. Some choices of lures I would go with are Blue Fox Vibrax in Brass, Copper, Silver and Blue, or Silver and Purple. All of these 4 colors seem to produce. On very bright sunny days you want to use the darker colors like brass and copper. On Overcast days you can get the fish on silver and blue or silver and purple. I like to fish the spinner with light spinning gear. I prefer a 7 foot Certified Pro Lamiglas rod with a pflueger 8035 spinning reel. For fishing line, I use a 6 pound maxima ultra green. Now you’re hooked up and it’s time to get out on the water.

You can fish spinners in almost any kind of water and that is one of the main luxuries of spinner fishing. Spinners are fished best by essentially drifting them through holes. Like any drift set up you want to keep the spinner close to the bottom. Cast the spinner upstream and float it down through the hole all the way to the tail out, slowly reeling it towards yourself the whole time. Once the spinner gets close to the tail out where the water is going to be faster, make sure you slow down the retrieve or give the spinner some line to keep it close to the bottom. Do this through the entire hole, if there is fish in the hole, it will be game on most of time. The other place that you want to make sure to fish the spinner is in riffles and fast oxygenated water. As the summer goes on and a lot of rivers decrease the amount of water they have, fish will be in search of oxygen and cool places to be. A lot of times if you run your spinner through these areas an active fish will not be able to resist the spinner. Don’t wait any longer to get out there and fish spinners for these hard to catch summer steelhead. Right now is the time to do it! Good luck out there! Once the addiction starts it never stops!
Your Crazy Addicted Fishermen Marlin LeFever aka The Bassinpimp

Summer steelhead brings many choices to anglers this time of year. Gear tactics can range from plunking bait and spin n glo to bobber and jig fishing. One method which is by far becoming bigger each year is night fishing.

This method is extremely deadly and fairly easy to do. Glow in the dark setups can work but to take the hassle of re-charging your gear every several minutes take a look into lighted plugs. There are several on the market the well known ones around the northwest are brads wigglers, Luhr Jensen Kwikfish and Wazzat Spin-n-Glo. This lures are different but all have the same key concept which is they blink in the water. Most of these plugs will blink either green or red and both have been known to have success. Red often times will out fish the green.

When I night fish I like to get on the river while its still light so I can get a better idea of where I am fishing at. Once I have found where I want to be, which is about 8’ to 11’ of water I anchor up and fish into the dark. I like running a 30lb braided line to a barrel swivel. From the swivel run 4ft of a 15lb line to the plug. Being that the wigglers and kwikfish are diving plugs the easiest way to fish these is a method called flat lining. This method means putting no weight on and just letting the plug dive down on its own. This can vary depending on your current in slow water you will want to add weight and keep you lure at the bottom. When flat lining I usually run about 12-20 pulls depending on how deep the spot is I am fishing.

Now as for running spin-n-glos there’s really not too much to the setup. I like running either a single or a double hook setup. With the double hook setup you can run bait such as prawn or sand shrimp which can really trigger a bite depending on their mood. I run my main line down to a 3 way swivel or a spreader either will work. From the spreader I like to run about a 2 foot dropper to a weight. Then from the other end of the swivel about a 4ft leader to the spin-n-glo. With these tactics described you got all the basics you need to know. All there is left to do is get out there and put them to use. Fishing at night will be awesome from not til the end of the summer! Check your local game laws to see if its legal in your local rivers.

By:  Travis Bishop AKA CatchADoradoWithMYCurado

As if catching a steelhead isn’t hard enough for most fishermen, try catching them in extremely low and clear conditions. In the Pacific Northwest we haven’t had rain for months and most the snow is already melted off. This leaves the rivers around here running so low and clear they are almost unfishable. I’m hoping a few of these techniques will help you in catching some of these bright summer fish hanging in the rivers.

First thing you’re going to want to look at is your gear, whatever liter your running now, prepare to downsize. Float fishing is going to be the technique of choice. You’re going to be running a 6 pound maxima ultra green liter with my preference of a smoke color fire line 14 pound braid. Make sure you have a long rod, at least 9’ 6”. My rod and reel of choice is a pflueger supreme reel and Lamiglas xmg50 9’ 6” rod.

For bait it’s going to be a combination of things. These fish are so smart and hard to catch in these conditions, we have to trick them in every which way possible. The first step is buying some jigs in 1/16 ounce size or smaller. You’re going to want them to be darker color patterns. I prefer nightmare, and or purple patterns. You need to get some good running floats. Steelhead Stalkers are going to be my pick.

Next thing you need is some sand shrimp. Once your all tied up with bobber, jig, and all, I like to tip the end of my jig with a little bit of sand shrimp as an extra incentive for these weary fish. Just break off little chunks at a time and tip the end of your jig. Make sure you have some nice waiters and a good pair polarized glasses, for comfort out on the water.

Now that you’re all geared up, finding the fish is a different story. The key to finding these fish is deeper stretches of water where these fish feel safe and can be cool. Since you’re going to be float fishing, you need to target areas of the river that are deeper than the rest but stretch long enough for you to get a decent float with your bobber and jig. Sometimes if you can find slots in the river, that’s going to be the ticket to catching your nice bright chrome summer steelhead. These fish don’t have a lot of water to work with so they will use the deeper slots to sit in and move up river. Most the rivers around here have these slots. With your polarized glasses, walk up and down river looking for these slots, but be stealthy. In the hunt for these slots it’s not uncommon to spot summer steelhead just waiting for you to float your jig by their face. Once these slots are found cast up river, and let your jig pass through the slots perfectly, if the steelhead is there….. “BOBBER DOWN!!!” you should have a fish on. Once the summer goes on you will find fish way way up river in the most oxygenated water they can find. Falls or rapids with deep pools are good areas to look!

Summer steelhead is extremely aggressive and feisty, when hooked its very likely that they will put on a nice acrobatic show for you. Make sure to be careful and play them out, with the 6 pound liter your chance of losing these crazy chromers is very good.

Now hurry up and get off the computer, head to Wholesale Sports, pick up your jigs, your shrimp, your line, your bobbers, and hey why not spoil yourself with a new lamiglas rod and pflueger reel. Feel free to ask any questions you may have in the forum! They will be answered immediately! Thanks for reading, cause once the addiction starts it never stops!

YOUR CRAZY ADDICTED FISHERMAN…THE BASSINPIMP

Welcome to the fly fishing section of Fishing addicts Northwest. We hope to hear and learn about your insight in the sport of fly fishing. In these articles we take a no bull crap approach to the sport we love.

To be soundly educated in the sport of fly fishing, and be able to match knowledge with others you dang near have to live for the sport, sometimes it means sacrificing maybe some friends, time, money, jobs, and relationships (she’s not worth it). To the dedicated fly fisher finding the balance between chasing the steelhead in the upper east fork, locating the scrappy brookies in the small spring creeks, matching the hatch in a still alpine lake, and the trials of everyday life is often challenging. After all, once the addiction starts… it never stops. In our next month article we will be covering the preseason preparations for the June 1st opener.

by
-Lonny Brooks aka tight-lines
& Cody Lindberg aka troutbum89