This report is for the North Fork. My chase for the elusive Steelhead continues. I arrived at the hatchery a little after 6am. When I pulled down to the river my heart dropped with the amount of cars and anglers all waddling to secure spots along the bank. Of course the spot I like to fish was overtaken. I still had high hopes and was going to give it my best college try regardless. I chose a spot above the hatchery, unfortunately the drift I was fishing, above me was surrounded by plunkers and below me by guys who were drifting eggs.
My strategy of using bobber and jig was fruitless for my drift was very short. I used pink and white jigs, nightmare jigs, jig with pink worm, jig tipped with shrimp, and jig tipped with eggs. I felt zero fish all morning. Hour after hour, the cold became overwhelming and I began to accept defeat.
I seen 10 gorgeous super chrome fish landed when I was there. 3 by the plunkers using shrimp, 4 by the guys drifting eggs and 3 from guys using bobber and jig further downriver. The biggest fish was a 15lb hen. The majority of the fish were from 5- 8 lbs. I either need to learn how to plunk, drift eggs or get better at using bobber and jig or I will end 2009 without any metal.
I do however will fish here xmas weekend. All or nothing. All in. To the dome..whatever, I am fishing!