So I went out on 2/5/16 to the Sky for the morning. Spent the whole morning walking down river from Reiter fishing from the bank. Had a take but didn't stick. 0/1 on the Sky. It was a gorgeous morning and the water was perfect. I was really hoping to hook into my first Steelhead but no such luck. Decided to move over to the Wallace for the afternoon. Started up by the hatchery and worked my way down to below the Highway 2 bridge. Caught a lot of whitefish but no luck on Steelhead.

Decided that since I had the morning off work this morning I would go back out for a last chance at local Steelhead for the year. I still have yet to catch one in two years of fishing the rivers so I knew that today would be very lucky if I was to get one just looking at the water levels. Once again....a few white fish but no luck on Steelhead. I guess I'm going to have to start retaining some white fish and smoking them since I just can't seem to get lucky with those metalheads...elusive bastards.

Maybe I'll hit one of the coastal rivers this year but it's looking like the season will have to be over for me this year.

Ian Horning

2/13/2016 5:33:00 PM

Don't think about steelhead fishing as "getting lucky." If you have that mentality, you wont see the results you want. Steelhead fishing requires an intimate understanding of the water, the fish, the conditions, and your presentation. Put all four elements together correctly, and you will find success without luck because you will understand exactly why the fish took your offering and why the fish was located where it was. Good luck this summer, I'm already getting pumped.

ncobble

2/21/2016 12:55:00 PM

The thing about that is I've read every book and been on the water fishing actively for Steelhead for two years. I've watched videos specifically on reading water and fished with people who have taught me quite a bit. No matter how much I feel like I know where fish should be and how appropriate my presentation, I still have yet to get one. I think the only thing I could really legitimately improve upon with my presentation is using flurocarbon instead of mono. I currently primarily fish a braid with a float...swivel....inline weight...mono to a jig....mono tied from the bend of the jig hook to a bead pegged 1.5-2" above my terminal hook. I've also floated eggs, drifted spoons and yarnies. I have fished multiple locations on the Snoqualmie, the Skykomish, the Tokul and the Wallace learning as much as I can in two years and still...nothing. At this point, I am hoping for luck (clearly I still have more to learn) but not sure when I'll be able to get to some winter fish again. I guess Spring Chinook are coming and then Summer run Steelhead after that. But thanks for the tips Ian!

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