Northwest Fishing Reports

this is a 2 part question.
what do steelhead eat in the ocean and would it work in the rivers???

im pretty sure they eat creel an shrimp but do the eat hearin? or squid? prawns?
help me out

Youve pretty much answered your own question.Whats in the ocean to eat.All the above.Hard to fish plankton or creel because of the size.I've caught steelies on Sand/Ghost shrimp.Im sure they eat herring,anchovies and smelt.Probably squid and other Bi-valves too.I've pondered the same question on their feeding .I think they eat most of what is available to them.I've used herring in the rivers for salmon.Anchovies and smelt also.I've never tried for steelies.Roe and shrimp work so well why bother with others I guess.

In the ocean anything within there size limits and yes they have finer dining choices but if it fits looks natural they eat it!:-$

Rivers Remember are they better biters then Salmon Yes due to there life cycle continues with some luck after the spawn but many hens die if there conditons, saltwater feeding cycles, being hooked and latic acid builds or damaged, disease, scales lost and more.


1.(Sand Shrimp/Ghost shrimp) they LOVE

2. (Roe/eggs) that is done correct and cared for leaving the skiens on as well and cut to the proper size of your presentation.

3. (Night Crawlers) even in the winter have over 2= 25lbs mounted with Crawlers and yarn only jan/feb fish.

4. (Maggots) and white fish flies they pound them!

5.(Prawn meat) Brined correctly over 24 hours and cut small

6.(Grass hoppers) summer runs eastside Ground and pound them

PS and the list goes on forever, spoons, spinners. plugs, flatfish, flies, pink rubber worms, jigs and my personal fav (Roast beef)#-o ran out of bait cut a strip off my lunch put some stink/scent on it casted it in the bang zone and hooked a very bright nice summer run with big John Cutter, and Bob Holeman and the Chipster I think it was PRIME RIB!!!! LOL:colors:

Some interesting reading on steelhead.

UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

PDF File

Hey Swede !! Why ground and pound the Grasshopper.The spoons,jigs and lures dont count as the question was asked.Hahahaha.Darn you Swede.Lay off that Lutafish.(Sp)

swede how do u brine your eggs

Rac/fish lay off the herb:-$ :colors: I was covering 1st base to homeplate:bom: Finisher lol

The key to the 1st base of eggs as soon as you catch and land a hatchery brate hen , gill and gut her with a razor sharp knife, treat the eggs like your gal and do dont disrupt the skin/skiens taking each side out in wholes and bag them after making sure there clean from river materials into a Zip lock Clear bag and into the cooler as soon as you can.
I will also tell you (bright chum eggs are near the best):cheers: and many times over looked= the only reason I spank the Dogs
I have over 10 how to's on materials used and 2 that flat out outfish most and take a beating, hold and scent almost dead on perfect.
You can pm me and I will give you a few, I brine herring, sardines, prawns and more.

It kills to do it correct the bottom line hook ups and producing when most don't is doing and covering every step before the fight or game begins:bball:

Swede you da man...That Spin n'glo looks so good I want to bite it.

RACFISH:bounce: (Your the man):bom: you remembered the real nail driver days down at the Temple in the Seattle when blood was blood and sweat was Sweat earned! lol
Sorry guys a inside life deal with a guy who watch the dance!


Back to the topic depending on the color of waters your pushing the Color of the Roe/eggs can be the deal breaker of another walk back to the truck or some sore arms carrying Meat!

Another inside fastball if your in Southwest WA== RUN TO THE COWLITZ and CHEHALIS systems there Creaming chrome bright STEELHEAD EVERYWHERE DURING THE HIGH WATERS AND FLOODS AS WE SPEAK!!!!!!:-$ :bom: IF YOUR NOT GRAB YOUR WADERS AND STUFF FISH ON!!!

Remember in rising colored waters brighter and bigger presentation is better!!!!:cheers:

The fish will all be inside in 2 feet of water right off the beach they cannot hold in these flows and push the silt in there gills!

I-5 is closed but if you can get down there you will kill fish my bud just called me and 3 guys hooked 6 fish in less then 2 hours on the Cow!!!
Laneantor fish killer is smoking them!:cheers:

Dumping in right after the floods at Blue Creek on the Cowlitz we banged the fish out of them:compress: and the pink Sweatshirt was burned camp side that night I was trying to match the hatch using the pink plastic worm free drifting!!!! LMAO!

Some travel is impacting and adding 400 plus miles on trips anywhere in the State but if you live close Spread some Pain and be safe!

All the systems after the floods Creeks, smaller rivers stop to drop will be packed with fish they get out of the main flows/bigger rivers and get into the smaller systems you have a 2 or 3 day window then they will back down if there not stranded

Thanks for the info! Swede, how would you rig a crawler in the muddy conditions?

Behind a bait diver and scent:bom: if your in a drifter or sled on day 2 or 3 of the lowering waters, if not Bump/puff it up with air large or break out the Plastic pinkie they show well in dirty waters:compress:

The drive through order out combo meals#-o can work as well during fast food adventures:cheers:

Thank you- gorgeous lookin meat too-

I think it is awsome swede you fish night crawlers for the metal heads:cheers: I have been laughed at so many places but in upper river systems you can't beat a night crawler:-$

Swede what is your personal best metal head?

26.4lb buck (Sky upper river NIGHTCRAWLER AND PINK YARN) and 24.5lbs:-#Sauk (PINK WORM lower river) buck both local rivers:cheers: (21.8 lbS IS MY BEST HEN Upper Sky hen BAITDIVERS AND SHRIMP) :compress: yummers and guided 2 and landed (1 over 30lbs) HOLY WATERS:-# :chef: and was on the bank when my DAD Helping him when he landed a fish never seen or heard of again close to (40lbs) STRAIGHT MONSTER ROE CLUSTERS) that really stacks the hate:bball: all mounted in my fish Den he was a little guy as well 6ft 3 240lb Gordy and ex fighter and long time guide on the coast, BC and Alaska.
Friggen German Irish killer /Mommy was the Swede:cheers:
13.2LB NATE RIVER (RAINBOW) AND A 13LB CUTT= L

All will go to my daughter when my last casts and God calls my game

I LOVE CRAWLERS HAVE THEM SRING, SUMMER, FALL AND WINTER AND ROE AND SHRIMP AND MAGGOTS IF I CAN GET THEN EVERY SINGLE TRIP!

Never press any waters with one bait ever cover the bases and you will hit Chrome and color!:cheers:

These are not trophys but a swell pic of my pops/proud he was fighting cancer and still getting it done putting others on fish 300 plus days a year he is on the far left the next pic levels the Game Lights out over!:cheers:

Fished that little river many times and that is a great fish:compress: but times 2x to play with this HOGZILLA!!!! 51 inches from head to tail that guys hurts them Deep liver shot and over hand right of Hate!!! :colors: :dj: lol

I think the tail and adipose was 27lbs:dwarf: :colors: Fish on
The Clack is a dandy at times my sweetie lived in West Linn and I would break out and play as well 27lbs is candy and Great job lets see some pics of the monster Buck???

I have only fished WA for 5 years but there is a little river in the Portland area called the Clackamas and WOW that river produces a bunch of BIG metal heads my biggest is 27.11 lbs and I don't think I will ever beat it#-o It took us on a 1/2 mile run down river and it was caught on a silver and black wiggle wart fishing kings. Up in the eastern parts of Oregon there is a river called the John Day and I would average 5 fish a day floating a night crawler with no weight color or scent:-"

In my fishing I found the steel head will eat just about anyhing with the correct presuntation.

bigbasstaz wrote:I have only fished WA for 5 years but there is a little river in the Portland area called the Clackamas and WOW that river produces a bunch of BIG metal heads my biggest is 27.11 lbs and I don't think I will ever beat it#-o It took us on a 1/2 mile run down river and it was caught on a silver and black wiggle wart fishing kings. Up in the eastern parts of Oregon there is a river called the John Day and I would average 5 fish a day floating a night crawler with no weight color or scent:-"

In my fishing I found the steel head will eat just about anyhing with the correct presuntation.

Making me want to call in sick tomorrow- cough - cough..

jens wrote:

bigbasstaz wrote:I have only fished WA for 5 years but there is a little river in the Portland area called the Clackamas and WOW that river produces a bunch of BIG metal heads my biggest is 27.11 lbs and I don't think I will ever beat it#-o It took us on a 1/2 mile run down river and it was caught on a silver and black wiggle wart fishing kings. Up in the eastern parts of Oregon there is a river called the John Day and I would average 5 fish a day floating a night crawler with no weight color or scent:-"

In my fishing I found the steel head will eat just about anyhing with the correct presuntation.

Making me want to call in sick tomorrow- cough - cough..

Amen brother! I'm thinking about hitting the Sky (Sultan area).

Swede, I hate to admit it but I've never caught a steelhead but I've only tried a few times.

Got any tips for a novice bank fisherman? (There's no way I'm taking my little 10 foot bass raider on a flooded river. )

I fish for bass so I've got some heavy-duty gear.

By the way, I've never heard of brining prawn meat. Sounds interesting...

1st heavty duty gear for metal never needed#-o
I never use more then 12lb test for 20 plus lb fish and most of the time 8lb and 10lb line .

Its the Line brand ((Treasure Z Maxima)) mainline and Max (Floracarbon) leader and length that makes the hog line and of course bait, terminal gear, how you prepared your baits, scent used, colors, sizes and more.

Plus having the correct bait bag and vest outfitted to the max if your a Wader that is your (work bench) and without it hit the truck not the trails.

Anyone wants the (Best baits) Roe/eggs and all covered to back bouncing quickfish for kings (sardine wraps), (herring brined strips for Puget sound) 2ND TO NONE and process (PM me) to my e-mail= I wrote out a full page letter today on why, how and set ups and have sent it out to 41 future anglers already today:cheers:

(Fast action tips) meduim action 8ft 6 to 9 ft plus best for drift fishing and I press G-Loomis, Lamigals and Sage only ON RODS:cheers:
I have been know to raise the bar and break out the noodle rods 12ft 6 to 14 fters but that is for show only and fun not getting it done.:colors:

For Rivers only (drift fishing only) for any fish that swims other then large Sturgeon is the ((G-Loomis STR 1025C 8ft 6 med/Heavy FAST ACTION)):compress: it will kill Kings, Coho, Steelhead,
Chums, Pinks, Sockeyes and you will feel a 8incher take it down with the fast action tip=banked with a ((Shimano Curado 300 DSV)):compress: LIGHTS OUT FISH OUT!!!! but $$$$$$

For the guy just getting started the (Lamiglas MBC 8ft 6 8lb-12lb Medium action) will work fine I TEND to blow them up on the Hook set:colors: lol
Tight lines Fish on!!!

wow swede............i never thought nught crawlers would work and the high waters being prime for shore fishin that is insane i would of never thought they hugged to shore like that..... i will be there tomarrow forsure

Theres a very good Steelie river in Wa state that many peeps dont know about.The Elk river kicks out some biggies.Its down near Hoquiam/Wesport area.I've seen some piggies come out that river in the 70's 80's.I havent fished it in 15 years at least.Anyone ever try it?