winter steelhead season starts the 1st

[Mike Carey]

side drifting can be done from shore

as in walking along the shore while drifting?

[Gringo Pescador]

I bought some wader liners. I wear an extra pair of wool socks. I need to get some gloves I think. Then a t shirt a sweat shirt and my jacket. I was fine fishing the rivers but the wind was a lil chilly on my face.

From the neck up I break out my motorcycle gear, light, warm and windproof...

[curado]

yep i do it alot for extended drifts

[racfish]

I release line at the end of the drift and free-spool it to reach holes If I'm not close enuogh to cast to a spotj ust have to keep a thumb on your spool.I catch most of the metalheads within 3 feet of shore.

[gpc]

I bought some wader liners. I wear an extra pair of wool socks. I need to get some gloves I think. Then a t shirt a sweat shirt and my jacket. I was fine fishing the rivers but the wind was a lil chilly on my face.

I purchased the same wader liners after you mentioned that sale. Thanks for speaking out, those liners are great. I wear long underwear, my carthart work pants, then the wader liners, then my waders. Its an experience all in it self when I have to do you know what in a below freezing Honey Bucket

[jens]

I bought some wader liners. I wear an extra pair of wool socks. I need to get some gloves I think. Then a t shirt a sweat shirt and my jacket. I was fine fishing the rivers but the wind was a lil chilly on my face.

I purchased the same wader liners after you mentioned that sale. Thanks for speaking out, those liners are great. I wear long underwear, my carthart work pants, then the wader liners, then my waders. Its an experience all in it self when I have to do you know what in a below freezing Honey Bucket

Man, I dread the number 2 grumblings out fishing. I try and eat foods that will constipate you the next day for this very reason. I swear it take 20 minutes just to get everything off and into firing position, not to mention leaving your spot.

I picked up those wader liners too- love em!

[Mike Carey]

yup, another fact of life I've noticed I have to deal with as I've gotten older. Nothing better than successfully having your morning constitutional prior to hopping in the boat to go fishing. God, it's pathetic I just typed that.

[ckim85]

i've got my bowels down to a system. i take the browns to the superbowl every morning, never miss a day.

[Toni]

You know I think this thread took a wrong turn.:bom:

[curado]

mee too. i am laughing every time i see it

[racfish]

Let me bring this back to fishing. I want RAIN....RAIN RAIN. Every winter we play this waiting game.I finally get some jobs near some decent rivers and they are so low that there is no freshet to attract fish. Hmmmm The weather G-ds are not in the steelheaders favor.I saw what Mike wrote on the freezing guides on the poles. It reminded me of the first of the gaphite rods . During bitter cold days when guides would ice up I'd drop my rod tip in the river to make it so I could reel up. The older style graphite rods would shatter.On real cold days I used to fish fiberglass only.(Good old reliable Fenwick and Eagle Claw)

Take it from the older crowd boys and girls. Before a fishing trip I usually eat a few prunes the night before.In the AM I drop the kids off at the pool and its fishing all day till the two thermoses of coffee take affect. LOL

[Mike Carey]

these youngsters will understand some day.

ckim85, that was too funny. SCORE!

OK, something about steelhead fishing. Talking about cold, back when I first arrived in Washington, around 89, I would drive down to the Cowlitz Blue Creek boat launch. I would sleep in the bed of the truck (it had a canopy) and then get up early AM, usually awakened as the boaters started arriving. I'd get up and walk into Blue Creek passing the "night shift" coming out with their fish in tow. Back then the fishing was amazing. The Cow was putting out like 8,000 winter runs. I have no idea what it puts out now, but it doesn't seem like those kind of numbers. I felt pretty confident driving the 110 miles knowing I'd come back with fish. Now - not so sure.

Anyone know what the Cowlitz has put out in winter fish the past few years?

[bionic_one]

Page 30 shows how many steelhead eggs they took for the Cowlitz
Escapement

Since 2006 they have been releasing 500,000 or more winter and summer steelhead. So, it should be about the same.
Stocking Reports Page

Unfortunately, they don't update the catch data (you can call/email them and hound them and you can get the numbers)

[Anonymous]

Now boys and girls I'm in need to want to learn the art of Steelheading using Jigs.Reading is okay but theres nothing like being shown how on the river itself.If when someone goes out and uses jigs and feels like you have a lil extra patience on a local river I'd sure like to go and learn.Im a corky yarn guy or egg and shrimp guy. Ive never had any luck with jigs.I fish the Green in King County mostly but willing to venture a lil bit.Now that my personal life is getting back to normal I'd like to go out and learn some new techniques.Like I said reading is okay but learning in person is way better for me. Thanks...

[jens]

Now boys and girls I'm in need to want to learn the art of Steelheading using Jigs.Reading is okay but theres nothing like being shown how on the river itself.If when someone goes out and uses jigs and feels like you have a lil extra patience on a local river I'd sure like to go and learn.Im a corky yarn guy or egg and shrimp guy. Ive never had any luck with jigs.I fish the Green in King County mostly but willing to venture a lil bit.Now that my personal life is getting back to normal I'd like to go out and learn some new techniques.Like I said reading is okay but learning in person is way better for me. Thanks...

Add me. I am going to give it my best college try this weekend. I have all the gear, ready to go. Now what?? :bounce:

[bionic_one]

I went to the steelhead university seminar on the 5th, and I'm anxious to try out everything that was presented and explained. From what the pros were saying, fishing with a float and jig is really really easy, and produces. I'm anxious to see if it will work for me!

One thing those guys kept saying: Just because the water is low, doesn't mean the fish aren't in there, it means there might be fewer of them.

[flinginpooh]

Im in the same boat myself. I bought floats and jigs of different varieties to get ready. Now I just gotta get out and try it out. I never fished em myself. Well for crappie and perch I have. So Im anxious to get into some stealhead trying this technique. All of a sudden work has picked up for me again. So I wont get as many chances, but Im gonna try and get out as much as I can.

[curado]

remember try to keep as much line as u can off the water while float fishing.release line in seams to give ti a longer drift. run lighter leaders for really clear water. i have gone as low a 6lb for floats

[bionic_one]

flinginpooh: In regards to your comment on the Puyallup Steelhead and not a lot of luck in the Cowlitz - The Cowlitz Hatchery has been attempting to make their run "Late-Winter" so the hatchery fodder will be in later than normal.

Also, the guides and pros indicate that steelhead aren't leader shy, they try to toss the jig/bait/lure when they feel resistance, not when they feel the leader. BUT, if they see the mono leader, it can spook them. Flouro is mo better

[jens]

Do you think tipping your jig with shrimp/prawn/eggs is better than using the jig bare? What is your go to color for a jig? Clear, you use: Murky, you use:

Thanks guys!