Winter Steelhead Action Close to PDX

Normally I tend to do my winter steelheading towards the coast, and I just prefer to fish over there. Here and there you have the days where you are at home taking care of errands, but you are itching to get out and at least wet a line. I was fortunate enough yesterday (2-6-13) to squeak out for a little while to try out a new Skagit Switch head I got for a 7wt rod. I worked a nice run from about the halfway point towards the tailout, and then the line came tight. After a long intense battle with several blistering runs, and one long upstream run the bright bodied steelhead yielded itself toward the bank. The fish was caught with 10' of T-14 sinking tip, and a black and blue creation I whipped up at the tying bench.

Keeping cozy in the rain....

Go Ducks!! Always a sucker for that green helmet!

Lets tango with blue and black

Nice deep bodied male winter steelhead

Tight Lines!!!

Today may have that mini gap of chrome opportunity.......

Small Creek Winter Steelhead Taken From Stormy Time in 2011

Storm is predicted for Tuesday, and it is supposed to be another whammy for precipitation. Water levels today on the tiny little creeks would be most likely perfect. Most do not have gauges; so you have to speculate on the levels, but when looking at the existing gauges on neighboring rivers, you can guess and be right a lot of the time. With these smaller systems, you have to get out there on the day you know it is going to be right, or the water levels will be too low the next day after. In this case, it seems like the only possible window to catch a chromer on the west side of the cascades near Portland; since Tuesday may bring an inch or two of rain again. Let's hope this predicted storm fizzles out.....

Small Creek Steelheading From A Stormy Time in 2011

First Confirmed Winter Steelhead Catches - Time To Go Coastal

This time of the year is when you are itching for some fresh new steelhead to come into the systems. Yes, you can go to the John Day, Deschutes, McKenzie, Willamette, etc to catch some old summer runs that look like rainbow trout, or you can go coastal for a fish like this.......

Wilson River Chrome Bright Steelhead Caught Last Winter

Typically the first winter run steelhead come into the systems about the time of Thanksgiving, and that is right around the corner. It turns out that I have heard of confirmed steelhead caught from three different coastal rivers west of Portland; so it is time to put your angling efforts towards winter steelhead now. With three systems having put out 2011 early winter steelhead, you can bet that fish are present in many more of them. Typically the early winter steelhead hatchery runs are what dominates the rivers, and places like the Nestucca River, North Fork of the Nehalem River, Necanicum River, Gnat Creek, Big Creek, and the Wilson are all great bets. The biggest hurdle is to fish where the steelhead are, and to get the flies into their zone. Otherwise, they will take your flies if your presentation is in their zone. There are some wild fish to be caught also; so always make sure what the fish is that you are landing in order to make sure that the wild fish remain as unharmed as possible.

Early Wild Winter Steelhead Caught on North Fork Nehalem River Caught In 2010

The hottest early season winter steelhead fishing is starting up; so get yourself out there. If you are interested in a guided trip to show you how to get into winter steelhead, then email me at fish@mckenzieangler.com or call me at (541)-232-6360.