I am courious as to how other fly fishers have done this year. I have beached 4 fish all winter season, all on egg patterns. I have fished leaches, marabous,and assorted spay flys to no luck. How have you guys been doing and what patterns worked for you?

Pretty lousy season for me, but I've put a couple on the beach with general practictioners. Orange and pink did the trick. I usually don't like their gaudiness, but my I've been fishing a lot this winter on a river with color. Good luck and keep flyflippin.

So far i have hooked 2 landed 1. the fish i hooked was on the East Lewis on a purple unweighted bunny leach(probably an old summer fish) The other one was on the HOH on a black 3/0 gp

Hooked 7, landed 5. All on a #4 Lady Caroline Spey.

Im,

Only one fish for me this year. Last year and this year have been the least productive seasons for me since I began steelhead fishing in 1968.

Wish you hadn't reminded me. Now I'm depressed.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Strange year to say the least. After 17 fish from August through October all on surface takes. Thought I was real hot and winter fish would come in good numbers. That's what I get for thinking too positivley. No fish landed all winter only fished about 60 hours but lot's of short trips before work to runs that always produced. Those runs didn't produce because of low water and I must be like an old dinasour and didn't make the changes need to catch a fish. Looking back on the season noticed a lot of fly fishing friends didn't make the required changes also. Those who did catch fish this year I bet did make the changes required.
Hope you al have a good Summer season.

6 hooked, 3 landed. Nothing real special, solduc spey, egg sucking leech and some gaudy orange thing that I only tied once for dirty water. Orange seemed to be the common thread.

Land Tuna,
I'm interested in fishing summer steelhead on the surface. If you don't mind sharing, what rivers would you recommend?

stickysharp,
Most of the rivers in Western Washington have Summer runs. The OP rivers fish well from what I here. I spend time on the Sky because it's close to home and work so I can hit it for an hour before work a couple days a week. Also take 3 or 4 days off to fish the Snake in Eastern Washington and the Clearwater in Idaho in October.
Best bet is to talk to your favorite fly shop they will let you know a little more about the rivers in your area.
I don't even start my summer fishing to the water warms up to 55 degrees. Fish will come to the surface below that temp but you will be casting till your arm falls off. Usually if I do go in June I fish sinktips and thats called winter fishing for summer fish in my book.
Good luck, there is nothing better in the whole NW than a steelhead that comes to the surface for the take.

Steelhead on the fly, it has been good. Forget your regular spots, all the fish are stacking up in the deeper holes and pools like salmon, change your strategy and you will catch, I have done well this year using all the flies that I am sure you have in your box.

Have hooked 6 and beached 4. Biggest was 32". All on big bright tube flies fished on a 15' 150 grain type 6 tip. Gonna get #7 tomorrow! Must keep the faith!