Until the June 1st summer steelie openers up north, what do you think are the best well known (no zippers please) springer opportunities? ...

I would rate the record Wind R. run the best prospect; but it's also the most crowded by far. For a medium high crowd I would rate the Clackamas R. my best prospect. Medium crowds in the Santiams should do well. For lower crowds I would rate the north coastal streams of both WA and OR the best uncrowded opps; most technical to catch them there too. The Sandy and Lewis aren't likely to get great runs of fish but are good bets too, without the crowds the Wind or even the Clack get. Researching the Columbia tribs east of the Cascades is a good prospect. The Cowlitz springer return predictions are poor enough that I think they closed it? Other ideas?

don't think they closed the Cow because of low numbers. I don't know why but I know they have alot of springers and it should be open!!!!


dc

Moderate crowds on the South Santiam??? I would hate to see a crowded river.
The South is kicking out some springers now. Its full of summers now. The river is high now but it will drop on the 19th. The river will be in kiler shape for the Floatilla II on june 2nd. There will be good numbers of both springers and summer steelhead.

Sol Duc's an option ... talked to Jim Leons this morning and he said they boated three fish yesterday, which isn't all too bad. River is very low though, be careful!

It's fine by me if ya keep telling people that the NF Lewis is not receiving a big run of Spring Chinook. Even at 1 keeper/day limit, I'm having a blast!!!!!!!!1
x

Pressures at the Wind are down considerably, with only maybe 35 boats at any one time today. Course the fishing sucks too. Do you suppose that could be the reason why boat numbers are falling?

I would have to rate the Salmon river in Idaho a 10 + Its the best run in recent history. I actually went Salmon fishing in Idaho this year and we did pretty good. The fish are in good shape and we had a blast. If we had this many salmon this year do you suppose that this would indicate that we have a run of steelhead of epic proportions headed our way??? That would just be way too cool

The spring chinook season on the Cowlitz was never opened due to the low projected returns. They may not even reach hatchery escapement. As example, during the week of May 7 -14 only 129 adult spring chinook were trapped at the barrier dam. The projected forecast for the Cowlitz was only 1000 adults. That is why there was not any season this year. Pretty sad state of affairs! Thanks Tacoma!!!

Cowlitzfisherman,

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????

What about drano lk. We stopped fishing at the wind a week or so ago and been doing good on springers here. I'm not saying its red hot or anything like that, but its been productive though. tight lines...