ive been doing decent latley supprisingley on spinners.Ive thrown bait but just get attacked by smolts all my fish this summer are bucks and on spinners,strange i usualey use bait. i wonder why they wont hit bait.

I too have taken several summers this year on spinners-been fishing up the gorge a ways. It seems to me that I typically catch more bucks than hens on spinners too.Does anyone have any idea why that is? Is is a territorial thing? I keep a pretty good log of my fishing in the winter too-I will have to check that out as well.

Bait- the most effective way to catch all species of fish... The washougal has been pooring out fish on bait. First the river is running close to 62 degrees which isn't exactly spinner water. Keep trying bait and ignore the smolt, you'll catch fish!!!
Keith

I have started tossing spinners also this year or at least more than I have in the past. It took awhile to get the hang of it. I mean to get to the point that I was catching fish with them not only by chance. They can work well. I like them in the shallow tail outs works great and you can cover alot of area. I still drift bait also but find spinners work better some times. I also find that when I am rowing the boat I get more fishing in than if I am drifting bait. One well placed cast every so often then back to the sticks to keep the guys drifting in the right zone.

Hey fishinmachin, are you still fishing the lower river? BTW I thought you said you were using sandshrimp earlier this year to get all them fish?

FM, you out there?

just curious to how much pressure the washougal gets. is it pretty packed up in there? if it is, is there anywhere where you guys might know of that could offer some summer steelies. my bro and i are planning a trip next week up there, but we're not sure. what colors/sizes are you guys using right now with the water being hot and clear? thanx a ton for the advice!

The lower Washougal is getting a lot of pressure get up out of town and you'll be alone but with fewer fish. The skamania stock steelhead hold in the lower river then bolt for the hatchery. If you want to fish spinners think small and chrome.
cast to the head of a run then reel the lure through it keeping it barely spinning and just off the bottom. The water is low but with this unstable weather patterns it has been staying cool.