Howdy all:

Just a few more steelhead questions:

* Is this year supposed to be a banner year for steelhead, similar to this years salmon returns?
(oh, please, oh, please, oh, please!!!!)

* Where can someone research to find out what the biologists are predicting for various steelhead runs?

* How can someone research the basic run timing on various rivers and streams? I can't fish them all, and I'm not good enough to be convinced that the steelhead aren't there just because I'm not catching them.

* Will OP steelheading be cranked up by Thanksgiving? I know this one sounds stupid, but I've never fished for steelhead that early (I'm usually lucky to get out to the OP 3-4 times a year).

* I've scoured my Washingtom Atlas for some smaller streams that head to salt water. IS there any way to tell which streams hold steelhead? I just love hiking and fishing smaller streams. I only know of a couple that hold steelhead, but I'm sure there are lots. Not looking for your personal favorites here, just some insight into how to even tell which ones have steelie runs.

Dan,

By all indications this should be a very good year for winter steelhead. There are already reports of many catches that have occured before mid-November. T-Day is considered the traditional unofficial kick off to the winter steelhead season. Although the peak for brats (hatchery steelies) usually is between mid-Dec. thru most of January.

As for run timings and predictions per given river, I think a high percentage of them will fall within the above brat timing. The catch & release season on nates (native steelies) is mostly from early Feb. on into April. You can try these sites to see what other info you can come up with. ...

WDFW - http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/

ODFW - http://www.dfw.state.or.us

Let us know anything interesting that you find.


To find out if a small river has a steelhead run in it, try two things. The listed sites above. And within the peak run timing, a small river with a steelhead run will have fishermen on it during the weekend. Discovering for yourself is the most fun. Suprise! Those are called zipperlips, so keep them under your hat.

RT