First time I have posted. I am a high school teacher in Kirkland. Got some time off (12/15-1/2). Thinking of taking a kid and his dad from my survival class to catch some steelhead. I am new to the area. Orginally from Spokane - great trout and bass fishing. Had some great success with pinks and silvers this year!! Wow! I am hooked. Never fished for steelhead before. Where can I take these guys for some hook-ups... (We will be fishing from the bank).

Even though it can be a zoo most of the time, Reiter ponds on the Sky should give your party at least a decent opportunity to hook a steelhead. Do a search here on the site for directions, and effective techniques.

Cracker bar is still a favorite in Sultan. Cross the Sultan river and take the first right. Cross the Sky and take the first left into a gravel parking lot. You'll see guys on the south side of the river on the gravel bar when you cross the Sky. This doesn't get the pressure it once did, and can be great fishing.

what school do you teach at?
tyler

Drove by the cracker bar today....there ain't one..completly underwater! I haven't seen it that high since????

It will be a few days before it drops enough to fish, that is if it don't rain some more, which it is supposed to do.

Yeah, Cracker bar was definetly underwater today. Was out cruisin around and about the only place guys were fishin were at reiter. There couldnt have been more than 20 open feet to fish at the ponds and there were 10-15 rigs... I wouldnt take first timers out to reiter in the winter season because it can be frusterating trying to find an open rock and very easy to tangle other guys lines. Cracker bar or Lewis st bridge would be a good choice.

Thank you so much for your advice. I'll check the river flow conditions before we go.

I teach at Christ Church Academy... Got a full schedule ... Earth Science,Basic Science,Chemistry,Biology,Physics,Algerbra,Pre-algerba, and a Survival class during lunch...keeps me busy...fishing helps keep me sane!

Do you think blue creek on the cowlitz would be worth the drive?
I am considering Cook creek as well sounds like it could be HOT!!
Once again thanks for the Help. I hope to be able to return the favor!!!

Nathan,

I haven't fished Reiter, but my guess is Blue Creek is going to be just as crowded. However, there is gravel bar across from the usual BC bank access area that I believe has public access. Last time I was down there I saw a few mountain bikes and a truck pulled up. Search this site for Cowlitz public access and you might come up with something.

JMS

Nathan,
Any time the Sky drops below 7000fps at Sultan it will be fishable at Reiter. Saturday it dropped from 7000 to 5000fps and it was good both sides. Still runnin' at 13,400fps as of 8:30pm tonight, but it will drop fast if there is a break in the rain or it gets colder up there, and snows.
I'm pretty sure this won't be anybody's zipper lip, so I will share this info with you, there is a good bit of river bank almost neglected at Reiter, down river on the south side, up on both sides, don't be afraid to get away from the crowd, you might be pleasantly suprised.
Good fishin'

I have taken a couple of novice steelheaders to both the craker bar and Lewis street and had sucess. I would stay away from rieter (combat fishing is not for begginers).

Tight lines
Baddawg