It just might be me but the steelheading has kinda been a bit on the slow side in this area. Please help me out and point me in the general direction of where one might have some luck catchin a fish or two.
My concern is that I have a 12 year old boy that really enjoys fishin but time after time we end up with not even gettin a take down. I do not want him to get down and think that this fishin thing is for the birds.
Any suggestions??

Ringold has been hot. I know guys who, up until a week or two ago, were catching between 5 and 10 a day. I avoided the fishery because I could only go weekends and dislike the combat fishing thing even out of a boat. No clue how the fishing is now but will ask.

I posted earlier looking for a report about Lyons Ferry. If there are fish there they are easy to catch on floats.

Will PM you later today or thsi evening. Have another idea where your boy can probably catch a steelie right here close to home assuming water levels are right. Can he drift fish?

My son has tried drifting before but like alot of begining drifters he hasn't quite managed the "touch".
I hate using a bobber and just sitting there at one spot but I may need to change my frame of mind...
Generally we drift with shrimp or pull plugs from the boat. I usually wait until Jan.- Feb. to stand on the bank (& drift) and hit the Grande Rhonde- I love that place!

Mac

Mac,
61 Steelies, 8 salmon in 33 night trips to McNary. 8 of those trips were skunks. It is not like the last few years. All the fish moved thru our area in September when the water was too warm. Still fish to be caught but it makes for a lot of hours. Dress warm and be safe.

Is it to much of me to ask what you've been using to do that well? Honestly I won't tell anyone!

Lighted K-13's and the new lighted vortexes. Hang a chunk of shrimp off the front treble. Troll slow, preferably with an electric. Be patient.

Welcome to this board FEAR NO FISH!!!.

Hey Fear no Fish, is that total to your rod, or to the boat? If that is to one rod that's some great fishing, if it's to the boat with three or four of you then obviously it's considerably slower.

Best Regards

RM

Fear No Fish-
Thanks for the tip...my brother is coming over from the west side for Thanksgiving- (looking forward to his visit) so will take heed to your advise.

Mac

Try above ice harbor from the bank or off the jetty at Charboneau Park with Jig/Shrimp and bobber. Also, the Grande Ronde should be filled with fish although the water is running real low right now. There is also the Tucannon and a little later on, the Touchet. From a boat, fish the confluence of the snake and clearwater. Lot's of fish in there and you can fish with shrimp and bobber or my preferred method, trolling plugs. You can also free drift bait offf the bottom, or free drift shrimp/Jig/Bobber. Lot's of fishing still ahead. If you are real brave, you could fish McNary at night with lighted quickfish and vortex with a small of piece of shrimp attached to the front treble. Fear No Fish should be re-named to "FEAR NO COLD".


Sambo

Talked to a guy who was anchored just off the Charboneau (sp?) park marina jetty this last Friday. Cant remember how many he caught although it was at least a couple. He watched 8 fish landed off the jetty and heard more were picked up at the road hole (between park and dam by the outhouses). None that he saw had any size to them. Probably lots of rods in the water but most of them use crappy bait and fish at the wrong depth. If you have your act together and they are biting odds you will be one of the catchers.

Got to put in your time! By this time last year we had a 17# and 20# in the boat. Lets all head to John Day and get an idea when the school is headed our way!

Try the Touchet R. It's a fun little stream that can be quite good for steelies and the occasional brown. It might also be a good place for your son to learn how to drift fish.

Last night, up secret creek, above secret dam(McNary) my son landed a 39.5 inch Native steelie. It was his biggest Steelie yet. About a half hour later he landed a 35 inch hatchery brat. Still fish coming thru the system. Ran up to Ringold this afternoon and saw 2 fish caught on guys drifting bait in sleds. Jake and I were backtrolling plugs but had no takers and had to come home to PRIME RIB! Cost co carrot cake for dessert. Mmmmmmm! Happy Thanksgiving!