Looking to take my dad on a trip for steelhead on the Quinault. Can I get a suggestion on when to go and with what guide?

Thanks.

For numbers now through Jan. For trophy fish Feb- April. Robbin Rhoades is tops.

I'm with Dave, Robbin is the best. He only has a few dates open in January. so don't miss out, I'm going!

Another endorsement for Robbin Rhoades.....

And yet another for Rhoades, but he can be pretty booked by this time of year. Hurry.

We have been throwing that idea around also. A bunch of desert folks that have fished for steelhead for way too many years and never been to the O.P- How much is the avg trip on the Quinault per person. I have been thinking about a march trip and then spend a couple of days with some other guides, maybe Bob himself if he is not booked up. Would be neat to see some of the places you guys are talking about. One of our crews dad has a place in Sequim (sp) Is that a realistic base of operations for this type of trip ???

You can check out Robbin's web site for all that info.

Quinault Guide Service

Robbin charges $150 per person for a day on the water.

Check out the photos on his site and you be the judge if it's worth it or not.

I second Rhoades,However let's hope the river clears up between now and February.I've got him booked for Feb 1st and Mar 7th.
Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

B-run
Sequim is ok but if there is a freeze, road conditions will bad before dawn, especially if you don't drive them much they seem much worse to me than the eastside hwys this time of year with all the moisture, tree shadows, ect.
Money does't grow on my trees either but consider staying closer if there's gonna be cold weather.

well if Robin is all booked up I would give Dean johnstone a call I have met that robin guy on the salmon and the lower Queets a couple of times I didn't care to much for him I have used dean 2 or 3 times a year for thr last 6 or 7 years and have never had a bad trip always lots of fish

Of course I will get flamed royally for this, but I say shame on any board members that complain about the unfair policies r/t tribal versus non-tribal fisheries, yet are willing to pay to fish that tribal-only river..... To me it is just the principle. Same with the Casino's.

But typical in this country is the attitude that "as long as I get what I want I don't care" and that is what this is, nothing more. Willingness to "sell out" for that 20+# steelhead is wrong no matter what justification is stated....... He may be the best guide in the world (and a good person to boot), but I refuse to support any tribal endeavor until they begin to give two shiots for non-tribal "citizens" and fairness.....

MC

MC.....I disagree. Robbin Rhoades is a hard working guide who opposes his own tribe's netting practices. I would fish with him any day of the week and be proud of it. I have spent many days on the river debating fishing issues with Robbin and respect him and what he does.

The other issue MC is that even though I may disagree with the Indian's netting, I can categorically state that the Quinault tribe produces the best Hatchery Steelhead in this State. And that's worth something too.

Happy New Year.

Robbin is a class act, educated in native american history, politically savvy, and one of the best guides in the northwest. I also disagree with the post critical of those who would fish with a tribal guide. I fish with Robbin because he is a friend of 21 years and the Quinalt system produces some great fish. We always have a great time up there.

MC: What Grandpa said in spades:

Robbin has worked long and hard to help his tribe see there is more benefit to them in guiding than in gill netting. He has made some progress, but it a tough sell. I think that if he and a few others show the gill netters that they are making a good living guiding - and promoting C&R as Robbin does - that's a good thing. We can boycott the good guys like Robbin and leave him and the others with NO way to make a buck except gill netting. That seems really counterproductive to me.

Dave...you are right about Robbin...He is frustrated that members of his own tribe don't want to work...We were discussing the opportunities tha tribe could have by promoting the Quinault as a destination fishing resort...Robbin listened and would like the idea himself but he says the tribal members just wouldn't be willing to work as hard as he does to make that idea a reality. Can you imagine a lodge at Amanda Park dedicated to fishing the Quinault , Salmon and Queets...all on the rez? Alot of the families that hold fishing sites on the river for netting do not even fish it themselves but sub it out. Most of them do not have the savvy and work ethic Robbin has and that is too bad.

I love to stay in Robbins rental house so I can walk across his front yard to the boat in the morning.

If he was not guiding on tribal controlled water you would most likely not even know his name. So he takes advantage of the system. I am a black and white person and in the case of fishing rights in the NW you are either an American citizen that has to play by the same rules as the rest of us or you are someone with special privledge.

And your point is? Sure he lives by the rules he was born with. Rules he had absolutly nothing to do with establishing. Wouldn't you in the same circumstances?

The point is he is working hard to STOP tribal neting. That makes him an ally as I see it.

Tribal Guides are alot better than tribal netts, no doubt about that

But one thing for sure I would never pay money to fish the Quinault, Queets, Salmon or Raft. Thats my choice and if you do I dont agree with you but thats your choice.

The way I see It why should I have to pay for to fish for hatchery fish that I already paid for with my tax dollars. I paid for them but someone else has exclusive rights to them, it makes no sense to me at all.

Come on now....You pay any guide don't you? All about the same price? You catch hatchery fish that your tax money pays for and you pay the white guide but you won't pay the indian guide??? Sour grapes me thinks. I have a few fishing buddies who think the same way and I respect that. I also respect any honest hard working guide who knows how to show me a quality day of fishing. I like the Quinault because it is pristine and quiet and has no houses or people on it...I have seen maybe 5-10 people total on a trip down that river. To me that is worth every cent.

Another endorsement in the form of a story:

Last fall (2002) I took an important client for two days of fishing with Robbin on the Quinault. We stayed in his rental house. On the first day he drove from his house which is right next to the bridge on 101 at Amanda Park up river to the lake which is not very far at all. We tossed spinners near the pilings. I figured ..oh well..Robbin is going to make out on this trip as he is right next to his house. After fishing for an hour or so he said let's go...he walked over to his house and got his truck and trailer and pulled the boat out of the water. We followed him on a really long drive through logging roads and eventually came out at a backwater on the river where we launched the boat. We proceeded to get into tons of Kings and silvers and had a ball. We came back to the house at dark after spending all day fishing. The next day he did it again. My customer and I had a blast and really appreciated how Robbin put out 110% when he really didn't have to so we could have a great experience.

That my boy is why I fish on the Quinault with Robbin Rhoades. Not because he is an indian but because he is a good guy and a pro.

I also appreciate his side of the story concerning tribal fishing rights. He knows the heritage he comes from well and can express himself well too. He doesn't seem to hold it against me that I am disappointed with most of what the tribes do when it comes to fishing. I guess the lesson is to listen to both sides. Make your beliefs known and stand up for them with all you've got. I know I am going to have to work with the tribes and look forward to trying. Refusing to talk to them is not the answer just as much as caving in them when they are wrong.