I had my best steelheading day this last fall on a BC tributary---10 landed with 2 over twenty pounds. I was wondering what kind of numbers the overall majority put up.

Two trips come to mind. One on the Nisqually where I made three cast for three Steelhead. One chrome, one with a strip and one spawner. The fishing use to be soooo good on that river! Second trip was up this way where in about two hours I hooked up with eighteen wild summer run steelhead and landed thirteen of them. Fresh beautiful fish up to fourteen pounds. Unfortunately this area is now closed to all fishing but I'm sure the fishing is still red hot at the right time of the year.

Last year on Thanksgiving morning me and two buds were on a northern OP river. The day was UNBELIEVABLE!!
With a float and bait or jig the three of us along with the other 4 guys on the gravel bar hooked chomers 1 out of every 4-5 casts. We did this for Hours. I've never in ten years had a stealhed day like that, not even close.
The river last year was low for a couple weeks and that night a huge rainstorm hit. I think the fish possibly schooled up because of the oncoming storm to make a run for the hatchery. ANY THOUGHTS on mine?

For me it's not about the numbers. There have been trips where I have hooked 30+ steelhead in a day, but for me it is the quality of the river and the overall fishing experience.

One of my best days ever was about 15 years ago on a Snohomish trib where I hooked 6 steelhead in about three hours, just after a heavy snowfall the night before. It was so silent out and I was all alone on a perfect piece of water. What an incredible day!

A close second was taking my wife on her first salmon trip and watching her land a chrome bright Hoh king. Her smile was priceless, and she never again questioned why I am so drawn to the sport. Thanks again to Bob for his expert service on that trip!

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Cheers!
SA

Had one three years back on the Lyre that is probably the best yet, for steelhead anyway. It was after a big rain and all the other rivers were puking mud so I thought maybe the Lyre would still be in. Got there at light and the river was so brown that it looked as if someone had taken a dump in it. There wasnt another soul around, it was obvious why. After about two hours of nothing I found a quiet piece of water that wasnt moving, maybe eight feet long by five feet wide, I threw my eggs, or should I say put my pole straight out and let line out, it wasnt but five seconds and I felt a fish nibbling down on my bait, set the hook and bammo a nice chromer comes flying out of the water. I ended up losing that fish but hooking ten other chrome bright fish and getting my two for the day in a matter of about an hour. All were caught like two feet from the bank. It is really true, when it is brown, just find a quiet piece of water and fish it at your feet.

Its not the number of fish you bring to the boat but spending time with my boys now 21 and 16 doing what we love to do., fish and being together. They grow up so fast, only a dad can know what I'm talking about.

For me it was 4 years ago a buddy took me to a secret creek , and told me to expect a couple fish. On this particular ditch we fished all day hiking about 7 miles and fishing are way to the mouth. First cast i hook and land a 12lb nate, and it just got better and better!! We were hooking fish all (steel) day it was unblievable, like no other trip in the boonies. I think for the day I banked 18 and lost ? I dont know how many. My buddy landed a bunch too. The fish wernt huge, but it was awasome.. We got some beautiful pics too. Of course now its closed.

Not the biggest numbers for steelhead, but maybe the most memorable day. A buddy and I were fishing by his house on the north fork in late winter. He hooked and landed about a 15lb native, then two casts later, I landed one that was probably about 17.
Early last month I went out for silvers one morning before work. In 45 minutes I landed 5 silvers from 7-12lbs and one 5lb wild steelhead. Went home, took a nap, and went to work.

fishbreath,

Unless I'm mistaken, I used to fish that same now "closed" water...WWU, Class of '93.

Summer runs, springers, the occasional humpy or sockeye, lots of dollies...and very few fishermen.

The gamie up there told me they had to close it above S-Creek because the loggers up there were poaching the springers out of the falls hole, where they really got kegged up when the water dropped.

Major bummer.

Fish on...

Todd

Mine was last year. RAIN RAIN. Good company, caught a few fish, just a nice day on the river.

I have had a lot of great days on a lot of great rivers... however, the best would have to be the first time I got my wife to go with me and she caught 3 steelhead in two hours. Its been easyier to get those kitchen passes ever since

My day was on a certain river in Idaho. Won't bore you with detail, but countless steel and plenty in the teens. I've had great days on the OP and east-sound rivers, but NOTHING comes close to comparing to that day, in numbers AND size.

My best day fishing was 2 years ago. I dumped the boat in about 300 yards above my house, my buddy hooks a fish within about 3 minutes of throwing the plugs out. We end up with four chrome brats in 45 minutes. Then pull the boat up on the bank behind the house and the wife has bicuits and gravy all ready for us at 9:30 am. This wasn't the most fish I have ever caught but being on the home river and so close to the house makes it memorable.

My best day steelheading was march of "02".The place was Elk river in southern Oregon.I hooked 14 landed 13 and the 14th was a 15lber.Most fish ran in that 10 to 12 pound range.The only thing I didn't try was bobber jig.Like said above I don't beleive it's how many you hook or land but the over all experience is what makes it right.I've had day's of hooking 6 landing 5 last year that were just as memorable.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I would have to say the day of fishing that I have ecver done wasnt up here. It was in New Hampshire fishing with my dad of the Isla Of Shoals catching stripers that wouldnt stop bititng all in all we caught about 60 stripers between the 2 of us. Most of them where to big to keep ( size regs like sturgeon ) but we found a couple that we kill and eat but it was great nothing like spending a day fishing with your dad.
Also I would have to say Ice Fishing the Winnipasaukee lake in New Hampshire for lake trout caught one that was 28 lbs and that let me get first place in the derby. Gave me a life long admission to the derby and $2,000 for spending cahs that I shortly blew on my first car that was really a bad mistake

I have two.
1) Last year I took my dad (78 years young) to the NF Nehlam hatchery where he can fish off the Handicapped Ramp. I got him a spinning rod with some tuffline on it fixed a bobber and jig about 4 feet below. He had not fished for Steelhead in 25 years. We stood there with him casting up stream for about 20 minutes watching the float go buy time after time than all of a sudden it WAS GONE I yelled fish and instead of setting the hook he looked around to see who had the fish on litte did he know it was him I grabed the pole to set the hook but we missed the fish We sat down had some coffee and BS'ed for a while and got back at it I told him if it goes down again I will grab the pole and set the hook. 5 min. later BOBBER DOWN I grabbed the pole (Still don't remember doing it) set the hook and the fight was on a couple minutes later on the bank is the first steelhead that my dad has caught in 25 years I asked him what he wanted to do now he said he wanted to go home and Grill up some fresh Steelhead so we went home. That is one of those days that I will allways remember still laugh about it with him. When he look around for someone else to have a fish on but it was him

2) fished the siletz last year boondoggeling eggs in tide water I hooked and released 6 chinook My fishing partners none. Good eggs is all I can say.

This summer...Seiku...12 kings 20 to maybe 40 in a morning. Drop down fish on...land him...drop down fish on....all morning deliriously tiring.

Yeah, I definitly agree the best day is rarely the one with the most fish.

For me it was a couple years ago when me and my fishing buddy each landed a steelhead on the same day.

We'd been steelhead fishing together almost two years before this finally happened, pretty maddening. Plenty of days when I'd catch two, he"d lose one or three and vice versa.

From our experiences we'd never pulled a fish out of that hole so it's now aptly named the "double" hole. Yeah, it wasn't a true double, but after two years, who cares.

Any trip down new water...I like learning new spots.

In particular though my favorite trips are for the Nates when you get a nice sunny day.

With that said one day on the Sky, all by myself, 10 hen that went buck wild and easily was doing 30 mph across the river and tried to make it back to the salt. No such luck for him, WHACK!

Several years ago a friend and I fished early one morning during an August heat wave. The water was extremely low and clear and we didn't touch a thing. Back at camp we grabbed the trout rods and hiked into an Alpine lake. That afternoon we fled the mountians in a monsoon and lightning storm. Around six we where back at the same spot we where skunked at that morning. Every cast brought another extremely PO'd and acrobatic Nate to the spinner. I remember looking at a gin clear hole thinking there is no way a steelhead is in this pool. Casted the spinner and watched a whole school of Nates racing each other to the spinner. I lost more than I landed but have forever since laughed at the notion that steelhead are not aggresive fish!

About five years ago my buddy and I went to a small zipperlip stream on the OP. We had the place totally to ourselves and we just started to hook one after the other. Not a huge number like some of you guys , but we managed to hook and release five. The scenery was incredible and the solitude was outstanding.....

I have three days that bring back fond memories.

1) I went 11 for 17 on summers runs. It was a day that every place you thought a fish should be there was. I actually broke a few off because I was tired of chasing fish down river.

2) Hooking 20 nates during CNR. We were at 19 at the launch just wanting to hit the big two O, we kept pounding the water, and found her.

3) This might be my fondest memory. The day we brought a 43.5" chromer to hand. I asked my buddy to grab the camera, then he replied in a real low volume subtle voice, "I left it in the truck." I told those two that day that no one would believe us when we broke the 30 mark. I am still right to this day.

Fly Fishing behind gear fisherman and hooking steelhead right where they just got done fishing, and seeing the look on there face when you do it!

I did this seven times on my last steelheading trip on October.

I don't know...., I lost count after 1. but it sounds like you guys had some luck.

To me just being on the water is the best experience. However, I remember catching my first steelie on the Toutle (pre-eruption) and spey fishing for big nates in April on the Skagit.

I think my best day ever was when I had saved enough money from my paper route to buy my first boat- a used 12' Kalamth with a 6-horse Johnson... $400! Not bad for a 12-year old huh? Unfortunately, she went up with the old PD Boathouse fire. Boy did I ever miss a lot of school when I was old enough to drive!

Hi All

This isn't about Stealhead but it is the best of many.
Mine would have to be our 1st late Sept trip to the Quillayute 17 years or so ago.This was with my wife (we had been married a year). It was our 1st real Salmon fishing trip. We got into the Mora area Saturday afternoon and it was loaded with fish. We didn't get anything then but the next day we were there at daylight. 3 guys in a driftboat had boated 2 and lost a 3rd (Kings). I asked what they were using and they told me. The rest of the day I only got to fish about 1/2 the time because I was either helping my wife fight big Kings or I was re-tieing for her. She ended the day with 40lb and 25 lb kings. She also hooked 1 that started taking her up-river. 1 guy was nice enough to come and pick her up in his raft. The fish never broke surface and finally got in a log-jam and broke off. Guys in boats in front of us, were saying they wish they had their video cameras so they could show their wives how much fun we were having etc. After that she was hooked. Many a day has she outfished me and a lot of other guys. A few years later on the lower Hoh I was ready to head for home (late on Sunday). I went to the van, changed etc. She said she would be right up. 1/2 hour later, after I was blowing the horn, she finally came out to the Van. I asked what took her so long. She indicated a fresh batch of Coho had moved in the hole and she wasn't ready to leave.

So now when I'm in Forks and want to stay an extra day it's "no problem honey, get 1 for me". It does make life easier!!!

There have been quite a few but here is just a couple!! The first was back in the 80's on the Calawah I was with a friend and just before light we hiked down to the outlet of the Hatchery there were a few guy's there waiting for it to get light .As I stepped out in the water to start to fish a guy tells me to wait(fishhead)
so I sat there until they let me cast. I hooked 13 fish on 15 casts and landed 11!! The other
one was on the Puyallup we put the boat in at the BMX park and threw the plugs out fish-on
this was the first of 4 fish in the same hole!!
We turn around to see another rig pulling out on the gravel bar as I was rowwing back up to the bar the guy gets out of the truck and say's
hows fishing we said good we are done and it was only 7:30am!!

My most memorable ,was the first steelie I ever caught.That day a friend and myself ,who were both still looking for our first steelhead after 3 years of hard searching,connected with our first fish ever .Both fish were chrome brite and around 12 lbs.Then I hooked another one on my very next cast ,they have all come easier since that day.Other than that ,any day I can spend on the Thompson river ,is very memorable.If you've caught fish in this river you will know what I mean ,freight trains ,have had my arse kicked many times ,almost all of them ,were on this river.

I think one of the days I remember the most a friend, my wife and myself hiked six miles up on an Olympic National Park river this was back in Jan. 1967 because of the time it took to get there we only had time to fish one hole if we wanted to get back to the trail head before dark (had to wade the river to get to the trail head) we fished a hole near an old homestead and landed 10 chrome brite steelhead in about an hour we never kept count on how many fished we lost.

I actually had my best 2 days of fishing last thursday and friday, take in mind that I am from Michigan and fishing a lake Michigan river. On Thursday I fished 3 spots on foot with my centrepin setup and landed around 30 fish with around 60 hooked, I never thought that these numbers would be duplicated by myself anytime soon. On Friday I fished a couple spots that produced the day before and hit the mother load of chromers, from 7am until when my arm just about fell off, hit a fish nearly every drift and only had a slow period for around 5 minutes. I do not know what the numbers were but I do know that it was insane and probably around 60 fish landed with many others lost. Most of the steel was around 5-8lb cookie cutters with only a few pushing over 10 but it was a day that I will not soon forget. I just love warm wet weather in November.

Yesterday was a day I'll remember for a long time, watching 10 year old Trevor on his 1st steelhead trip ever nail 2 hatchery steelhead, he got the 1st on bobber & eggs then later in the day I let him pick out a jig, he picked my least favorite 1 and within 5 minutes "bobber down" second steelhead in the boat, his very next cast, bobber down again, this fish was a little bigger and almost spooled him, his dad helped turn the fish around and gave the rod back to Trev, who fought it to within about 5 feet of the boat and we realized it was a silver in good shape, just before we could scoop it the hook came out. Not a bad way to start a fishing career, Good job Tevor.
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I just realized, the two over twenty in my kickoff thread occured over the course of a couple days (the specifics become gray on good trips like that). The tally was 10 total, one of which went twenty pounds: still my best day.

Hadmany great trips, but this year on a river opened in Oct. took my women out and she hooked one,in three more hours got another five, I had earlier hiked down in the canyon to hook three of them, beautiful warm day, one fish for the grill and when I got back up top she was waiting with a cold beer, we went out to a 5star dinner (sun mountain and then spent the night making love, very great trip

Took my Dad and Brother out on the Nooch for a DB trip and help guide them to their first steelhead each.

The best part was when my dad hook his fish. I heard a splash and looked downstream in time to see this steelhead hit the water, and my dad's arm, only his arm as teh rest of him was under water, holding his rod high because he had slipped at the time the fish hit. He regained his footing and reeled in the fish.

My brother hooked his fish on a jig, and I saw the takedown. I asked him if he was going to set the hook, which he did, and we helped him land his fish.

Hopefully we can do the same trip again sometime soon.

Andy

The first time I landed a king on my Fly rod and the first Steelhead on my Fly rod.

I've had many great days.....but three come to mind:

A fall trip for coho on the Skagit several years ago with Dave Vedder, Bryan Morse, and the late Bill Davis. I had the hot rod, 14 hits with Dick Nites and I landed them all.(C&R)

Another fall day on the Snohomish for coho. I put in late, but knew the tide was right. Went to my honey hole . I had contributed to the feast .

Actually, my best day was this coming Friday.

Rivers headed off the chart, cold clear weather to follow, can you say Brat-O-Rama. I'm stoked like a campfire in a drunks elk camp.

Steeliefreak, I hate you and your state !!!!! Your fishery is top notch, especially with all the wild steel around now. For me my best day is some where in the neighboorhood of 50 fish. Unfornately the past few years our runs have plummetted. Except for this year had 33 fish yesterday, to me that is one of my best days cause reminds me of how the good old days were. Yet, in reality my favorite days haven't been marked as days with huge numbers of fish but of unique fish. By far my most memoriable day is my second day on the olympic pennisula, got my first steel pushing the 20lb mark. Can remember that thing jumping and feeling my heart just about explode. If I didn't catch another fish the rest of the trip, that would have been just fine. For salmon, there are two days that come to mind. A freind and I stumbled upon a big school of chrome kings, had a fish on all day if one of us didn't have a fish on something was wrong. It got boring after a while, or a day float fishing with skein in the harbor. Had charter boats all around us beating the water with no results and 4 of us on the pier head having doubles and a few triples on constantly. Never seen boat fisherman in soo much turmoil, hehehe.