Sick humor I know, but I sure used to have fun catching steelhead right at other guys feet while fishing hatchery deadlines during high turbid water conditions.
Don't fish deadlines much anymore (ok Boogie excluded), but am always tempted when water starts dropping on conditions like this. It amazes me how many guys cast across river or long line in these conditions. I guess many fisherman are convinced steelhead hold in the same spots whether high or low water.

Oh man, now I actually want to fish the poo water. I hate to admit it but if I wasn't at work right now I probably would give it a shot. I'm a sick, sick man.

High water fish move like a rocket up river and don't stop, the darker the water the faster they seem to run. Have caught silvers 6 inches off the bank in water like that. Big, bold, smelly and noisy drives em crazy as the schools fly by. If you figure it this way you will catch fish in high water: Where were you standing in lower water, that is where I should fish now, remembering those dry channels and drop offs on the gravel bar will get you into high water fish.

Well it looks like most rivers will be in shape in the next day or two and I've got some gut feelings about a couple holes

In shape the next day or two!!!!!!.Whatcha smokin,I want some,dreams are free.May as well dream big if your gonna dream.Good luck,
SZ

Staying optimistic works quite well for me most of the time. Maybe I'll take back "most rivers" and lets just say few will drop into shape. For instance, and I'm no expert but the sky is dropping in quite fast considering what it went through. It's currently at 15,200 and 10.54' and is still on the drop. If it can get to around 7-8K by friday I'd be very happy. The sky crested at 57,000 on Sunday so it's coming back quick. However, maybe even if it does drop to 7-8K the water conditions could still be less than ideal. I'm a newb though, I'll admit it, and am learning every day. Comments?

Like maybe somewhere with "Creek" and 2,000 of your bosom buddies in it.
Try Blue, Tokul, Stevens or my perennial personal fave, Beaver Crik.

They are right at the hatchery in 6-12" of water in the trees & bushes. Couple of years ago during the flood I went to Reiter when the water was just below the outlet sloughs. Fish were milling around in less than 12" of water. Had one Coho literally jump out of the water & land on my boots. Hatchery steelhead jumped & landed right next to me on the metal grate between the sloughs.

Haha. Yeah, I know... But you know what? I'm new to this game and I'm just trying to fish and learn as much as possible so for now I don't have a problem fishing places with the rest of the meek, like blue creek, barrier and reiter ponds, while I gain an understanding for the behavior of these fish and reading water and such. For now it works for me and I'm having fun. I do see where you're coming from though Mooch. No harm no foul.

Drew

From listening to other expert anglers and fishing for a few years for steelhead....my answer would be dont fish a river thats chocolate brown. you need some sort of visibility to even make it possible to catch a fish without literally hitting them on the nose. So like these guys said...if you ABSOLUTELY have to fish...look for seams/resting spots in shallower water away from the heavy water. also when the craziest places will hold fish. Your other bet is to look for a MAIN tributary (ex. columbia, cowlitz, quillayute, ) and look for creeks that otherwise would be 1' of water that flow into the main trib. since its high water the creeks will be small streams...but usually clearer water. the fish will move up into side tribs to avoid the mess coming downstream. Reasearch, google maps, and leg work will reward you with a gem in the rough. I have a few streams on the columbia that are MONEY on crazy high water. Think like a fish. Look up VHawk on here if hes still on the board. He was fly fishing in the ditch on the Skokomish and hooking ( they were biting, not flossing) silvers and chum. the ditch in the pictures, had clearer water.

Haven't seen Vince around these parts since I slinked back here. Didn't he star in a video catching chummlies off his back door step on a Skok flood one year?

I was not really planning on fishing blown rivers. I just wanted to understand what the fish do when it floods. The sky is at 9,660 and 8.95' though so it just may be in great shape by friday. I enjoy it most when it's flowing between 6 and 7K up there.

My theory is the fish

A) want slower less silty water
B) don't like getting whacked by leaves and crap that they can't see and slower water gives them a better chance to see and get outta the way

Steelhead will even pull right in amongst the reeds which is a pretty safe place to be and the reeds will block alot of the crap.

I talked to Vince often...just didnt know if he still posted on here. Never really asked. and yeah...hahah he had a video and pictures of him fighting a chum through a dudes backyard , around a dog house and garage.

best advice brutha....bill herzog is a weird guy at the best of times but he really knows his crap. find his book on steelheading. its pretty spot on. all kinds of info about all kinds of conditions. Gear, reading water, and tricks of the trade.

Welcome back Merg,Vince don't come around here anymore.. how bout some new pics....thanks....Rod

Ha ha. they are coming brutha!!! i got my 9 weight fly rod and im hunting bonefish here in hawaii. the addiction finally got to me. oh and yes...scantily clad women