I was thinking about heading up there this weekend . Either Sat or Sunday. I was there one Sunday several weeks back and it was packed at 0700. What time do you need to arrive at cedar creek to claim a spot!
Also, I was curious if they are still doing better on the hatchery side or the creek side. Last I was there it was a little better on the hatchery side, but more crowded.
If anyone happens to read this Friday night and wouldn't mind posting something quick I would appreciate it. I am trying to decide to go in teh morning or on Sunday.....Thanks
Checked out the East Fork today. Water looks nice ( a little higher ) but nothing was biting at noon or so

What the heck were you fishing the East Fork for?? It's closed for all salmon as you know...and the steelhead run was done 3 or so months ago...just wondering why you would fish it so late or so early for steelhead?

Steelhead Addict,
Hopefully this helps...I keep an eye on the NF Lewis quite a bit. I live <15 minutes away. At 60K silvers/2000 return and a limit of 6 adults/day it deserves attention. On both Weds & Thurs of this week I stopped in at NF on the way home from the Toutle/Green in the late afternoon. NF has the most Silvers in it out of all the local rivers (About same as Cowlitz right now) and the fish are brand new/bright as the late silvers are showing. Trouble is typical NF Lewis silvers. They want my perfect eggs. I use fall fish to gain 50% of my egg supply so I try to chase them with spinners (Anything but eggs) when I can and save my eggs (Until I feel I have enough - then look out!) Plus with all the jacks stealing my eggs this time of year....NF silvers can be tough to get to take spinners/anything but eggs, so I drive over the NF for other options. I save fishing NF "Prime-time" for when the other rivers go out (rain) and the NF of course stays in. Anyway, both afternoons I quickly fished it around the hatchery area. I have friends that have been fishing it hard too. The fish are there. First light produces a few more fish than rest of day. On the south side, under the trees has been producing well about the same as the white pipe at the fish ladder on the north side. NF always attracts a crowd. When one guy leaves another shows up to take his place. Off the south rock are the usual "8ft-leader-line-bumping-snaggers" that have a mess load of disturbed silvers in front of them. Go get 'em! x

reply to wiggle. You may have thought it (East Fork) was done three months ago!!!!
People consider it done if you cant fish ( or boat the entire river> I found a couple deep holes that were rewarding ( at the right time of day after rain). It has definitely slowed down around mid September for me. I got some beauties out of there in late August and early Sept.
Extreme: thanks for the good info. You posted some info on the east fork a while back and I greatly appreciated it. -Thanks again. went to NF Lewis Sunday 17th and got SKUNKED, I saw no legal fish the entire morning and I was there from the crack of dawn until 0900

also wiggle, they were all steelhead, I am aware of the regs

Hey steelhead addict I live just up top on the hill on the south side of daybreak park. I also love fishing the steelhead in the lewis around late august and early september, but I have never fished it much in october. Have you ever caught many bright fish that aren't dark. Also have you ever noticed a late run of summer natives during that time span?

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Yoho to the local fishermen. I have found that the N F will hold bright Steel head late in the year. I drifted the Merwin to the meat hole the day be fore it closed. There were lots of tired steelhead in the tail outs but the fast water still held some bright fighters. Most were native. Got mine on chrome corkys with yarn. Can't wait till we can drift the Kalama again.

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dank
Keep The Rivers Clean!

Hey kalamabama I was talking about the East fork of the lewis. I was wondering if that river had any late summer natives?

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About a week ago, I fished the NF Lewis near the boat launch just downstream from Cedar Creek. I was there at dawn with about 12-15 other anglers. The cohos were everywhere. As far as I could see both upstream and downstream, they were rolling and jumping. Many of them were chrome bright. There were probably thousands of fish. The limit had been increased to six adults but after four hours of fishing, the total number of fish caught - zero. Zip. None. Not by me and not by any of the other anglers in that stretch of water. Most folks were drifting eggs, a few were plunking shrimp or eggs. I was using spinners primarily although I also threw out some eggs. I didn't even see any jacks landed. The only anglers getting any fish were the snaggers on the opposite side on the rocks.

That's not the first time this year that I've been skunked on the NF. Numerous other anglers that I've talked with report the same. For whatever reason, they're not hitting on the NF. It's a bit ironic that the limit was increased to six adults but nobody can catch any. It's also unfortunate since most of those fish are going to end up in a landfill. They need about 4,000 for the hatchery but the run is expected to be close to 80,000.


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MSB

first reply to stlhdr:
I wish I lived that close!!! ( i dont think I would ever get anything done besides fish

I dont have enough experience to know about the late arriving summer runs. Extreme (menber of this BB) knows alot about the East Fork. He give me some info a while back on Natives and different run times.
I will keep you on my list to post reports when I head out to the east fork.
Landed my first summer run there in August. it was over 16lbs. I hadnt fished it in several months, thinking the water was too low. I tossed out a #4 all brass vibrax and SLAM!!! I was in shock! I have heard of the occasional steely being pulled out of there, mostly by shear luck. Those fish have complete lockjaw. ( there are some whoppers in there now they just wont bite)
let me know what you find out about the nates

Tell me it is not so but as far as I know The East fork is closed. No fishing! I love to fish the winter run and it is about 80% native now so it is C&R time. good river no traffic.

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dank
Keep The Rivers Clean!

Hi guys.
Sthdr1 and Steelhead Addict: EF summer natives are now spread out. Used to be a distinct early run ("Springers" and I'm not talking chinook) of summer natives in April-May. These were different fish than the late winter fish that are nearly gone. They weren't as big for one and when you cleaned one the fat deposits were as large as a July lower Columbia summer-run bound for upriver Col Rvr. We used to say, "When the dogwood blooms - fish the EF".
Now the summer natives are spread out April-November. People falsely think that more return in October and November just because the rain moves 'em up outta tidewater and the rest of the river. Everything in the river moves up then. Plus the rain of course gets them more comfortable to bite. Go after early winter-runs in November and you will sometimes have loads of the pink-sided summer-runs around.
Another thing, when EF went to adipose clip for '86 return the summer natives accounted for 20% of the run. That was with plants of around 100-150K hatchery fish. Now the summer plants are down to 30K or so (ESA) so the native ratio will "falsely" seem higher.
Kalamabama: EF is closed only to chinook over 28". Winter-run is not 80% native as it still gets a "healthy" plant of 75-120K smolts. I agree that it is a good river but not your statement "No-traffic". Perhaps slightly less than easier rowing rivers but prime time EF can be just as busy as the rest of them. 10-20 Driftboat trailers stacked up on HWY503 at Lewisville Bridge. Tow trucks and Troopers writing and towing the dumb ones off over the fog line. Another 10 or more going to La Center sitting in Daybreak Park. Pontoon boats all over. Bank guys so thick that a boat can't even fish (If following good etiquette) until they get to Hamms on the lower drift.
Primetime EF. Just my $.02
x

[This message has been edited by Extreme (edited 10-19-2000).]

yep the EF can be a circus just like the Kalama or NF lewis. If you hit it at certain times you may have one or two guys around ( thats in the quiet places ) During prime run time. I enjoy it because it is so close to my house!