winter steelhead season starts the 1st

[curado]

scent only unless you have the jigs with the mini ruber bands on them

[jens]

scent only unless you have the jigs with the mini ruber bands on them

I ran into Ray of Rays Bait Company yesterday at Wholesale Sports and he mentioned doing the rubberband thing to secure your bait. He said his son makes jigs with the rubberband already on them. Ray is top notch- very nice guy.

[kickerfish]

OK folks, I get to leave the desert for some much needed R&R soon. Here is the situation: I will be home for the first two weeks of January and would like to get an opportunity for a steelhead. Where is the best place to go during those two weeks? I am in Thurston county and not looking to travel too far since I will be only fishing when my boys are at school. Family time is far more inportant since I haven't seen them in 7 months.

[bionic_one]

OK folks, I get to leave the desert for some much needed R&R soon. Here is the situation: I will be home for the first two weeks of January and would like to get an opportunity for a steelhead. Where is the best place to go during those two weeks? I am in Thurston county and not looking to travel too far since I will be only fishing when my boys are at school. Family time is far more inportant since I haven't seen them in 7 months.

Try the Bogachiel


Try your jigs without scent/bait first.

[jbball50]

OK folks, I get to leave the desert for some much needed R&R soon. Here is the situation: I will be home for the first two weeks of January and would like to get an opportunity for a steelhead. Where is the best place to go during those two weeks? I am in Thurston county and not looking to travel too far since I will be only fishing when my boys are at school. Family time is far more inportant since I haven't seen them in 7 months.

Since you're trying not to travel far I'd say Blue Creek, Cowlitz, or maybe the Snoqualmie.

[Anonymous]

I use the floats and jigs but I must be doing something wrong. I havent had hits or even any takedowns. When I drift I usually feel the bottom and set on takedowns or when you think youre eggs are being mouthed. With jigs how do I account for the depth. Do I need to lose a few jigs to find the bottom? I guess the depth is the tough part for me to tell. Is it like drifting where I need to be dragging? I havent seen alot of Chromers comming out the Snoqualmie.Been some darker ones. Maybe late summer run fish. Id plunk the lower rivers in this low clear water.

[Snowbird2008]

I havent seen alot of Chromers comming out the Snoqualmie.Been some darker ones. Maybe late summer run fish.

I found this one hanging around fall city

[code3daddy]

I'm going out to the Bogachiel this next weekend. Is there anywhere specific to go, special equiptment to use, or techniques to try. Im fairly new to stealheading and so Im kinda wingin it. I've read alot about floating jigs and using bait, but was curious to see if there are some other newbie techniques that have proven useful. Things to keep in mind?

[noclothes1]

http://bit.ly/8OVS6N

[code3daddy]

Noclothes - that was very helpful. Thanks.
I also wanted to ask about hear. I have a strong 7'7" pole that I have been using all season. How important is it to go out and buy a stealhead 9 footer? I notice that Snowbird uses a longer pole, but can I get buy without it?

[ckim85]

you don't need a long rod to catch steelhead. the long rod is only beneficial for distance and depending on the action and strength, can be beneficial in bringing in the fish faster so you don't fight it too long and exhaust it if you decide on releasing it.

[mav186]

It also makes line mending easier while drifting. If it were possible, I would try to get in the neighborhood of 8'-6"...just my opinion. Ugly Stik makes a good salmon / steely rod for around 65 bucks...but to answer your question, yes, you can get by with your 7'6".

[Mike Carey]

Noclothes - that was very helpful. Thanks.
I also wanted to ask about hear. I have a strong 7'7" pole that I have been using all season. How important is it to go out and buy a stealhead 9 footer? I notice that Snowbird uses a longer pole, but can I get buy without it?

You can, but there are definate advantages to a longer rod. Depends also on how you plan to fish. For example, if you're going to use a float, the longer the rod the better. I use 10 ft (at least until I broke the tip, now it's 9'6", LOL). Reason is this allows you to keep your line off of the water as the float drifts, allowing the bait to drift in a natural way with the current. A 7'7" rod would have a hard time doing that. About the only method that size rod would be effective at would be casting spoons and spinners, IMHO.

Starter steelhead rods can run in the $40-50 range.

[Bodofish]

It's not a 10 footer but I've fixed up a number of people up with these Eagle Claws. I keep a couple on the boat for spares as it seems someone is always breaking a rod. Hard to beat the price and they're quite nice. Spin or casting.

Flatlander Lures Eagle Claw Spinner

[jbball50]

I'm going out to the Bogachiel this next weekend. Is there anywhere specific to go, special equiptment to use, or techniques to try. Im fairly new to stealheading and so Im kinda wingin it. I've read alot about floating jigs and using bait, but was curious to see if there are some other newbie techniques that have proven useful. Things to keep in mind?

I just got back from there today, dad and I lost 2 fish each. I was pisssssssed after losing that second fish, had to let out an expletive. Also remember to just try drift fishing if the other techniques don't work for you. At the rearing ponds just walk down the path until you reach the area that has really low water. Fish just above that area, it has a bunch of boulders that fish will hide behind. Also if you go down around that bend there's the mouth of the Calawah and fish hold well in that area as well. Hopefully the river isn't blown when you get there because it seems like it's going to be raining alot. Also there's the back road at the rearing ponds parking lot that leads to an area that's good for the Calawah to fish but you have to hike back in there too.

[code3daddy]

Jbball50: Thanks. Thats helpful. So I have a pair of hip waiters, but my brother doesn't. Sounds like there will be plenty of shore access. Am I right?

So far, my shopping list consists of vibrantly colored jigs, some prawns lightly cooked, maybe some roe...anything else? I was going to use 15# braided line with 8# or 10# leaders. Will this be sufficient?

[jbball50]

Yes there's alot of shore access, there's also a spot off 101 to the tall timbers area on the Bogey but I've never fished there. Sounds like you have enough bait to throw at them. I was using 12# on my line and I was just tying my jigs on directly onto the line. My dad used 8#. So your line should work, not exactly sure if you want to go lighter on the main line, Might try bringing another reel with lighter line just in case. I know another guy that was fishing by us said he was using 6# test for his leader so it should be fine.

[flinginpooh]

Nice I just won a loomis G2 9 ft spinning rod for 74.00 off of ebay. Merry Christmas to me. I have to give my dad back his Fenwick soon so Ill need another strong casting rod. I got my eye on a lamiglas rouge river 8'6" will be my next rod then I should be done for a lil while. I cant wait to toss a jig and float on that. I know it wont bring me a bite but Im hoping I can feel them better then with my current spin rod that is not a good one. Its treated me decent but its not a good one. Oh and I was checking out some other sites and there saying the snoqualmie is producing right now. I seen some decent pics of some nice fish. Tight lines.

[bionic_one]

I would recommend a heavier braid. 30 or even 40#, otherwise when you mend your line it has a tendency to get all knotted up - then again, might not be as much of a problem with a 7ft pole.