2013 steelhead returns

[Cascadian]

This is my first year really getting after it for winter steelhead and I have been mainly fishing the Snoqualmie. I have been looking at the WDFW hatchery escapement reports for this river and others in the Snohomish river system and the numbers look significantly lower than previous years. The Tokul Creek hatchery had over 200 adult steelhead returned by this time last year, but less than 40 so far this year. Do you guys think the fish are showing up later this year due to less rainfall and lower river levels? Or perhaps 2013 is shaping up to be a disappointing year for winter steelhead on these rivers? Like I said, I am a newbie to this fishery and just trying to figure out more information about the correlation between timing and river conditions of when to expect the majority of the winter steelhead run. Any relevant information would be greatly appreciated.

[spoonman]

I'd like to think the low water is holding them back. Im going to start fishing lower in the sky looking for numbers. I git the next two weeks off and plan on getting some seat time in the drift boat. People catching them at the terminal zones, but not in great numbers.there has to be fish scattered lower in the system... right?

[jd39]

Have the same question myself, thanks Cascadian! The escapement reports are a bit scary so far but I'm not sure I fully understand how it all works.

[natetreat]

We will be getting more fish. I'm hoping a lot. We need a good storm to pull them in. It's late all over, so either it's going to be crappy everywhere, or it's going to be later than usual.

[Brat Bonker]

some of the rivers I fish I base off of the coho runs and a lot had really late strong coho runs so I am thinking it will be a late year and the next rain/river rise should bring in the first major push of fish, fingers crossed it isn't a bad year but the low water never really helps

[TrophyHunter]

I watched a guy two days ago nail two dime bright coho in 2 straight casts. This is probably the latest I have consistantly hooked into silver, I am thinking they are just going to be a bit later than is typical.

[Cascadian]

Another question I have is I've always heard that native steelhead generally come later in the season, after the hatchery run. So far this year, the only steelhead I have caught have been chrome bright, pre-spawn native fish that I'm almost 100% sure were winter run. Is this abnormal to see native winter run steelhead in the Green and Snoqualmie rivers in late November or early December?

[BentRod]

Another question I have is I've always heard that native steelhead generally come later in the season, after the hatchery run. So far this year, the only steelhead I have caught have been chrome bright, pre-spawn native fish that I'm almost 100% sure were winter run. Is this abnormal to see native winter run steelhead in the Green and Snoqualmie rivers in late November or early December?

It's been my experience that quite a few natives are caught during December/January on the Snoqualmie. However, the question is, are they "true" natives or just offspring of past season returning hatchery fish that spawned naturally without making it back to the hatchery, so they don't have a clipped fin? The true natives reportedly don't start showing in bulk on the Snoqualmie until Feb/March, but I'm sure there are some that return earlier as well as later just like the hatchery fish. There would be no way to tell without taking DNA from those fish and doing genetic testing.

[Cascadian]

That would make sense because both unclipped steelhead I caught definitely looked like the right size to be the same genetics as most hatchery fish I've seen.

[RiverChromeGS]

Another question I have is I've always heard that native steelhead generally come later in the season, after the hatchery run. So far this year, the only steelhead I have caught have been chrome bright, pre-spawn native fish that I'm almost 100% sure were winter run. Is this abnormal to see native winter run steelhead in the Green and Snoqualmie rivers in late November or early December?

Not abnormal, there are plenty of wild steelhead enteringin december, although most come from february-april. Ive caught some in the skagit and vedder this month, quite a few big "true" wild fish being taken on the sky right now, one of which was 41 inches last week...and all of the Forks area rivers are showing reports of wild fish in all 3 systems. Always a Chance they could be natural reproducing hatch fish but not unlikely they are true wild either!

[Cascadian]

I have been out several times this month and still haven't seen more than a handful of steelhead caught. Is everyone still hopeful of a decent run this year? I am losing faith because I would have thought this last bit of rain would have brought a good amount of fish in, but I was skunked twice this weekend and only saw 1 native fish caught on the Snoqualmie Monday. Plenty of anglers and boats, but not many fish at all. Saw Nate Treat out there as well as one other guide Monday and they both appeared to be struggling to find the fish as well. What are your thoughts? Still think they are coming?

[natetreat]

I have been out several times this month and still haven't seen more than a handful of steelhead caught. Is everyone still hopeful of a decent run this year? I am losing faith because I would have thought this last bit of rain would have brought a good amount of fish in, but I was skunked twice this weekend and only saw 1 native fish caught on the Snoqualmie Monday. Plenty of anglers and boats, but not many fish at all. Saw Nate Treat out there as well as one other guide Monday and they both appeared to be struggling to find the fish as well. What are your thoughts? Still think they are coming?

Short answer: No. We got two yesterday, both natives. It's been that way all season, with the Snoqualmie being the best bet. I've had to work hard for every fish that we've brought in. The hatchery run on the PS rivers has been a bust. we've been able to rely on 1 or 2 chances a day fishing hard and pulling out all the tricks.

It's going to get better though. Not on the PS rivers, but the late run GH rivers and natives on the OP. The way that we're catching unclipped fish like crazy up here tells me something about the native and late runs. I'm not going to be fishing the PS rivers for much longer, it's time to start moving on to the Wynoochee and OP.

[Cascadian]

Thanks for your insight Nate.