Northwest Fishing Reports

What would you use here for Steelhead just from seeing the picture. Selective Gear Rules on this river. Any ideas?

never fished steelhead in that calm of water...

when i was a kid i used to fish water like that with my father on the south umpqua in oregon he used 18-24" inch leaders egg sinkers, spin-glo's and cured salmon roe. he did pretty good. don't know if that helps ya or not, but good luck

"I have ended my search for the right steelhead fly. - Because there is no such thing" a quote from Alec Jackson.

Try Spey flies and Sandy Candy.... Look up the The flyfishing shop in Welches oregon..... http://www.flyfishusa.com/

Egg sucking leeches....big marabou streamers.....rolled muddler.... On the Kalama they use Greg head or Kalama Bee for steelhead. Try skating drys in the morning and fishing stonefly nymphs.

Good luck on that calm creek. Don't let them see ya! Maybe wear camo gear.....There will be some others that will post here. I'm sure you will get lot's of suggestions. Good luck again, Steve

Just a note to help any body posting here. Here is the special law....


SELECTIVE GEAR RULES
Only unscented artificial flies or lures with
one single-point, barbless hook are allowed.
Up to a total of three artificial flies or lures
containing single-point, barbless hooks
may be used. Bait is prohibited; fish may be
released until the daily limit is retained. Only
knotless nets may be used to land fish.
No one may fish from any floating device
equipped with an internal combustion motor,
except where specifically allowed under
Special Rules for individual waters. If any fish
has swallowed the hook or is hooked in the
gill, eye, or tongue, it should be kept if legal to
do so.

Thanks for the replys so far. I used to use Marabuo jigs on it. But last few years seems they have wised up to that.

It is the Okanogan River so at this time of year is very low and slow. Being the Okanogan no bait (trust me I wish).

I think I might try a few of those fly patterns. Only good thing is just up stream from where I took this picture is a bend in the river and makes a nice ripple.

Please keep the suggestions going I much appreciate them.

Thanks

Fly fishing for sure.The other would be a smaller Mepps or Rooster tail spinners.Also a Vibrex .

I'd go with a float and a jig and make sure you switch up sizes and colors. Tip the jig with a cured chunk of prawn or a chunk of sandshrimp. Another good one would be a float and a pink worm - and make sure whatever you have under the float you slather with scent. Don't rule out the bent metal, and if you feel like drinking, you could always plunk.

Swing some spoons...

No scent or bait allowed or I wouldve done a simple nightcrawler on a bobber.

Oops, didn't notice the selective gear caveat (too busy drooling over the picture). You could still try all of those things, just without scent or bait.

Take a look at these flies on ebay.... You still can bid on them...Beautiful Salmon and Steelhed flies. These would work just fine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fishing-Flies-for-S ... 286.c0.m14


http://cgi.ebay.com/Fishing-Flies-for-S ... 911.c0.m14

Fishing Collector those are some nice looking flies. I will pick my wifes brain about letting me get some. She has the ebay account lol.

Drewp thanks for the ego boost "(too busy drooling over the picture)" we just got the camera a few weeks ago so still tinkering with it to see how I like it. Being a true novice in photography its nice getting comments like that.

All of you are great and I maybe tomorrow I may hit a spost just above the one int the picture.

If none of the above lures and flies work try Dynamite!!!! It dosent say in the selective rules that you cant. Plus its not bait.Muahahahaha

Try using a small 3"-4" non-scented pink rubber worm with only a small split shot on for wieght (just enough to get it down). Dead drift it in this slow of water, a float will work in this slow of water but a dead drift is better.

I have seen the Okanogan and there are a a few good looking riffles that would be better suited for other more traditional gear than in the picture.

In that slow water I'd run very light line (6 lb) and small lures. If boat fishing a small plug flat lined 100+ feet behind the boat would work. In slow moving water the fish have the time to take a good long look at any offering. From the bank I'd probably start with very small, but bright spinners retrieved just fast enough to keep the blade spinning. Steelhead are far more visual feeders than salmon are. If an interesting bauble goes by they will pick it up. In that low water I'd look for places that a fish has decent shelter rather than just blind casting. If you fly fish a small fly (6-8) that has good movement on a slow retrieve won't scare the fish into the next county.

dry flies that you wold use for trout but a little bigger might work try natural colored baits like a night crawler color soft plastic worm non-scented might work

it looks like its fall so i would drift a black an red jig with 5-7 ft leader and if the water mover fast enough for driftin then use fresh shrimp with a spin glow........