Left coast report...

[fishmonger]

We have had a ton on rain here, even by Pacific NW standards. Most of the rivers have been blown for weeks. I went out scouting Saturday, and made a stop at Bonneville dam. They fish for sturgeon there, and have some unique methods. So, all you big casters, how far can you throw? How about 700 feet?! This guy boils his rubbers so they stretch further berfore he cranks back the boat winch and lets fly:
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/087674.JPG (http://www.myfishingpictures.com/?p=87674&c=500&z=1)

This guy has his casting rig welded to his truck, and falls on the ground to get maximum distance:
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/087675.JPG (http://www.myfishingpictures.com/?p=87675&c=500&z=1)

These guys are freaking nuts!! There is a slot limit for keepers of 42"-60". I saw them catch 2 at about 40". they catch them up to 12 feet, which are called oversize (understatement!!), and they often tailwalk and jump. Spoolings are common.

After the dam, I found a little Columbia trib called Eagle Creek. It is incredibly beautiful, there is a Coho Salmon hatchery there, and it wasn't blown out on Saturday.
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/087676.JPG (http://www.myfishingpictures.com/?p=87676&c=500&z=1)
Oh my god, look at the color of that water!! I saw some steelies in this run, and planned to come back on Sunday. When I got back there in the morning, the Oregon DFW (Dept of Fish and Wildlife) had posted it "No Fishing". CRAP!!!!!

So, off I went to the Hood River, which was still running at better than twice the normal and preferrable flow.
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/087678.JPG (http://www.myfishingpictures.com/?p=87678&c=500&z=1)

But, the fish gods were smiling on me, and my new spey rod, and on my 4th cast, I hooked this sweet little chrome bright winter steelhead.
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/087677.JPG (http://www.myfishingpictures.com/?p=87677&c=500&z=1)

It only went 16 or 17 inches, but it is my first fish on the spey, and the result of 12 days on the water since my last fish, so I was pretty happy. It was a wild fish, fresh from the Pacific with sea lice still attached to it's fins, so it was released unharmed. A buddy at work brought me a cut of steelhead for dinner, and it is GOOD! I may have to keep a hatchery fish, if I ever catch another one.

Life is good.

FM

[skibum]

Bout dammm time you hooked one of those :D Congrats.. This mean the next one comes 100 hours later?? Like in Spring??...lol

[Fire Walker]

You cant beat a Temple Fork Outfitter /Hydro Group combo :) I know cheap plug;) I do what i can, LOL

[fishmonger]

Hydro Group baby, expanding the limits of space and time... :D

Oh yeah, I got a Washington license last weekend, which means I am holding 4 right now: Ore, Wash, GA, and TN (yeah SoHo c'mon!). This opens up many new rivers: White Salmon, Klickitat, Wind, and Washougal are all within a 50 mile drive.

For any of you Michigan fishers, the Washougal is where the Skamania hatchery is, and where the summer run fish came from for the Pere Marquette, Manistee, Muskeegan, etc.

I work with a guy who is going to take me to some of his secret spots on these rivers. We are going to hit the coast for a shot at the Necanicum River the first weekend in February, and we have a trip booked with a guide for spring Chinook in March. neener neener neener

FM

[S.Trutta]

god bless that summer skamania hatchery, i hooked 2 in the Pere Marquette last summer while fishing for resident browns and it provided 2 of the most thrilling fights I've ever had. I lost the first one when i wrapped me around a submerged log. No more than an hour later I hooked up with a second that took me the better part of a half hour to land, on a Sage 8.5 ft 4wt and a sage 3200 click and pawl reel!!! Fish taped at 28 inches and probably weighed about 8lbs. I released the fish back into the flies only section to love another day, but not before my favorite all time fishinf photo......

http://i1.tinypic.com/mj01ec.jpg

[fishmonger]

Salmo, I love the PM. It may be my favorite river, anywhere. My wife grew up in Ludington, so everytime we go up to visit her Mom, I get in some PM time. I have hooked a couple of those big resident browns that you like to chase, but never landed one. Never hooked a steelie there, or been there in the fall for the salmon run.

FM

[S.Trutta]

Yeah the PM really is a beautiful river with some very impressive fish. What time of year do you usually go? I usually visit over the summer and around xmas. Ive only had the chance to fish for the kings one time, i believe it was labor day weekend, and the amounts of fish in there was crazy. Hooked quite a few but didn't get any in the net. Ive never gotten to fish there during the actually steelie run in the spring, but ive taken some in the winter and the occasional summer fish. Resident browns can sure be tough in that river, but ive managed a few over the past couple years. They take some monsters fishing at night with skated mouse patterns. Here's my nicest from the flies only water in May, 19 inches and pretty as a picture. maybe if we are ever up there at the same time we could wet a line together! Also, have you ever tried the Baldwin?...its right in that area, great little stream for all 3 species, lots of surface action.

http://i1.tinypic.com/mlgz0z.jpg

Rich