Steelhead season

[yubaman]

Man, what a tough winter Steelhead season, not the fishing, but just getting out on the damned water!!!! We had 6 different trips planned this year, banking an a couple of washouts, as usual. But this year, we were 1 for 6 on trips coming off . . . brutal. Here is how our year went . . .

November Rogue River trip - drive 6 hours up to Medford. Get into our hotel. Go have dinner. Get up in the morning, after it rained more than double the predicted amount, Guide says river blown out for several days . . . done. Very expensive dinner in Medford! At least we stop at the Klamath on the way home, land a small adult, a couple of half pounders and lose a decent sized adult. Scenery along the drive is always good!

December Trinity Trip - Guide comes down with COVID the day before the trip, trip scrubbed.

January Eel trip - River blows a day before we are set to go.

February OP Trip - Trip comes off! Tough wade fishing for 5 days, but land 3 decent adults and a couple of half pounders.

March Eel trip - River blows out 2 days before we are supposed to go.

March Rogue Trip - Guide calls and tells us not to waste our money on heading up there due to extremely low run.

I cannot remember putting so much time in planning, for so little actual fishing.

Hopefully things take a turn for the better for our Steelhead population. Apparently fishing and escapement was very tough all up and down the western coast. I mean damn, what has happened is tragic, and it was really illustrated this season.


Bob

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

You built up a ton of good 'mojo' for next winter........thanks for the excellent report.

[Trouter925]

6 planned trips. I find that impressive. I am lacking in my game.

I had one trip this winter in February up the N CA coast for a week. I thought my timing was perfect - the water was a little high but dropping. I swung flies 3 days for ~ 9 hours / day on that first river. Not one tug... I didn't see one fish. Everyday I was checking in with people I met on the river. Not many sightings of fish. I decided to see to new water and went up to Chetco and fished 2 days. That water was beautiful at 2500 cfs. Could probably fish higher. I saw one fish caught by a gear guy out of a boat. Ran into two spey guys who said they hadn't connected with a fish yet. Everyone I talked to on the rivers seemed to think the steelhead returns are very low this year. I do like the winter fishing, but it's starting to feel like you don't even have a chance...it's a tough commitment if you work a day job and live bay area or south to get up the coast.

[yubaman]

Yes it seems like more work for less fishing. We realize in the Steelhead game, it seems to be a 50% success rate on trips. I know that if I went on every trip planned for March, I might have been sleeping in a tent in the backyard for a couple of weeks. But this year was beyond ridiculous in bad luck for us.

The regs in Washington this year are what finally pushed each of us into the Spey game. Two guys even swung one up on the trip. I hope that this is not the beginning of a bad run for the Steelhead.


Bob

[PV_Premier]

Man, what a tough winter Steelhead season, not the fishing, but just getting out on the damned water!!!!

December Trinity Trip - Guide comes down with COVID the day before the trip, trip scrubbed.

March Rogue Trip - Guide calls and tells us not to waste our money on heading up there due to extremely low run.



Better that the guide gets COVID on the day before your trip than the day after...

Also good on your Rogue guide for calling it off versus blowing smoke up your ya know what...




I only got out twice this year compared to 6-8x last year. The winter COVID surge was one reason, buying a cabin out of state was a second reason, lack of interest in the long drives was a third reason. I normally do two guide trips a season. COVID and saving$ goal$ this year resulted in zero.

One trip to the Trinity (walk and wade), hooked and landed one fish in a day and a half of fishing in early December. One trip to Fortuna in the weather window just before the new year. Hooked an adult on the SF on day 1, landed two half pounders on the mainstem on day 2. I only swing anymore so I was not setting myself up for big numbers but usually on the Trinity in a weekend I can get 3-5 grabs even without a boat.

Sold two of my steelhead rods earlier this month, I am sure I will fish the Trinity next year but I am not sure I will go through the trouble of going to the coast next season. I love it up there but the fish are not loving it as much apparently. Sometimes the best thing you can do for the fish is just leave them alone.

[John H]

I am having some doubts about my future in the winter steelhead game. Blown out rivers, low water, bad returns, dudes crowding the water, money for guides, cold feet, long drives and fishless days. I love them but there is a lot to deal with in the pursuit of the steelhead. I did swing up a big one in Oregon and thought at the time I could retire on that. I did not retire but that was my only fish landed this winter. Striper fishing on the other hand has been good this winter. That has been a nice substitute.

[hwchubb]

Boy, thanks for helping me feel a little better! I had a great Klamath trip in November, at least a grab in every run I fished including a 26” fish just below the Scott.

That was the last adult fish I’ve shaken hands with. 0 for 2021, hooked one adult in January at Effie Yeaw. Half day on the Eel, Half day on the Mad, 30+ hours on the American, nada. Hung it up on winter fish this year in February.

We had a planned trip to Eastern NV for late April, a friend and I and our sons. His son, a budding star on Folsom’s freshman football team, shattered his collarbone in the 4th quarter last night. But non-casting arm! Woohoo!

[Trouter925]

I would love to spend some time on the Klamath this fall before the dams start coming out next year. I would like to have a snapshot to compare to in the coming years. Perhaps covid will be in control enough in the Fall for a bit of extended exploration.

I think steelhead is going to end up being a one trip / year thing for me. I've not done much summer/fall steelhead fishing. I may play around with that this year but I am just wondering about skipping steelhead altogether (blasphemy) and looking for places to swing for trout. I never see much about anyone swinging for trout on the lower Sac. I know it's primarily drift boat / bobber game, but it seems like trout spey should work somewhere...just got to put in the time and find a few locations.

[WLREDBAND]

Ahem!!!! It's done quite frequently as the picture shows. You can probably guess where by that famous landmark in the background!!!!
https://i.imgur.com/i8h29cv.jpg
PS, back on topic, this was one of the better and one of the worst steelhead seasons for me in over 40 years of playing the game. For the first time in history, I had NO zeroes on my steelhead card from the fall through spring steelhead season. The bad news is most all of the entries were the number one. No big fish landed, and very few multiple catch days were the norm.


I would love to spend some time on the Klamath this fall before the dams start coming out next year. I would like to have a snapshot to compare to in the coming years. Perhaps covid will be in control enough in the Fall for a bit of extended exploration.

I think steelhead is going to end up being a one trip / year thing for me. I've not done much summer/fall steelhead fishing. I may play around with that this year but I am just wondering about skipping steelhead altogether (blasphemy) and looking for places to swing for trout. I never see much about anyone swinging for trout on the lower Sac. I know it's primarily drift boat / bobber game, but it seems like trout spey should work somewhere...just got to put in the time and find a few locations.

[Jcolin]

Trouter925, I would highly recommend the lower yuba for trout spey, at least before the egg bite, it has fished very well for me swinging soft hackles on a 12’ 5 weight. Also got into a nice steelhead in november that swam up from the feather. I really enjoy spending a few weeks up on the klamath in oct-nov, nice to swing flies and actually hook good numbers of wild steelhead even if they are smaller. It has been a tough year for a lot of people sounds like. Has been very strange to see a drastic decrease in the number of fishermen out here in guerneville the past month, many folks have given up. We did have some fish push up last weekend, was fortunate to be in the right olace at the right time and got a nice wild hen when they were coming up. Very much helps living on the river and being able to put an hour or two in before or after work.

[tcorfey]

Yep tough year for me too... only 7 days (due to stay at home restrictions), lots of casts, 3 hookups none to hand. Note, I only swing streamers now, no eggs and no nymphs. Might have done better if I gave in to the other techniques but I don't want to.

[BumpBailey]

I was 3/3 on trip planning this winter so I am happy about that. We fished the Trinity the first of December around JC and two Eel trips in Jan and the last of Feb. We did "great" on the Trinity. We fished hard for 4 days. Two guided and two out of my boat. We caught fish each day with multiple hooks up each day. Our "bad" day had us each with one fish. Our best was 5 to the boat on our last day with our favorite steelhead guide. We logged 7 days on the SF Eel with some hours spent on the main stem. Each trip to the coast had the river in "prime" flows. We predominately swing but, for the first time on the Eel, we brought the drift boat and drifted some beads when "shuttling" between conducive gravel bars. In the 7 days we each got one hook up but, both were LDR'd. While happy about getting the trips in, it was discouraging, in that all of the coastal reports from fellow fisherpeople and guide friends were dismal at best. Seemed a successful day was "we got a hook up". If you look at the reports on the number of steelhead that returned to the hatchery in Lewiston that return is pretty dismal too. So mixed feelings about this winter. I pray that we are at the bottom of a downward trend and we change course soon. Though I fear we aren't.

[Rossflyguy]

Trouter925, I would highly recommend the lower yuba for trout spey, at least before the egg bite, it has fished very well for me swinging soft hackles on a 12’ 5 weight. Also got into a nice steelhead in november that swam up from the feather. I really enjoy spending a few weeks up on the klamath in oct-nov, nice to swing flies and actually hook good numbers of wild steelhead even if they are smaller. It has been a tough year for a lot of people sounds like. Has been very strange to see a drastic decrease in the number of fishermen out here in guerneville the past month, many folks have given up. We did have some fish push up last weekend, was fortunate to be in the right olace at the right time and got a nice wild hen when they were coming up. Very much helps living on the river and being able to put an hour or two in before or after work.

Not a lot of guys on the Russian because of low water conditions. I believe the Russian was closed to low flow for awhile in early winter correct? I didn’t see the hacienda gauge reach 1000 cfs this year? Unless I missed a day or two?

[Jcolin]

Not a lot of guys on the Russian because of low water conditions. I believe the Russian was closed to low flow for awhile in early winter correct? I didn’t see the hacienda gauge reach 1000 cfs this year? Unless I missed a day or two?
True it was closed for a while because of low flow regulations. After it opened still way less anglers than normal however, had johnsons and monte rio riffle all to myself a number of evenings. It got up to 1200 Or maybe 1600 only once i think, which is pretty nuts even when compared to drought years!

[Rossflyguy]

True it was closed for a while because of low flow regulations. After it opened still way less anglers than normal however, had johnsons and monte rio riffle all to myself a number of evenings. It got up to 1200 Or maybe 1600 only once i think, which is pretty nuts even when compared to drought years!

I was meaning to hit the Russian a few times but I thought flows below 800 would’ve been a little skinny to float down to Monte Rio. I’m sure the fish were still rolling in regardless the flow levels.

[Jcolin]

I was meaning to hit the Russian a few times but I thought flows below 800 would’ve been a little skinny to float down to Monte Rio. I’m sure the fish were still rolling in regardless the flow levels.
Ive floated gville to monte rio as low as 300 in my pontoon without any problem, but i could see the summer bridge crossing below vacation beach being a problem in a drift boat under 6-700

[Rossflyguy]

Ive floated gville to monte rio as low as 300 in my pontoon without any problem, but i could see the summer bridge crossing below vacation beach being a problem in a drift boat under 6-700

Exactly! Otherwise it’s an easy float.

[Steve S]

You probably didn't miss much as only about 1000 SH have been trapped this season at the Warm Springs and Coyote hatcheries combined. Quite a bit fewer than the 3-6k average that the Don Clausen facility touts. Maybe that's why they don't post annual trap data on the website.

[Rossflyguy]

That’s pretty sad

[lee s.]

You can't get'em back if you don't release'em.
So much for your govt and their contracted mitigation programs where they have ruined our rivers with their damns and pollution.
....lee s.

[WLREDBAND]

Caught and released on Wednesday. Can't catch them from your computer, you have to go chase them, even if that means failing. Yeah, it's been a slow season, but...............
https://i.imgur.com/2bvaspN.jpg?1

A buddy caught and released this one on THUR. They are still there if you're willing to take a chance and know where.
https://i.imgur.com/p9JODWj.jpg?1

[avidangler]

You can't get'em back if you don't release'em.
So much for your govt and their contracted mitigation programs where they have ruined our rivers with their damns and pollution.
....lee s.

Wine . Sip swirl sip. 50,000 fish once returned to the Russian.

[Steelin' Time]

Caught and released on Wednesday. Can't catch them from your computer, you have to go chase them, even if that means failing. Yeah, it's been a slow season, but...............
https://i.imgur.com/2bvaspN.jpg?1

A buddy caught and released this one on THUR. They are still there if you're willing to take a chance and know where.
https://i.imgur.com/p9JODWj.jpg?1

Excellent work, WLREDBAND!

I had a great time this season, though the numbers of fish I hooked and landed were pathetic. After 40 years of Winter Steelhead fishing, you learn to take the good seasons with the poor seasons and just enjoy each day on the river. Certainly hoping next year will be better as far as fish numbers, as we all are. The other side of the poor-return coin is that I definitely noticed much less boat traffic this year than in most seasons, which is fine with me. Many days this season I encountered less than 5 other boaters.

This season was by far my worst season for numbers of fish since the 1991-1993 time frame, at the end of the drought that spanned 1986-1992.

I was able to launch my drift boat for 22 full river days, which includes my Fall Chinook outings and my Winter Steelhead trips. My goal each season (Mid-to-late October through March) is 20-25 river days, so I was in that range this season. I fish full days, first light until the last hour of daylight, still fishing until dark occasionally, though not very often anymore.

I was able to fish 6 different Northern California and Southern Oregon rivers this season and was solo every day except one, when a Port Orford friend joined me for a day in my DB. I took 3 trips to Oregon and 2 trips to the SF Eel.

My best day for the season was a 5 fish day of chrome, up-run fish on the SF Eel, all 7-10 pounds, earlier in March, which turned out to be my last day of the season. I would rather not tally up how many skunks I had this season, days where I never even touched a fish for a full day of fishing, but I am sure it was at least half of my river days.

I had hoped for one more March trip, but too much work got in the way this past week, so decided to do the adult thing and get my work done rather than head North.

I have never fished for Spring Chinook on the lower Rogue, so I am thinking I might head to Agness for a trip in late April or early May.

Shad season is around the corner and I will take my grandgirls out for a couple Shad outings when the time is right, then get serious about work until the first good rains on the Oregon Coast in the Fall.

[Brian Clemens]

The Klamath early season was pretty decent for my clients in 2020, we just had to wait for the river temps to come down. For those wondering or interested I offer an all inclusive on the Lower Klamath within 30 miles of the ocean, just around the corner from Blue Creek. The trinity was pretty darn good pre-season, which I consider pre Oct or when the crowds show up. Great success swinging August to mid Oct before the flow drop. After that it was hit or miss, working hard for a handful of fish a day on bobbers and a few grabs a day swinging. Once we started seeing some rain showers Jan through March, the Trinity started to fish pretty good, March was spectacular. Most call it quits after March, but it's never over till it's over.


Still having some good days chasing steelhead on our Nor Cal waters, and I'm not talking about the American. Its never over until the last lady sings. You can actually chase them year round if you know where to look and where to go. While this time of year you can do good nymphing, I think it's the best time of year to swing for them. They love meat, they love meat swung and the springers hit your fly like a freight train on crack. Nothing better than a springer absolutely slamming your swung fly.

Time to get out and explore the other side of steelheading.
Tight lines