Duke tentatively jumped up to the bow of my Thunderbird, looking intently at the water passing by as we trolled along. “Oh boy,” I said to my wife Joann, “he looks like he is thinking about going for a swim.” Muscles tensing, Duke fulfilled my prediction and splashed into the cool spring waters of Lake Washington. As the boat traveled forward, I went to the side, leaned over, and grabbed the handle on the back of his life jacket, pulling him safely back into our boat. He gave me a look as if to say, “what did you do that for, I was just starting to have some fun!” Such is the life of going fishing with a dog. JoAnn had always wanted me to have a dog that I could take fishing, and Duke, our one-year-old Springer Spaniel, was just that dog. Trained for upland bird hunting, I’d introduced him to water early and he took to it. That said, hunting with a dog on dry ground versus having a dog on a moving boat are two very different things. While fishing with your four-legged best friend can be a wonderful experience, it does present some unique challenges that anglers should be aware of.

What To Know

When you decide to bring your dog along with you on your boat for the first time, it’s important to think through what is entailed (pun intended) for your fishing trip. First and foremost is – know your dog! What kind of training has he had? Has he been introduced to water? Can he swim? Does he obey your commands? Will he be a good partner at the boat launch, or a distraction and irritation to those around you? These are all important questions to consider before you bring your dog along for a day of fishing. Having your best friend along for a day of fishing can make the day that much special, or, it can be a huge headache, and possibly put your dog in danger. Let’s look at some basics to think about before you take your dog out on your boat.

You’ve arrived at the boat launch and there’s a couple of boats in line waiting to launch. It’s just you and your best friend and your expensive boat waiting to launch. Now what do you do? In my opinion, Fido needs to stay safe and secure in your rig. Letting your dog out to run around is a big no-no. Other anglers looking to launch are not going to be happy with a dog running around, no matter how well-behaved you may think he is. Dogs can be unpredictable, so keep him in the truck as you go through your routine prep for launching your boat. Or, if there is a place you can leash him up to stay and watch, out of the way of others, that would be OK. For me, I keep Duke in the truck where there are others around. If it’s just the two of us, I’m ok with letting him out. That’s because I know him and he is well-trained to commands and, most importantly, he obeys. 

Launch completed and boat secured, your truck is parked. It’s time to go fishing with your buddy! The next critical question to ask is this – life jacket or no life jacket? For Duke, I treat him like a kid. Just because he can swim doesn’t mean he’s safe to be in a boat without a life jacket. Especially when we are about to put the pedal to the meddle and blast off at thirty miles an hour to our favorite fishing location. So, the life jacket goes before we get up on a plane. It’s one less thing for me as a boat operator to worry about. This way I know that he will be safe if something happens and he does go in.  

Water Conditions

What about fishing all day, either anchored up or slow trolling? Our Lake Washington trip was the first time I took Duke on the water, and he decided he wanted to see what the water was like. Since then, he has never jumped into the lake on his own. I find that very interesting, and I now am OK with taking the jacket off if we are anchored or trolling. Of course, weather and conditions are also a consideration in this equation. I try to never take Duke on the boat if it’s not going to be a pleasant day. A puking dog is no fun and it’s not fair to the dog to be put through rough water conditions. 

While you're out on the boat there’s a couple doggy essentials to keep in mind. Dogs need a few things to be comfortable: shade on a sunny day, water, a comfy place to lay down, and maybe a treat or two (especially when you try to eat your own lunch!). They also need potty breaks. Finding a place to pull your boat up on shore gives you a chance to stretch your legs and let the doggy stretch his. Not to mention relieve himself. Of course, being a dog means some sniffing time is important. Just like fishing with kids, I think it’s important to not be hard-core when fishing with a dog. Give your Best Friend some “dog time”. I think it will make him more excited the next time you pull out your boat – yay! Another fishing adventure!

One word of caution when fishing with a dog. Expect the unexpected. I remember a trip on the Snake River doing a Cast and Blast Adventure. We had dogs on the boat for our chukar hunt, but first we were fishing for chinook salmon, side drifting eggs. I think you know where I’m going with this… at the end of a drift we brought in our gear to run back to the top of the hole. One of the anglers’ dogs decided that he might like the taste of fresh salmon eggs for breakfast. Before we knew it, this angler’s dog had scarfed down a baited hook of salmon eggs, all the way beyond reach. Unfortunately for the angler his day of fishing was cut short as we took him back to the boat launch for a trip to the vet for x-rays. The vet informed the owner of the dog to watch to see if the hook passed (not the most pleasant job by the way). While no harm came to the dog, it was an expensive reminder of what I mentioned early – dogs can be unpredictable. 

So, by all means, take your dog fishing – you’ll love it and so will the dog – but be ever mindful and keep a close eye on your Four Legged-Friend! 

Catching bass in the shallows during the spawn is a fun thing to do in the spring, but when it comes to summertime fishing, few things are more enjoyable than catching aggressive largemouth and smallmouth bass. Here are a few of my favorite ways to hook them:

Topwater Fun

There are a lot of ways to skin a cat, as they say, and there are also a lot of ways to catch a bass during the summer months.  However, nothing is more enjoyable than watching a bass erupt out of the water to smash a topwater lure.  The best time to fish topwater lures is early in the morning or in the evening (even after dark on a moonlit night).  However, if the waters are calm, you can also have success with topwater lures anytime, especially in shaded areas or on cloudy days.

What kind of topwater lures should you use?  If you are fishing an area full of hydrilla, milfoil, or lily pads, it’s hard to beat a weedless frog.  Tournament angler Jeremy LeCaire favors frog lures with a white belly since that mimics an actual frog belly.  Others swear by frogs that are black in color, while others believe in using a frog with, well, a frog pattern!  No matter what color you use, twitching it over pads into small open areas of water can trigger many strikes.

If you are not fishing in cover, you have lots of other options.  The biggest bass I ever caught (8+ pounds) was caught on a Berkley Bullet Pop popper in a frog pattern, fishing the lure near wood stick ups.  Similar poppers or lures like a Zara Spook can be fished at a slow pace or a faster pace in a “walk the dog” fashion, popping left, then right, while you retrieve the lure.  As an old friend once told me when it comes to speed, “Let the fish tell you what they want”.  

Are there other topwater lures that work?  You bet!  A fairly new offering is the Whopper Plopper, which is can be cast and reeled in with a slow, steady retrieve as it gurgles along the surface.  Buzzbaits retrieved at a fast pace can trigger violent strikes, and don’t forget classic lures like the Arbogast Hula Popper or Jitterbug.  They have both been around for over 80 years but they both still work.

Spinnerbaits

Spinnerbaits are always a good summertime bet for bass.  I personally favor a white spinnerbait for most conditions but will go with a chartreuse color if there is low visibility in the water.  A ¼ or 3/8-ounce spinnerbait can be retrieved rapidly, just under the surface of the water, creating a wake.  Heavier spinnerbaits between ½ to one ounce in weight can be slowly retrieved near the bottom.  Both methods can be effective.  Again, let the fish tell you what they want.

Crankbaits

Crankbaits are a big favorite of mine for both summer and fall bass.  Many anglers mistakenly believe these lures should be fished without hitting any structure.  That is a mistake.  Shallow water crankbaits should bang off of wood and deeper diving crankbaits should be ticking the bottom because that contact is what triggers reaction strikes from bass.  One of my favorite lures is the Berkley Digger which runs at a depth of 8 to 11 feet.  If I need to go deeper, the Berkley Dredger will get down to a depth of 20 feet.  As for colors, try to match the forage base.  For example, a perch or bluegill pattern if that’s what the bass are eating, a reddish color if crawfish are in the lake, or blue and chrome if the bass are feeding on trout.

Lipless Crankbaits

Another confidence bait for me is the lipless crankbait.  The original Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap has caught countless bass since it was introduced in 1971.  Rattle trap style lures have no bill (hence the word, lipless).  They create a sharp vibration when retrieved and thanks to BB sized shot inside the lure, they create a rattling noise as well.  The combination of the vibration and sound triggers bass hanging out in ambush points along weed lines or other structure such as log lay downs, beaver huts, boulders, or rocky riprap.

The lure excels in depths of two to eight feet.  You can rapidly retrieve the lure and draw strikes but I prefer to pause several times when I retrieve a rattle trap, just for a quick second.  I do this because following fish will often strike it when it stops in their face or as the lure begins to fall like a wounded fish.  Another method is to use a Yo-Yo retrieve, fishing the lure off the bottom.  This technique works best when the fish are deep.  

As for what lure to use?  There are a lot of lipless crankbaits out there in various sizes but my hands down favorite is the ½ ounce Berkley Warpig, which I’ve used to catch not only bass, but also walleye and other species since it was introduced a few years ago.  

There’s so much more to talk about when it comes to catching summer time bass (soft plastic baits for example) but we’ll have to leave that for another time.  Until then, use crankbaits, spinnerbaits and topwater lures to reel in some hard-hitting bass during these hot weather months!

John Kruse – www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com

As fly anglers, we are all cultured to believe that trout eat insects and nothing more. Trout gently sipping bugs from the surface of a calmly flowing stream paints the image of fly fishing narrative. It’s what we all learn in the beginning. Anything else would be culturally unacceptable in the fly fishing world. For years, I believed that no self-respecting trout would ever eat anything other than some form of aquatic insect or terrestrial bug. Fly fishing in Appalachia ingrained that into my head. That was right up until I read an article in Fish Alaska magazine about rainbow trout eating mice. 

 The level of disbelief wielding in my brain about what I was akin to what my grandfather thought about space travel. It wasn't happening. It didn’t happen and it wasn’t ever going to happen. Sure, I had seen a brown trout slashing at other fish and had buddies in the upper midwest that talked about mouse fishing for brown trout at night. But never, ever would a rainbow trout chase down and annihilate a mouse. Rainbows weren't that type of aggressor and besides, they didn’t get big enough to eat a mouse. Right? That’s what I, the 25 year old knower of all things trout, thought. No way.

 I must have read that story 10 times before I finally accepted that the writer must have had a very minute amount of success using this “mousing” method for Alaskan Rainbow Trout. Back in those pre-internet days all we had to rely on was a trusted publication with mass circulation and a photo album. Yes kids, before internet and social media we all carried photo albums with us to trade shows, speaking engagements, etc. A three ring binder notebook full of print photographs. Sometimes carrying just one album was not enough; depending on the situation and competition. It was the only way to advertise your trade of skills and to prove that you weren't just a liar. In fact, the next trade show I worked at was where I found living proof that the “mousing” I had read about was in fact real. Not only real but a viable method for targeting the largest of the species. I was befuddled.

 At that show, I met a lodge owner that hosted the writer for the story I had read in Fish Alaska. He explained to me how the whole Alaska trout universe operated. Upon understanding, the program made sense. It was no great consequence that this guy gave me my first job in Bristol Bay some years later. I adapted his explanation into my own version. If you have fished with me as a lodge guest, client or friend new to the Alaska trout universe, you have heard me deliver this lecture. Some of you may have heard it more than once. Its as follows - Alaska rainbow trout live a different life and lifestyle than lower 48 rainbow trout. They only have a three, maybe four, month window of time to get in a full twelve month life cycle, as compared to a regular lower 48 rainbow that might have nine or ten months to get everything in before the water cools to a point that their metabolism slows to a crawl.

So, in three months, an Alaska rainbow trout has to find a girlfriend, find a house or two and, it has to eat everything it can. And by eating everything it can, I mean everything starting with the highest forms of protein first. In spring, voles (mice) and leeches are the prominent source. As summer comes so do the salmon producing first eggs, then flesh after the spawn is over. Fall brings on the sculpin, more leeches and whatever else they can find. All that along with finding a girlfriend and a couple houses in three months. Its a lot of living.

 But more importantly, the “mousing.” While in spring and summer hordes of mice or voles, red back voles to be specific, make their seemingly ridiculous trek transitioning from tundra animal to aspiring olympic swimmer. Why? I don’t know. Some say its because of some migration pattern. Maybe. Others say its because they are seeking the same things all mammals seek. Could be. Why a tiny little vole would jump into a raging river flowing at upwards of ten knots is beyond my level of good reasoning and understanding. Why do voles jump in the river? My opinion is because they just do and I don’t care why as long as trout continue to eat them. If you are more worried about why they do as opposed to the consequences of it, you should probably change the channel. I heard re-runs of the greatest Bob Hope Christmas specials were going to air in July. You might check that out. 

 The first time I watched a rainbow “mousing” left a scorching imprint of what really happens in the bush. Eat or get eaten. Brutality in its purest form. This poor little red back vole was just swimming across the river in a narrow channel that didn’t seem deep enough to hold a rainbow. Its swimming along just trying to get to the other side for who knows why and this two foot rainbow manifests, chases the vole, swirls and smashes on it but misses. Then it swirls and smashes again only to miss the vole again. Just when we all thought the show was over the trout comes back for one last grab. Third times a charm right. Nope. Another swing and miss precluded with a full body leap out of the water to come crashing down on top of the vole, missing completely.

All the while this vole is still just swimming. Doing its thing. While I am sure the thing was horrified beyond belief, it didn’t change its pace or course. Probably because it wasn't capable of physically fighting the river current. The fourth and final attempt from the rainbow proved worthy but not without show. The fish came back waking the even more shallow water like a great white shark chasing a seal. It literally powered its way through six inches of water to annihilate the vole just before it reached the other side of the narrow river channel. Pure unforgiving brutality. I and my Swiss clients stood there looking at each other. Until that moment, we had all struggled with a language barrier. they didn't speak much English and I didn’t speak Romansch. Once that rainbow crushed the vole, we all understood what needed to happen and it did.

 The first pass with a “mouse” pattern fly was nothing less than epic. Three chases and then a hook up. Next guy cast and had four chases and then hooked up. This went on all day and the rest of the week. At one point, I even took all the flies out of my pack except mice. The fact that they witnessed the initial sacrificial lamb significantly flattened the curve. They knew not to set the hook until they felt weight on the hook. Like the precision watches the guys built, with systematical precision they took apart the entire river and covered every bit of water with mouse patterns. All week. 

 Now I have clients that book for Alaska specifically when “mousing” is peak. Usually, June and July. They bring only mouse pattern flies, and floating seven weight lines on 9’ rods. Most folks bring two rods, just in case the unspeakable happens. The bush isn’t a place to not be prepared but, that’s another story.......

Too many kokanee. That was the problem. We had the cure. 
As we idled away from the dock in the Nomad's Fishing Adventures 24-foot Koffler sled, Bill Kremers and Josh Hopkins tied up rigs. Our guide, Damon Struble, passed out cups of cured corn. Garlic on the starboard side and krill-marinated kernels on the other. Then Struble pointed the bow up into the narrows. 

A few minutes later, when Struble shut off the Mercury, he looked each of us in the eye - Tim Wehde, Kremers, Hopkins, and me. "We're going to set the back rods at 60 feet out and the front rods at 70 feet. Put one to two kernels of corn on each hook. Things are going to be chaotic. If a rod starts bouncing, don't worry about whose rod it is. Pick it up. If you are tying up a new bait and see a rod with a fish, set the first rod down and get the fish in the boat."

Each rod was loaded with a 3-ounce weight to run the baits 30 to 40 feet down where thousands of kokanee schooled below us. 

At full pool, Green Peter covers 3,700 acres and is ten miles long, with 38 miles of shoreline. 

The water level fluctuates and the fish move around, but some of the best kokanee spots are by the dam, in the Quartzville arm (where we fished), and around the peninsula in the main channel. Jigging is a favorite technique early in the year, but trollers seem to do better in the summer. 

Damon uses a Simon 4.0 kokanee dodger on the main line with a Gold Star micro hoochie. Another good bet is a Kokanee Kid Super Mysis Bug or a Mack's Lure Double Whammy with a 10-inch leader. Most anglers add white corn. Damon likes to marinate the corn overnight in Pro-Cure krill powder and Garlic Plus. Hopkins had brought two prototype Lamiglas kokanee rods, graphite/fiberglass hybrids with slow actions. We would put them to the test with these heavy 3-ounce weights. 

For several years, ODFW found themselves with a surplus of sockeye smolts, Struble explained. Those fish ended up in Green Peter Reservoir.  

"The result is such an overabundance there isn't enough food for all the fish. So they are stunted," Struble said. 

In less than two minutes, we had the first bite. The fish came fast, sometimes with two or three rods bouncing at once. As quick as we could put fish in the box and put fresh bait on hooks, there would be another bite. Our kokanee averaged eight to nine inches each. The direct beneficiary of the kokanee experiment is a little known landlocked chinook salmon fishery created by ODFW almost 20 years ago. 

"They wanted to see if the chinook salmon would migrate through the dam and return. For seven or eight years, ODFW put 20,000 chinook smolts in the reservoir," Struble said. "After some high water flood years that blew out the catch nets, the project was abandoned." Technically, the experiment didn't prove successful, but the chinook are still there. "They turned Green Peter into their ocean and spawn up in the creeks," Struble said. 

How big do they get? 

"The biggest one I have caught was 16-1/2 pounds, while trolling for kokanee with a dodger and a little hoochie," Struble said. Those landlocked chinook are growing big on the kokanee. Struble estimates he has caught 25 or 30 chinook between two and ten pounds while fishing for kokanee. 

"When they are small, I'm not sure what they feed on, but inside that 16-1/2 pounder was a mostly digested kokanee about eight inches long."We didn't have time to target Green Peter rainbows, but that is another facet of this interesting fishery. Ahead of every Memorial Day weekend, the state plants 10,000 rainbows. Anglers don't get them all.

"Come springtime there is a really good population of hungry holdovers that range from 12 to 18 inches," Struble said. While we worked back and forth above a biomass of kokanee, the eagles and ospreys watched. When we lost a fish at the surface, a raptor would swoop down to pluck it out of the wind-riffled water. 

At Green Peter, the kokanee limit is 25 per day in addition to the daily five-trout limit. There is no size restriction for kokanee. Landlocked chinook salmon may be retained as part of the kokanee limit. 

Damon glanced at the western sky, which had suddenly filled with clouds and said, "Unless you guys want part of that, we should run for the dock!" And run we did. By the time the Ford was pointed back toward Central Oregon, the windshield wipers were working overtime. We had boated 45 kokanee in two hours. We hardly put a dent in them. 

www.GaryLewisOutdoors.com

If you fish, boat, crab, or just read the news in Western Washington, by now you’ve probably heard about the invasive European green crab. But how to identify this green menace, what are the rules if you encounter one, and what is the state doing about them? Read on for answers as well as tips to avoid spreading these and other aquatic invasive species. 

Native to western Europe from the Baltic Sea to Morocco, the European green crab is a damaging crab that threatens native shellfish, estuary habitats, eelgrass, the aquaculture industry, and other recreational, tribal, economic, and environmental values. The European green crab first became established in the United States in the mid-1800s, arriving by ship to New England, where they contributed to dramatic declines in the soft-shell clam fishery.

Studies have shown these voracious shore crabs (meaning they live in shallow, often intertidal waters, including bays, inlets, sloughs, and estuaries) can consume as many as 40 clams a day! In areas where European green crabs have established large populations for extended periods, they have had dramatic impacts on other species, particularly smaller shore crabs, clams, and small oysters. 

In addition to preying on shellfish, European green crabs are vigorous diggers and have severely harmed New England’s eelgrass beds and estuaries. If allowed to do the same here in the Pacific Northwest, loss of estuary and eelgrass habitat would threaten the harvest of wild shellfish like geoducks and cockles, undermine shellfish businesses, hurt salmon and forage fish recovery, and disrupt complex native food webs. Research is also ongoing regarding potential impacts on juvenile Dungeness crab and crab fisheries.

Back to Washington state, European green crabs were first discovered on our coast in 1998 in Willapa Bay, remaining in small numbers but slowly spreading north over the following decades. European green crabs were first documented in Washington’s inland waters in the San Juan Islands in 2016, and were confirmed near Victoria, British Columbia the previous year.

Beginning around 2018, state and federal agencies, tribes, and partners began to detect significant increases in European green crabs—likely linked to warmer water conditions, especially in 2021—in areas including Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor, Makah Bay, and Lummi Bay. In just a matter of years, green crabs in these areas had exploded from a few hundred to tens of thousands of crabs; necessitating emergency control measures.

Since then, emerging “hotspots” have also been detected in Discovery Bay and Drayton Harbor, as well as smaller numbers of crabs in northern Hood Canal near Seabeck. Most recently, green crabs were detected in May 2025 near Port Gamble. 

Thankfully, European green crabs have not yet been confirmed south of Hood Canal and Whidbey Island, including no detections to date in Puget Sound proper. 

How to identify green crabs

Don’t be fooled by the name; European green crabs can be green, red, orange, brown, or yellow. To identify them, look for five spines or teeth on each side of the shell. Guides and tips for identification are available from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) European green crab webpages and Crabs of Washington identification guide, available online.  

People are often surprised by how small these crabs are – the average green crab captured by WDFW is around 2 inches across the shell. They can get up to 4 inches wide, much smaller than mature Dungeness or red rock crabs. In Washington state, the European green crab is most often confused with the native hairy shore crab, helmet crab, or kelp crab. 

They typically live in areas with less than 25 feet of water. Beachgoers, waders, clam and oyster harvesters, and people crabbing off docks or piers in shallow areas are most likely to encounter these shore crabs. Recreational shrimpers or crabbers operating in deep water are unlikely to catch them.  

Rules and regulations  

If you find a suspected European green crab or its shell in Washington, take photos and report it as soon as possible at wdfw.wa.gov/greencrab or through the Washington Invasive Species Council’s WA Invasives mobile app. Depending on the area, WDFW or permitted partners will follow up with trapping to remove as many green crabs as possible and slow their spread. 

As a prohibited invasive species, it is illegal to possess a live European green crab in Washington. Currently, WDFW is not asking the public to kill suspected EGC. This is to protect native crabs, which are often misidentified.

More information on EGC regulations is available on WDFW’s webpage and in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules. Under Washington regulations, prohibited invasive species may be killed and retained if you are certain about species identification and assume responsibility for correct identification and adherence to state fishing rules.

Targeting European green crabs with traps requires a permit from WDFW. If you own or manage shellfish beds, beaches, or tidelands, support and permits for European green crab control may be available. Learn more by contacting ais@dfw.wa.gov.  

Managing green crabs

WDFW, tribes, shellfish growers, other agencies, and partners have made significant progress managing European green crabs. Since January 2022, more than one million have been captured and removed, most from Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor, and Lummi Bay.  

In 2024, WDFW published a long-term management plan for European green crab after a year-long collaboration with tribal governments, U.S. federal agencies, Washington state agencies, shellfish growers, public universities, and additional partners. 

The plan includes detailed guidance for European green crab early-detection monitoring, rapid response, ongoing control trapping, and other efforts across defined management areas and coordination zones for Washington’s Outer Coast and Salish Sea. More information on green crab management, regular catch reports, and more ways to get involved can be found on the WDFW website. 

You can also help prevent the spread of European green crabs and other aquatic invasive species by practicing Clean, Drain, Dry methods with all your gear, equipment, and watercraft. Visit WDFW’s webpage or search “Clean, Drain, Dry” for tips on ways to prevent green crab larvae, which can be very small and hard to see, and other invasive species from hitching a ride on your equipment. 

In the years since Kokanee University was written, many wonderful developments have happened. The tackle designs, for example, are way different now as technology has made available vast improvements in action and color. What has not changed are the concepts outlined in previous articles. Let’s take a look at fishing strategies to catch more kokanee!

Color Fish Finder

No doubt, the very best piece of electronic equipment is the color fish finder–sonar. Color is better because of the unique biology of the kokanee, which have an unusually large air sac, and sonar cannot penetrate air. Because of this, kokanee can be seen on the fish finder, usually as bright orange (the default color on many systems). No other freshwater fish has this distinct detectable characteristic, so you can easily tell the depth of kokanee by this method.

The fish finder will let you know the current depth. Knowing the depth of the bottom is essential, especially if your lake has varying contours. On more than one occasion, I have raised downrigger balls "just in time" to avoid getting hung up on a bottom that suddenly came up, seemingly out of nowhere. Your fish finder will track your downrigger ball, and you can use this to verify the accuracy of the counter on the downrigger.

One factor to consider is how large a viewing area there is. The larger the viewing area, the higher the cost. Screen resolution is another factor to consider – will your viewer be viewable in sunlight and with polarized sunglasses? Another critical factor is the location of the fish finder in relation to where you are sitting while fishing. You need to be able to see the details on the screen.

GPS

GPS serves many useful functions. One of the best is showing accurate boat speed. (The little paddle wheel on the fish finder is unreliable and next to useless.) If you are targeting a speed of 1.4 MPH, you will be able to know when you are going 1.4 MPH. You will also be able to know when you are NOT going 1.4 MPH.

GPS will display a track of where you have been, and the memory will store those tracks until you erase them. I have had these tracks for years on the same device, showing both where I have been and also where my favorite and most successful areas have been.

Another fabulous feature is the cartography, which shows the contour depths of the lake you are on. You can either purchase the SD card, or many now come with the cartography pre-installed. My SD card covers all the lakes in the western US. You can get these cards to cover your region as well. Knowing the depth contours is a tremendous help. For example, it will allow you to stay on course within a former river channel. It will show points of land that are underwater and which could be a problem in navigation when the downriggers are out.

Temperature At Depth

One of the very best recent developments in technology is the ability to accurately measure the temperature of the water at depth. While the temperature function on your fish finder only tells you the surface temperature, the simplest device for measuring water temperature at depth is from FishHawk Electronics.

This little device is called the FishHawk TD. It is easy to use by simply attaching the device to your fishing line, pressing START, waiting for READY, then lowering it into the water. I send it down deep, then retrieve it, then press view, and it shows the water temperature in 5-foot increments down the water column as far as you have lowered the probe. This is extremely useful, particularly when looking for that 54-degree temperature depth in kokanee season. 

I have also used the device to understand what was going on underwater. During one early September outing on a high mountain lake, I could see on the fish finder a few scattered kokanee at 40 feet, and a whole bunch of kokanee at 60 feet. Try as I could, no kokanee could be enticed from the 60-foot depth. The kokanee at the 40-foot depth were the only ones that would bite. I set out the FishHawk TD to determine if temperature had anything to do with it. Sure enough, it did.

The fish at 40 feet enjoyed a temperature of 54 degrees. The fish at 60 feet were at 44 degrees. The deeper fish were already starting to settle in for the winter. Since it was September, I could tell these were the two-year-olds (next year's fish). Most of the kokanee I had caught at the 40-foot level were either turned or were turning color. By combining what I learned from the temperature measurements with what I saw on the fish finder, I was able to figure out why I was not getting bit at the deeper depths.

Electric Trolling Motors

The single best advantage of the electric trolling bow-mounted motor is the ability to steer the boat by wireless remote control from wherever you are in the boat. I simply strap the small control on my wrist, and that lets me easily control the boat's direction and speed, even when I am fighting a fish or setting the downrigger.

Scouting A New Lake

Once you have enjoyed some success fishing for kokanee, you can have confidence in fishing any lake with a kokanee population. Kokanee are kokanee regardless of whether they are in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Carolina, British Columbia, Washington, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, or California. When I know I am going to fish a new lake, the very first thing I do is to find the lake using Google Earth. I need to know the shape of the lake, where the deep water is, and where the shallow water is. I need to know what feeder streams come into it and where the outlet(s) are. I need to know the structure of the surrounding terrain, such as whether one side coming into the lake is steep and the other side is gentle.

I also check out the lake using my GPS cartography. I can sit in my boat in Central Oregon and study lakes in any other location simply by moving the cursor on my GPS.

Generally, what I am looking for is where the current might be and where feeder streams come into the lake. Those are two locators of what I call "active" water. This is where water mixes with the regular lake water, adding oxygen to the water. Fish need oxygen. This is also where trace nutrients come into the lake from feeder streams. These nutrients act like fertilizer to the plankton (phytoplankton) that the zooplankton, kokanee, and other baitfish feed on.

I look for drop-offs, where the lake suddenly gets deeper. Recall that as you go deeper down the water column, the water gets colder. It cannot get colder unless it gives up heat that rises to the surface. This process causes mixing - water movement up and down. This process is also good for the plankton and, hence, good for the kokanee.

If I am fishing early in the season, I look for structures, such as points of land coming into the water. I have found that in the early season, kokanee relate to structure.

Finally, using the internet allows you to research in ways we never could years ago. Don’t limit yourself to fishing forums. Searching and finding hidden gems can give you inside information that many anglers have overlooked. 

The whole idea is to learn as much reliable information about the new lake as you can from the available sources. Be assured, what has worked for you on your local lake will also work on the new lake.

 The Science Of "Scent"

All fish have nares, which are scent-detecting tubes on the snout of the fish. A fish's ability to detect scent is flat out amazing, often measured in parts per million. And salmonids are probably near the best in scent detection. For thousands of years, fishermen have used bait on hooks to persuade fish to bite.

Some awesome kokanee fisherman or fisherwoman discovered a long time ago that kokanee will bite a lure baited with white shoepeg corn. And that discovery has been passed down for many years to the present time. What has not been passed down is why white shoepeg corn works so well.

It turns out that white shoepeg corn has an amino acid that is a bite stimulant for kokanee, something that yellow corn does not have. White shoepeg corn also manages to stay on the hook fairly well at kokanee trolling speeds. My research has revealed another interesting characteristic of white shoepeg corn: it stays white down the entire water column without any fade. As such, it presents a clearly defined target for the fish to attack. (For doubters, take a kernel of white shoepeg corn into a dark closet and shine a black light on it.)

Over the years, it has become popular to add additional scent to the corn by brining it first. Such scents have included anise, garlic, vanilla, and a host of others. Savvy kokanee fishermen would have more than one type of scented corn to entice the kokanee; in case the first one didn't seem to work, they would have a backup. I know that making up different scent combinations is part of the wonderful pre-fishing ritual. Some even dye the corn different colors. More ritual.

In the past, I endorsed using two kernels of corn on each of the tandem hooks in the lure. I have changed my philosophy a bit over the years. I found out that putting corn only on the leading hook helped prevent that dreaded "short" bite. A "short" bite is where the fish targets the trailing hook, hits it, and does not get hooked. The same concept is where the fish will take a bite out of a worm that extends beyond the hook. Either way, the fish wins, and you get that wonderful, frustrated feeling.

Placing the corn on the leading hook takes advantage of a fish's biology. Since a fish cannot see directly in front of its snout a distance of about two inches, placing the target scent corn on the leading hook will make the trailing hook invisible to the fish. The result is a higher percentage of hook-ups and deeper penetration of the hooks.

I have also studied the hydrodynamics of putting two kernels of corn on the leading and trailing hooks. At kokanee trolling speeds, using two kernels on each hook significantly dampens the action of the lure. This poses an issue. I want maximum action on my lure, and I also want to maximize the scent on my lure. Can I have both action and scent without compromising the action of the lure? And I also want to prevent the "short" bite.

The best solution finally emerges as being obvious all along. Many scents now come available with a sticky gel. In my opinion, these scents are more powerful bite stimulants than anything that corn can produce by itself. I now use only a single kernel of undyed, and otherwise unscented, white corn on the leading hook only, and place some gel on the beads of my beaded spinners. This gives maximum scent to my lure without interfering with its action. If I am using a squid or a hoochie, I place some of the gel inside the squid or hoochie body, again using but a single piece of white shoepeg corn on the leading hook. I believe my success rate has increased using this setup.

At the end of the day, do your best to rinse off the gel on your lures. Using generous amounts of hot water will help. I have now substituted my pre-fishing "brine the corn ritual" for a post-fishing "clean the lures ritual." I have found the gel scents of anise, kokanee special, garlic, and especially bloody tuna to be excellent.

Next month, we'll look at the gear you need to catch more

Fish With Gary - Kokanee university

https://fishwithgary.com

It’s no secret that last year’s razor clam season was a banner year. Record number of clam diggers swarmed beaches, working hard to get their limits. 484,388 diggers showed up, harvesting 8,352,279 clams, over 120 total harvest days. That’s a lot of razor clams! This was a welcome success after the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons closed early due to COVID-19 and domoic acid, respectively. Thousands of eager razor clam diggers are wondering if this season will be as successful as the last.

Dust off those razor clam guns and get your hip boots ready, because the forecast is looking promising! WDFW assessed razor clam populations throughout the summer and all had strong, harvestable populations except for at Kalaloch, which will be closed this year to allow recovery. Let’s take a closer look at this year’s forecast, and how WDFW determines annual razor clam harvests.

Razor clams have been enjoyed by millions of people over thousands of years. They are a valuable resource to hungry fishermen and local economies. WDFW estimated the fishery value to be $71,689 last year. So how are these crucial resources managed? Since 1929, WDFW has managed the coastal razor clam harvest. It’s a difficult job- they have to balance the demands of recreational fishermen with the rights of the tribes, all while keeping public safety in mind. Management strategies have been ever evolving.

From 1929 to 1942, there was a year-round season, and a 36-clam limit. In 1943, WDFW limited the season from March 1st to September 30th, and in 1960, the clam limit was reduced to 18. In 1973, the seasons were further reduced, and in 1974, the 15 clam limit we are familiar with today was implemented. In 2000, the seasons became much less set in stone and varied from October to May, depending on counts conducted through the “pumped area” method. In 2004, WDFW switched to the system still in use today, the “adjusted exploitation rate” method. Management strategies are ever evolving based on the increasing amounts of clam diggers every year, and changing oceanic conditions.

There are 3 pieces to the puzzle that WDFW must take into account before announcing razor clam digs: population counts, domoic acid levels, and tribal rights. The first piece of the puzzle is population counts. Each summer, WDFW conducts population counts at every beach: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, and Kalaloch. Based on these counts, they estimate the total number of clams measuring under 3 inches, and the total number of clams measuring over 3 inches.

They allow a certain percentage of razor clam population over 3 inches to be harvested each year, in order to make sure the population stays sustainable for years to come. Up to 40% of razor clams 3 inches and above may be harvested every year for the population to remain sustainable. After every harvest, WDFW calculates the remaining TAC (total allowable harvest), and sets further days based on that number. This way, poor tidal conditions and weather don’t mean we get shorter seasons. Alternatively, if conditions are great and there are more harvesters than predicted, the season may close early on that beach. Population counts are closely monitored throughout the year to make sure this popular fishery will remain for years to come.

Before WDFW opens recreational harvesting, they must also determine whether the clams are safe to eat. WDFW’s goals are not only to keep the resource around for years to come, but also to protect public health and safety. Unfortunately, clams are subject to accumulating marine toxins in their bodies which can make harvesters sick. Harmful algae blooms are naturally occurring, but concentrate in razor clam tissue. The most prevalent toxin is domoic acid, caused by consumption of marine plankton, called diatoms.

Eating a razor clam that has high levels of domoic acid can cause nausea, dizziness, memory loss, and stroke-like symptoms. There is no antidote, and the toxin is not destroyed by cooking/freezing. WDFW carefully tests razor clam populations for domoic acid throughout the year, and will close seasons accordingly, even if TAC (total allowable catch) hasn’t been met.

The final piece which WDFW must take into account is tribal fishing rights. Each year in August, WDFW discusses population estimates and domoic acid levels with the coastal tribes that have fishing rights on razor clam beaches, and comes up with the total allowable catch (TAC). 50% of the TAC goes to recreational fishermen and 50% goes to the tribes.

The coastal tribes work with WDFW staff to come up with joint population assessments, and share their data together. Tribal seasons take place on different days than non-tribal seasons, and each group makes their own harvest estimates and enforces the rules themselves. Razor clams are a co-managed resource that tribal and non-tribal stakeholders take very seriously.

Beach has by far the largest TAC (total allowable catch) share at 5,865,490 clams, and Mocrocks has the smallest, at 1,964,732. Interestingly, the average size of clams is slightly smaller this year. Last year, they were 4.4 inches long, and this year they were 4.22 inches on average. Although the clams are a little smaller, there are plenty of them! Overall, the forecast looks promising. WDFW always tries to schedule razor clam digs on weekends at least once a month during the months of October through May. The WDFW director checks marine toxin levels and looks at the remaining TAC for the year before announcing that the harvest dates can proceed. Clam digs have been tentatively approved throughout November and December.

In an unprecedented move, WDFW increased the limits from 15 to 20 razor clams last year. Will it happen again this year? For now, keep an ear to the ground and always check your rules and regulations before heading out. Speaking of rules and regulations, it’s always a good idea to brush up.

Make sure each harvester has their own container to put clams in. Many sporting goods stores sell clam nets, which readily tie to your wading belt to keep your hands free for digging and holding flashlights. Remember that the first 15 clams dug must be kept, no matter the size or condition. We’ve all accidentally crunched clams while digging them, or dug up a tiny one, but they still must be retained as part of your 15-clam limit. That being said, there are plenty of clams out there to be had. It’s shaping up to be a good year, so go out and get those razor clams!

Calling a fishing destination “5-star” can mean a lot of things to different people.

Some people are all about the fishing and only the fishing. Five stars to them means spectacular fishing opportunities for that prized species on their list. For them, it could be good numbers, rare fishes, or even “trophy” size. If this means sleeping in a car on the side of the road it makes no difference to them. It’s all about the fish.

Other people are looking for a trip the whole family can enjoy, a vacation with a side of good fishing. They want some amenities, some nightlife, maybe some local culture and sightseeing. Then a couple days on a blue water charter.

Throw in all the factors like; do you want a guided/charter experience or are you more into self-guided adventures? What time of year? What species? What’s on the bucket list? Boat or shore? Fly fishing? Budget? Well, you get a lot of answers for what a 5 Star Fishing Destination entails. And guess what? Everybody’s right. Your dream fishing destination is a personal thing. Whether you’re a trophy hunter or dream of ten inch trout on a quiet Alpine Lake, who can say its not “5 star”? Fishing is many things for everyone, but here are some of our favorites from over the years and why we think of them as “5 star”. (Hint: the reasons aren’t all the same.)

Starting from East to West:

Fort Peck, Montana

DIY Road Trip Adventure

For some people seeking out fishing destinations, the adventure of getting there is more than half the fun. Fort Peck Montana is nearly 1000 miles from Seattle and a 15-hour drive straight through.  It is so far East it’s not really PNW anymore. The road to Fort Peck has its share of roadside attractions, beautiful scenery, and fun stops if you plan your time accordingly. If your 5-star fishing destination means a nice long road trip, you should put Fort Peck on your list.

Why Fort Peck? Last year a new state record came out of Fort Peck that caught the attention of anglers across the U.S.. You might be surprised that the record was for Chinook Salmon, a 32.62 Chinook to be exact. That’s a nice fish anywhere! And travelling across the northwest to this unlikely spot for a chance at 30 pound plus Kings is what makes this one of our 5-star destinations.  The fishing opportunity doesn’t stop with salmon at Fort Peck, Walleye, Sauger, Northern Pike, Lake Trout, and Small Mouth Bass all abound in one of the most beautiful, uncrowded fishing destinations in the United States.  And from experience, they grow them large in Big Sky country!

Fort Peck Reservoir is a big lake (about 134 miles in length, 1520 miles of shoreline, and roughly 220’ deep when full) created by the Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River, and boats are recommended but there are a lot of marinas and campgrounds to plan your trip around with many having shore fishing opportunities. Glasgow, Montana serves as a good base camp with various lodging, restaurants, and re-supply options and is just 17 miles from the Fort Peck Marina. The Cottonwood Inn & Suites has a variety of options for lodging; from RV Parking to hotel rooms, and amenities include boat parking, a casino, and restaurant.

You can learn more about Fort Peck, and how to fish it at https://fwp.mt.gov/fish

Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho

North Idaho Trophy Hunting

Lake Pend Oreille is the largest lake in Idaho and in the top 50 for the U.S.. It is really deep (over 1000 feet in some areas) and is known for naval submarine testing. This is beautiful country, with a host of fishing options, but what many come for are the Kamloops.  Kamloops are a Gerrard strain of rainbow trout and that are known as some of the biggest trout around, and are highly sought after to round out an avid trout anglers trophy checklist. Your chance for “Big fish” is what makes Lake Pend Oreille a 5-star fishing destination.

The Idaho state record Kamloops rainbow trout was caught out of Pend Oreille in 1947 by Wes Hamlet in 1947. That’s a long time for a record to hold up, but that doesn’t stop anglers from pursuing glory every year in tournaments, by boat, and from shore. Pend Oreille is also home to massive schools of kokanee (a favorite food of the Kamloops), and populations of pike, bass, perch, walleye, crappie and mackinaw. The lake has a history of big fish taken from it in addition to the trout record, these include a 43-pound 6-ounce mackinaw in 1995, and a world record 32-pound bull trout in 1949.  

The idyllic town of Sandpoint sits on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, nestled in forests between the mountains and the lake.  A destination town for skiers in the winter and boaters in the summer, Sandpoint is a great home base for the family fishing destination vacation with some boujee amenities not too far from some small town, rustic escapes. The theme park, Silverwood, is less than 30 minutes away. If you’re looking to plan a trip with something for everyone, shopping, hiking, dining, and trophy fishing, Sandpoint and the neighboring town of Ponderay are great options. 

The word is out, and the popularity of the area has grown immensely for so plan ahead! Jeff and Mona Laybourne of Superfly Tackle not only operate the local tackle store and carry everything you need, but they make specialized gear to target the lake’s prized trophies. They are a wealth of information and can be reached online at https://superflyflies.com/. 

Clearwater River, Idaho

Steelhead Mecca

Arguably the most consistent steelhead fishing in the region and your best shot at steelhead retention (catch and keep), the Clearwater River’s retention steelhead season runs from early October to mid-April, with prime time being October through January. You can be at this steelhead promise land in just under 6 hours from Seattle.  

The river draws steelhead enthusiasts from around the northwest, offering outstanding opportunities for catch-and-release fishing, fly fishing, shore fishing, and of course drift boats and power boats. The Clearwater’s “B-run” may be the best bet in the region for a trophy 20 pounder, and B-run fish typically average 12-14 pounds. Many of the fish originate at the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery managed by the Nez Perce tribe of Idaho, located at the confluence of the North Fork and mainstem Clearwater, about 3 miles west of Orofino, Idaho.

While the epic steelhead fishing and amazing stretches of highly fishable water make this a 5-star fishing destination, the Clearwater is not a one trick pony. The Dworshak hatchery bolsters catch and keep chances for King and Coho salmon with sustainable fish production goals. Coho were declared extinct in the river in 1986, but this year there was an overlapping sport season for Coho, Kings, and Steelhead! These October days are prime time and can be some of the most amazing, quality, days of an angler’s life. With returning Coho averaging 8-12 pounds, 10 to 20 pounds plus Chinook, and those amazing B-run in the river at the same time, pandemonium has been the theme more than once! Recent years have seen spring run Chinook seasons as well. 

This adventure is really about the fishing and those special days on the water. There are a variety of options in the area for shore fishing, multiple boat launches, and some great area outfitters. Many folks skip the hassle of pulling the boat and learning the river, instead walking onto a guides boat and getting right into the hot spots. Many of these area professionals provide a “hot lunch” as well, and around noon you can smell burgers and brats all around the river. Guides we recommend in the area include Toby Wyatt of Reel Time Fishing https://reeltimefishing.com, Kyle Jones of Jones Sport Fishing https://jonessportfishing.com, and Adam Hocking of Steel Dreams Guide Service https://steeldreamsfishing.com.  For lodging Lewiston, Idaho has all the amenities with the Hell’s Canyon Grand being our usual choice. Orofino, Idaho, has several good options as well.

Potholes Reservoir, Washington

Walleye Wonderland

Not everyone’s into walleye, but if you are, Potholes Reservoir should be on your list.  Located about seven miles south of Moses Lake in Central Washington, Potholes Reservoir offers year-round fishing opportunities for walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and panfish.  Dinner plate bluegill are not unknown and last year there was some great rainbow fishing. 

The lake is large and shallow, with most of the lake less than 30 feet deep.  What used to be, and still is to some extent, a large collection of sand dunes, is now a one-of-a-kind regional destination for bass and walleye anglers and recreation of all sorts.  Part of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, multiple tournaments are held on the Lake annually, most held at the MarDon Resort Marina. 

With over 300 days of sunshine, MarDon is popular as a destination for families, and vacationers nearly year-round (boating, camping, resort events, wildlife & birdwatching), with the Fall and Winter offering excellent waterfowl hunting opportunities. The resort has a variety of lodging opportunities from big RV spots and campsites to beach houses and cabins, you can customize your Potholes Lodging experience to your needs.  The marina offers quick access to the Lake, and the restaurant and resort store means you don’t really need to go anywhere. 

The consistent walleye fishing, and the flexibility to tailor the trip to whatever you’re looking for is what makes this a 5-star fishing destination. Walleye are delicious table fare, and the big boys can offer a surprising fight.  Nothing beats a mess of walleye grilled up after a day of fishing with one of those epic Potholes sunsets on the horizon. 

You can fish from the shore or the marina dock, launch your boat, rent a boat, or hire a local guide to experience Potholes Reservoir Fishing.  Shelby Ross of Ross Outdoor Adventures is the resident expert on lake conditions and where the fish are. 

To learn more about MarDon Reservoir visit  https://mardonresort.com/ to contact Shelby Ross of Ross Outdoor Adventure visit: https://rossoutdooradventures.com

Zeballos, BC

Trip of a Lifetime

This one is for those people who want the ultimate PNW fishing experience. You want salmon, you want halibut, you want the smell of saltwater and rugged untouched shorelines. This destination is not for people that one shopping, nightlife, and dance clubs. When you pull into Zeballos, BC you drive into the past. There’s one thing to do: Fish, Eat, Sleep, Repeat.

There’s one primary business in this town: Reel Obsession Sportfishing. Zeballos is about halfway up the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It looks just like the coastal parts of the PNW.  On the drive up (about 4 1/2 hours from the ferry in Nanaimo) there are towering Cedars and Firs, jagged mountains and pristine streams. There aren’t any mini-marts though. This trip is all about decompressing and enjoying some of the consistently best all-around salmon & halibut fishing in the region, and the team at Reel Obsession is obsessive in providing an unforgettable experience for their guests.

From the time you arrive until you depart, they have thought of everything. Wonderful accommodations, amazing chef prepared meals, top quality boats, gear, and equipment, and off the hook fishing is what makes this a 5-star fishing destination. Owners Adrian and Angie O’Connor have grown their operation to include up to 30 guests daily with groups of two, three, and larger visiting for three- or four-day inclusive trips. Guests start their day with breakfast in the common room then head for the boats, lunches already onboard, after eight hours of fishing your captain returns you to the dock. Fish are filleted, vacuum packed, and flash froze – all while you enjoy the latest chef’s creation. Then you wake up and do it again. 

Located at the end of Esperanza Inlet which leads to Nootka Sound and then the Pacific Salmon Highway, fishing from Zeballos allows multiple options to intercept salmon, access to reliable halibut grounds, and the chance at ling cod and bottom fish nearly every trip. Later in the season Albacore Tuna trips are possible as are the chances for the prized Tyee Salmon (30 pounds or larger). 

U.S. guests are limited to specific travel limits which usually fill a good cooler. Reel Obsession books up fast each season, we recommend you reach out to them early to plan your destination fishing adventure. For more information about Reel Obsession visit https://reelobsession.ca

Let's start with a recap of Steelhead season 2024 early predictions called for a record run. 

JULY & AUGUST

Most people were skeptical considering the last 15 years have been less than stellar. Snake River Steelhead enter the Columbia River in July and August and unlike  Salmon, Steelhead migrate slower.  They often stop in areas known as cold water refuges for many days, or sometimes weeks, on their way upriver to spawn.

The first thing we noticed was higher numbers of fish than we were accustomed to seeing over the last 15 years. The second thing we noticed was the fish were mostly bigger B-run steelhead. Steelhead are classified into two groups: A-run identified as a Steelhead under 30", and B–over 30".

A-run spend 1 year in the ocean, and B-run spend 2 or more. September 1st when the Steelhead Season opened on the Snake River, we had a good feel for the run. Fishery managers had pumped up the run and the numbers crossing each dam did not lie. It’s going to be a good year.

SEPTEMBER

September for my company, Reel Time Fishing, is primarily spent trolling 360 flasher setups or hovering eggs targeting King Salmon around the Confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers. This area has a temperature difference known as a thermal barrier. In this case, the Clearwater is close to 10 degrees colder than the Snake River. Salmon fishing was slow this September but the Steelhead fishing was much better. It was strange to tell the clients Salmon is slow, while Steelhead is hot.

We had a lot of success trolling bobbers and shrimp at an ultra-slow pace in the usual steelhead spots around the bridges and the neutral water flat on the north side of the confluence. We also caught a fair amount on our Salmon gear superbaits and spinners as the season progressed we started to move upriver to the free-flowing areas of the Clearwater trolling Maglips by Yakima Bait and Bradss Wiggler. These plugs tipped with a shrimp are a deadly combination.

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER

That brings us to the now. Currently, the Steelhead are through all river systems and anglers are enjoying both the increased numbers and size. In my 35 years of guiding experience, this is how the rest of the season should shape up: Steelhead are going to hang in the slower water around Lewiston, Clarkston, and Asotin to wait for a good shot of rain that signals the fish to move upriver.

This makes November and December amazing fishing in the slack water in the day and the night. Yes, I said night. Night fishing is allowed and it can be very productive pulling lighted lures like the old Brads Wigglers, Vortex and the new Night Strike day time. I would concentrate on Bobber and Shrimp around the bridges and in the neutral water in the confluence on the north side or trolling 360 flashers and a very small spinner such as the 3.0 colorado blade in shades gold, chartreuse, and green.

Many steelhead can be caught upriver as well. The Clearwater is an amazing bank fishery that targets deeper slower runs with bobber and shrimp. If you prefer fishing upriver from a boat my suggestion is Heller Bar or the entire Clearwater from Lewiston to Orofino. Keep in mind these river systems are very dangerous, a person can get into trouble not knowing the water. I suggest hiring one of the many local guide services to show you the river.

JANUARY & FEBRUARY

After the first of the year, most of the Steelhead will begin to head to areas closer to their spawning grounds but keep in mind Steelhead migration is unique. Sometimes they actually move downriver for some time. For example, during January and February, you can still catch fish in the Lewiston-Clarkston area but there are definitely less fish hanging around in this area.

On the Clearwater, anglers will begin to pile into the Orofino area targeting the fish from Dworshak hatchery, the largest Steelhead hatchery in the world. Amazing bank fishing can be had on the North Fork of the Clearwater below Dworshak Dam.

Other hot spots include the Cottonwood Creek hatchery on the Grande Ronde, and Mouth of the Little Salmon on the Salmon River. These areas are all hotspots and because of this, they are high-traffic areas. If you would like to avoid the crowds, fish river sections up to 15 miles downriver of these hot spots and just cover some ground. The fish aren’t as concentrated, so it’ll likely be a situation where you find one here and there.

MARCH & APRIL

In March and April, all the fish will be piled up near hatcheries or spawning grounds. This is a hot time for Orofino, Clear Creek hatchery, and the south fork of the Clearwater. Little Salmon heats up in Riggins Idaho, the Cottonwood creek area on the Grande Ronde, and Hell’s Canyon dam will begin to produce.

LATE SEASON

Let's talk techniques for these late-season fish.  The #1 technique is drifting a pegged bead. I use a yakima bait size 10 pink or orange corky with a toothpick pegging the bead 4 or 5 inches above the hook, this technique is deadly with a very soft subtle presentation. The Steelhead's focus is on the bead, he never sees the hook, but when he clamps down on the bead and you set the hook you stick him in the corner of the mouth and never get a gut-hooked fish. It’s the perfect catch and release system and perfect for rivers with wild fish release. I suggest presenting this bead system free drifting, bobber dog, or just straight-up bobber, but you will need to use a sinking bead on this straight-up system. Other techniques that work well include free drift or bobber and eggs, back trolling or bobber and jig.

Now we need to ask ourselves a few questions. So why is this year so good? Will this be normal in the future? Are we recovering Steelhead? What can we do to help the Steelhead? The answer in my opinion is that this year was good because ocean conditions have been favorable for Steelhead. I do think we will get many more years like this one, but if you look at the overall trend, Steelhead are still on the decline. So no, we are not recovering Steelhead. We release billions of smolt and get less than a 1% return.

HOW TO HELP

Here are a few things we need to focus on to help the Steelhead:

#1 Improve passage: a journey that used to take Steelhead smolt around 15 days, now takes them over 30 days. Going hand-in-hand is predator pressure. Predator pressure is intense—these fish are facing an overwhelming and growing number of predators like walleye, bass, cormorants, and pelicans, whose populations are skyrocketing.

#2. Selective Harvest. I feel any human should not kill a wild Steelhead. If we could eliminate gill nets and switch to selective harvest methods for hatchery fish, allowing wild fish to swim free, it would be a clear win. Individuals harvesting fish for commercial or subsistence purposes could selectively harvest at each dam using dip nets, sorting out hatchery fish, and letting all wild Steelhead go free.

That's a start. There are many more factors contributing to the decline, but for now, we are enjoying a wonderful Steelhead season and we are only halfway through. So get off the couch grab a rod and head to the river. Tight Lines -Toby Wyatt-