Northwest Fishing Reports

Hi friends, hoping you guys and gals could give me some advice.
I'm going steelhead fishing this weekend at the Snake River,lower granite dam/boyer park/ the grain elevators. I have a boat, sonar and the right poles. I dont know what kind of tackle to use. I want to still fish, troll and cast lures. I dont have down riggers, but I do have leaded line. I'm 85% lost on what to use or do.
Any help will be put to use and will not go to waste. I have money to buy lures and terminal tackle too, I just dont know what to buy and how to present it. Thanks in advance to all that reply.
Crappie007....

One rule of thumb in my book is when you arent sure what to use.Nightcrawlers always work.Especially with summer run.Egg roe is another.If your fishing in a current use corkies and yarn.If the water level is low go for smaller and lighter gear.If its muddy at all or even off color use larger brighter colors and sizes.Another good thing to do is ask a local shop owner or fisherpersons fishing the area.I dont know what rules apply gear wise but that of course will be a major factor also.Good luck..Hook sizes are another matter.I prefer the 2-3/0 sizes for steelies but the water color will play there also.

if you look under features then fishing stories/articles there is a few steel heading articles that could help you.

Thank you, that is enough to get me headed in the right direction, I'll check the feature deal. You all know life gets so busy sometimes we dont have time to blink.

crappie007 wrote:Hi friends, hoping you guys and gals could give me some advice.
I'm going steelhead fishing this weekend at the Snake River,lower granite dam/boyer park/ the grain elevators. I have a boat, sonar and the right poles. I dont know what kind of tackle to use. I want to still fish, troll and cast lures. I dont have down riggers, but I do have leaded line. I'm 85% lost on what to use or do.
Any help will be put to use and will not go to waste. I have money to buy lures and terminal tackle too, I just dont know what to buy and how to present it. Thanks in advance to all that reply.
Crappie007....

I believe you are fishing above the dam, so this area is pretty much slow water fishing. If this is correct, many troll that area with wiggle warts, Brad's Wigglers, hot shots, the old Vortex lighted lures if fishing at night, etc. I don't think the leaded line will be necessary, but you never know for sure. Fish slow, follow hook and barb rules, release all wild fish for sure. Colors to use, whatever you forgot to bring of course (LOL). Honestly, I have caught them on pink, orange, red, black with silver specks, purple, ............... you get the idea, but never many on the same lure or color on any given day.

There are some eddys that form, or slick lines, and I know of some that fish that water with large slip float and a lead jig below, usually tipped with shrimp. You would need to adjust the depth by watching someone else that is catching fish, of by the use of your fish finder. Mostly this is done in that area by shore bound fishermen, but who knows.

I can't suggest tossing lures to catch the fish. It may work, but I have never tried it here and have never seen anyone else try it either. ON THE OTHER HAND, if you are fishing below the dam, than all bets are off.

Good luck, hope you do well.