Saltwater steelhead?

[A9]

Yep there are still some late summer steelies exiting the systems. Many of these are actually confused and people think it's their first winter run when it's just a returning summerrun...

Steelies are on their way. I've heard of one caught out up on the beaches of Whidbey Island...And the coho's are still in good out there...

[Fisherman_max]

yea i cant wait to catch my first winter run when they are all fresh from the salt. the summer runners that are still in the rivers are kinda sluggish becuase of the lack of large food sources. sure they eat a coupel small river fish here and there but nothing like they get in the salt. which also means you can give a faster presentation to fresh fish than you can a burned out one. but never the less hungry holdover steely's might be more inclined to hit your lure of choice.

[A9]

the summer runners that are still in the rivers are kinda sluggish becuase of the lack of large food sources. sure they eat a coupel small river fish here and there but nothing like they get in the salt. which also means you can give a faster presentation to fresh fish than you can a burned out one.

I'm pretty srue they don't eat river fish at all..They'll eat eggs that get washed down from redds that get disturbed or just eggs that don't make it into the gravel...

And it doesn't mean you can give any faster presentation. Plunking is actually a common winter run technique whereas spoon fishing or spinner fishing is pretty much the way to do it for summer run steelies...

[Fisherman_max]

you are right but if they dont eat little fish in the rivers then why would they hit a spoon or a spinner? i am sure they eat a couple small crayfish also along with eggs and small baby trout or minnows

[JimLyons]

I always heard that they hit lures and spoons out of agitation. They do eat shrimp and eggs though, and I think whatever you are using they are not going to go out of their way to get it. But when they do I am not sure if there is any thing better than lifting your rod and feeling that pull.

[A9]

They will take eggs just like every salmon does and sand shrimp, and the they hit spoons and spinners out of aggresion and it's the same for pink worms and corkies and yarn...

They are in rivers to spawn....

[Mike Carey]

Just posted an excellent primer on Whidbey Island steelhead by Bob Johansen:

http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReadArti ... =15&id=271

We are sure lucky to have Bob submitting artciles to this site!

[bpm2000]

anybody try salt steelhead in recent years? Hows the success rate?

[A9]

Heard of one caught the other day by a friend of a friend...west side of Whidbey Island...

[A9]

Heading out a few times over the coming weeks..Hopefully with some luck...I'll snap some pictures of the rigs when I tie a few up...Pretty easy to make, and you can get creative with the colors...

[Derrick-k]

Let us know how you do, I would like to see some pics of steelhead as well.

[A9]

Spent 3.5 hours over the past 3 days out there braving 37 degree weather and a strong wind and even a bit of rain this morning...

Nothing to show for it, but then again, I wasn't expecting to put fish in the cooler. Without a doubt it's a low chance fishery, but unlike rivers, it's pretty straightforward. You don't have to read water or match your presentation with conditions, its just cast and retreive. Very simple, but you still need to put in time to produce fish...