Winter Steelhead?

[Brian]

With November just around the corner I'm starting to get stoked for some winter steelhead action.   I typically find my first winter fish in mid to late November. What about the rest of you? When do you usually start targeting winter runs?

[BC Steel]

I usually pick up my first fish in early Jan although last year I got my first on Dec 27. Man, winters in November, must be nice.

[Sturzman]

Brian the earliest I've hit a winter fish was around veteran's day. That happened accidentally fishing for chum, I usually don't start targeting steelhead till thanksgiving, but I'm going to explore some rivers that get earlier runs this year.

[Andrew]

Unless I get a lucky break, I won't have the time to put in enough effort that I'd expect to succeed until winter break rolls around (i.e. mid-Dec.), and even then only if there's a decent run of fish. The guy who turned me onto floats and jigs several years ago used to pick up half a dozen fish by late November just fishing for chum. With hatchery programs taking cuts, though, it seems like the fish have been confined more strictly to the Dec-Jan timeframe as of late.

I'd like to get in on some of the early season action, too, though. I may have to cut class with Matt in a few weeks and head south. Brian says I need to expand my horizons, but I guess I just can't believe any river that doesn't start with "Green" is worth fishing. 

Andrew

[Dragfreedrift]

I used to get my first ones around Turkey day.....but now, the hatchery fish down here dont show up till Xmas or so.....guess I can stay warm by the fire place a bit longer, huh?


DFD

[fishcasket]

I saw on P.P that bob got one in his boat on the 25th of this month and it was a nate!I got my first last year on nov. 1st and that was the earliest for me.

[BirdDog]

The hatchery runs are getting later and later on many rivers. This is due to WDFW using different genetic strains now than what they used in the past. The first brats usually show end of Nov., early Dec. but often peak in Jan. But don't let that stop you though. My first winter fish is usually a late summer run. (There's an oxymoron) How can you tell...the summer runs are fatter across the back. In fall/winter river conditions, fish summer runs the same as you fish for winter runs. Check out WDFW website - Fish/Shellfish Science the Hatcheries for run timing and catch stat's. Here's the link http://wdfw.wa.gov/hat/escape/escape.htm

-Birdog-

[Uncle Bubba]

Two years ago I got one October 26th and last year November 4th. This year several have already come out of one of my favorite areas. The projected high water this weekend should put a few more into the system up north.

[Andrew]

Good info from BirdDog. The fish he's talking about show up in my home river for sure, as I've become aware recently--late summer fish that are chrome bright in October or even November. And, yeah, you distinguish these fish from early winter-runs by sexual maturity. Winter runs will be fairly mature, but "fall-runs" or "swinter-runs" or "Halloween steelhead" will still have the thick back/sleek body configuration of summer fish.  You're bound to get this sort of mixing when the fish are so similar genetically and planted or spawning at the same time.

I caught a steelhead yesterday, but I don't think I'd quite call it the first winter-run. More like the first red racer. 

Andrew

[OPfisher]

savor the last of the silvers while you can!!!

[BC Steel]

savor the last of the silvers while you can!!!

A-Men!