So now that the turkey has been reduced to soup and sandwiches, it’s time to get serious about the upcoming winter steelhead season. Thanksgiving has always been the rule of thumb “opener” for the frostbite steelheader, the date — hopefully — when enough winter fish have started entering the rivers to make a trip to the Cowlitz or the Bogachiel more than just a boat ride.
Steelhead seem to be coming back right on schedule. Lower Columbia tributaries which, with the coastal rivers, generally show the earliest returns, are starting to report fresh winter fish in the traps. State biologist Joe Hymer, in Vancouver, said that through November 10, five hatchery adults had returned to the Cowlitz facility; four wild and one hatchery fish to Kalama Falls Hatchery; and two hatchery fish to the Merwin trap on the Lewis. Weekly hatchery escapement reports can be found at wdfw.wa.gov/hat/escape/escape.htm.
Following is a quick rundown on last winter’s top ten steelhead rivers, including the recreational harvest, the best month or months, and the size of the hatchery smolt plant from which the bulk of this winter’s adult fish will return. The catch data is provided by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife steelhead manager Bob Leland in Olympia, who warns it is still preliminary:
1. Cowlitz/Blue Creek: Big changes are in store for recreational fishing on the Cowlitz, the state’s premier winter steelhead river for lo these many years, with the signing of a new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dam license for Tacoma City Light. Many in the steelheading community are saying the state Fish and Wildlife Department — charged with looking out for the interests of wildlife recreationists — caved to the dam owners and preservationists on this one.
But for at least one more season the big southwest river will almost certainly repeat as top dog on the list of the state’s best winter steelhead streams. The catch last winter numbered 4,886 steelhead, nearly doubling the second-place fishery, and a healthy smolt plant of 656,000 — up 164,000 from the previous plant — should provide plenty of adult returnees in the 6- to 8-pound range for bank anglers and boat drifters. December, March (1,026 fish last winter) and April are all top months on the Cowlitz, which carries both early and late hatchery runs. The river is quick out of the gate, providing a catch of 370 fish last November, but its winter fishery has been eclipsed in recent years by a summer run which put out an astounding catch of 19,357 fish — most in July and August – during the summer of 2006.
Best bank fishing by far is at the mouth of Blue Creek and below the barrier dam and, for boat drifters, the mile of water below Blue Creek. Less dependent on the weather than many rivers. For current conditions, try Fish Country Sports, in Ethel, 360-985-2090.
2. Wynoochee: Little fished by steelheaders from this area, the Wynoochee is the best of the Chehalis River tributaries and small enough to learn easily. For anglers looking toward a little more elbow room, this stream is far enough from major metro centers to be at least marginally less crowded than some other top fisheries. The catch last winter was 2,698 fish, and January (1,394) was the best month. The smolt plant two years ago, 174,000, was about average.
3. Skykomish: The local favorite placed third last winter on a catch of 2,240 fish, and both December (876) and January (696) were good months. A generous smolt plant of 196,000 fish, up 8,000 from the previous plant, makes the Sky a good prospect this winter, all other factors being equal.
4. Bogachiel: Top river in the Forks area on the Olympic Peninsula, the Bogy took fourth place last winter on a nice catch of 1,984 steelhead. Fishing can be smoking hot at times between the mouth of the Calawah and the Bogachiel Hatchery, but you have to get on this one quick. Many of the coastal rivers tend to receive their runs early in the season, and the Quillayute system is no exception. Best month by far on the Bogachiel last winter was December, at 1,337 fish. The smolt plant two years ago was about average.
For current conditions call Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks, 360-374-6330.
5. Lewis: The system placed fifth last winter on a catch of 1,887 fish. The North Fork was the better of the two major portions of the system, but the East Fork also put out a substantial catch. Both forks were best in December (790) and January (608). The system may not place as high this winter, however, as the smolt plant two years ago dropped by about 50,000 fish to 139,500.
6. Skookumchuck: Fished mostly by locals, this little stream down toward Chehalis/Centralia puts out a whole bunch of steelhead for its size, and is well worth a look, particularly up toward the Skookumchuck Hatchery. Placed sixth last year on a catch of 1,121 fish. It’s a particularly good late-season prospect, putting out its best fishing last winter in February, March (374) and April. The smolt plant two years ago of 75,000 fish was about average.
7. Humptulips: This Grays Harbor tributary offers a lot of water and good boat access, but since it runs mostly through undeveloped forestland, requires some learning. Many anglers from this area fish it for Chinook, not as many for steelhead. Last winter’s catch of 882 fish was not particularly good for the Hump, and it’s a long drive from this area, but it is a major player in the Western Washington winter steelhead scene. December is its strong month, being close to the coast, and the smolt plant of 127,600 two years ago was up 6,000 fish from the previous one.
8. North Fork Stillaguamish: The North Fork, bless its heart, has come back from a number of years of sub-standard production, and has recently put out some winter steelheading worth fighting its notoriously dirty water conditions for. Weather is the crucial factor on the small, clay-slide-plagued stream, but with half a chance, anglers can find decent fishing early in the season. The catch last year was good for eighth place, at 803 fish, with December (397) and January the two top months. The smolt plant generally hovers around 150,000 fish, but the one two years ago was down a little, at 148,760.
With increased posting of private property, bank access to the North Fork is becoming a problem.
9. Snoqualmie: The “other” half of the Snohomish system put out 778 winter steelhead last season, a few to plunkers on the lower river, but most to bank and boat fishermen on the portion below the Tokul Creek Hatchery, two miles above Fall City. Another early river, December (368) and January were the best months. The smolt plant of 160,400 two years ago was 4,000 fish above the previous plant.
10. Sol Duc: Scenic, swift and rocky, the Olympic Peninsula stream is difficult to fish and, unless you’re experienced and very careful, dangerous to boat. It comes into its own later in the winter season and is known as a producer of big, native steelhead — more a quality than a quantity type river. The catch last year was 684 fish, and January (266), February and March were the best months. A very good smolt plant of 92,800 two years ago —well above the average — should make the Sol Duc a top prospect late this winter.
Other top rivers last winter included:
The Skagit/Sauk system, with a catch of 667 fish and a smolt plant due back this winter of 270,000, down 64,000 from the previous plant.
The Kalama, with a catch of 658 fish; smolt plant of 73,400, down 5,000 fish.
Queets system, with a catch of 616 fish.
Calawah, the third of the Forks-area rivers, with a catch of 590 fish, most of which came from the very bottom end, the mile of river above its confluence with the Bogachiel. The smolt plant of 70,000 is up a substantial 18,000 fish.
The Cascade has become a heavy hitter on the local salmon and steelhead scene. Adults from big plants aren’t all caught on the Skagit, and so a bunch return to the short stretch of river below the Marblemount Hatchery. The catch last winter was 576 fish, with December (309) and January the top months.
The Satsop is a pretty little stream, with a nice native run, relatively easy to access with a boat. Catch last winter was 538 hatchery steelhead, and the smolt plant for this winter was about average.
The Chehalis is seldom fished except by locals; put out 506 steelhead last winter.
The Grays produced a catch of 479 last winter; the Hoko, 473; and the Puyallup 397, to round out the top 20.
Some of the smaller streams locally, and their catch last winter, include Tokul Creek, the resident gorilla of small-stream steelheading, at 632 fish; the Wallace, at 84 fish; the Tolt, at 34 fish, the Raging, at 32 fish; and the Sultan, at 24 fish.
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