Spring
Steelhead
are
Here!
After
what
turned
out
to
be
an
excellent
hatchery
return,
we
are
now
seeing
decent
numbers
of
early
returning
native
steelhead
to
west
end
rivers.
So
far
the
fish
I’ve
have
had
a
great
average
size,
between
10
and
fifteen
pounds,
and
as
always
the
early
fish
are
very
bright.
With
a
little
luck
we
should
see
increasing
numbers
of
fish
from
now
until
April.
Expect
the
largest
brightest
fish
to
be
caught
between
now
and
the
middle
of
March.
But
later
in
the
season
often
brings
much
nicer
river
levels
and
more
comfortable
fishing
conditions.
By
April
the
water
can
be
perfect
and
the
days
can
be
long
and
mild,
big
hatches
of
march
browns
and
stoneflies,
combined
with
spring
foliage
make
for
some
beautiful
floats.
What will Spring bring?
Steelhead
through
April
keep
me
busy,
and
summer
runs
the
first
week
of
June
are
great,
but
for
the
last
few
years
May
has
been
awful
slow
(booking
wise,
there
is
plenty
of
fishing).
So
this
year
I
think
I
will
try
something
different
Trout
floats
on
the
Yakima,
Roosterfish
in
Baja,
or
maybe
stay
home
and
fly
fish
for
rock
fish
and
Ling.
Any
way,
don’t
be
surprised
if
you
get
a
bulletin
in
late
April
Saying
HEY,
COME
TRY
THIS!
(If
you
want
to
try
springers
on
the
Sol
Duc,
I’m
still
up
for
it.)
A Few Spots to Try
Well
the
Hoh
and
Queets
are
still
pretty
beat
up,
if
we
get
some
real
low
water
or
very
cold
temps
you
might
wander
to
the
upper
reaches
of
either
one
of
these
rivers
but
don’t
be
too
disappointed
if
they
are
still
running
very
off
color.
The
Sol
Duc,
Bogie,
and
Callawa
are
all
better
bets.
If
you
feel
the
need
to
bust
out
the
Spey
rod
and
swing
some
water
you
might
try
the
Bogie
below
Wilson
road,
or,
(this
seems
a
little
too
obvious
but
it
is
still
great
water,)
cross
the
bogie
above
Lyndecker
and
fish
down
the
other
side.
One
more
good
bet
is
to
start
at
the
Quillute
Airport
rd.
over
the
Sol
Duc,
and
fish
down
to
the
“new”
rainier
boat
slide.
If
you
were
to
hit
all
three
of
these
spots
it
would
make
for
a
long
day
fishing
some
very
productive
swinging
water.
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