Steelhead Run Sizes

[Centerpin]

I was wondering what kind of returns you get to your local rivers? Most of the larger rivers I fish get around 2-3000 steelhead. How many hookups makes an average day on the water?

[Grant Scheele]

What's it to you, ya Yankee wannabe. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif With the exchange rate the way it is we must have about 4,000 to 6,000 fish per river. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

[dummy]

2 or 3 for me and for my buddy 6 to 10. i am going friday should be some in the lower 4 miles. i will let you know how many hook ups i get on my first winter steelhead trip of the year. tight lines.

[Deleted User]

Geez 'kiss, do ya know CP or what? http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif You must because you're a good guy that likes to hear about B.C. fishing. Right? Or have you just been reading too many of 'Yall's & Os' posts? http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif .... Hey CP, that's really a difficult Q because of so many different rivers and varying conditions. And it depends on the fishermen too. 'Kiss averages about 2 or 3 fish ... per week http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif . Nah, he's a little better than that. When the conditions are good the better fisherman would average a couple fish landed and another one lost each per day. That includes the skunk days and the good double figure days averaged in. However, we haven't had good conditions for salmon this fall due to lack of normal rainfall. And the steelhead runs have been depressed for a number of years but have started a comeback, and this year's runs are predicted to be the best in years. We will be fishing in a lot of rivers in Oregon and Washington on as many fish as you do up around Terrace, B.C.? Maybe more if the fisheries news releases are correct about Ak and northern B.C. stocks going on the decline during the La Nina ocean cycles (opposite of Wash./Ore.). I hope that doesn't happen up north; I hope we all have good runs. Also, we will have bigger sized fish than usual because of better ocean feed cycles the last couple years and for a few more years to come. Yay! ... I have fished in your region enough to know how spoiled you guys are up there. Tell the guys here how many you good fishermen average per day during the season on Kings ("springs") and also on steelhead. Thanks CP. - RT



[This message has been edited by RT (edited 11-23-2000).]

[Grant Scheele]

Actually RT, Centerpin has become kind of a email pen pal to me that doesn't know that I am O.Mykiss (yet) and frankly I don't want to share him. I was trying to scare him away. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif
He is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to float fishing (not o.k. to call it bobber fishing you know) and he has promised, "to make me a float fishermen yet". He has already talked me into a much longer rod but I don't think that I am ready to buy a single action reel yet. (Those Canadians are funny about those things.)

Anyway, I hope I didn't hurt CP feelings. I was just giving him a proper Ifish DB welcome. If I didn't scare him away he will be a great member of our group.

[Centerpin]

RT,

I think you exaggerate the fishing we have up here. Nothing but gum boot summer runs. Chinook fishing can be alright if you like catching fish in the 30 to 40 lb range. For larger fish 40+ we can usually get a hit an hour. You land about 1/4 of the hits. Winter runs on Vancouver Island are about 3 to 5 fish per day average. I think it would be tough to get 3 right now under the current returns.

[Penn]

Hey Centerpin, you have to excuse some of the guys here, most is in gest. (or it should be) http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/mad.gif Anyhow, for me it usually depends on the river. There is one river on the coast that a friend of mine and I can hook maybe 20 fish in one day. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif This has happened once with me present. He does it quite alot with a friend. My usual hook-up is done from the bank most of the time. Usually my average is probably 6 on a good day. But that is all day of walking alot of bank too. I've had 14 fish days though.

What part of BC do you live in. I go to Campbell every year and fish the strait up there.

[Centerpin]

I lived most of my life on Vancouver Island so I know the area well. Right now I live on the Skeena in Terrace.

From the sounds of it you guys have better fishing down there than we have up here. Now wouldnt it be funny if we started heading down there to fish.

[smilesforu]

Centerpin
Come on down!! I would trade a trip here for one on the skeena system. But you would be stuck fishing Washington on the Hoh or Solduc for big natives. We have some decent fishing http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif if you hit the conditions correctly. I think you got a corner on the market for your gum boot summerruns. Tight Lines

------------------
Marty M
Steelheader.net (http://www.steelheader.net/)

[Snagly]

Why Centerpin, you sandbagging so-and-so. Better fishing in WA and OR than in Terrace? Not in a zillion years!

Folks, for those of you who don't know Jay he's a top gun steelhead/ salmon angler (check out his website at www.msnhomepages.talkcity.com/RallyRd/centerpin (http://www.msnhomepages.talkcity.com/RallyRd/centerpin) for more pictures of hogs he's caught than most of us will ever see in a lifetime). He's been quite helpful to me in my search for good water and techniques, so if you treat him well he might share some of his choice thoughts on this board. **** him off and he'll be all over you like a bad smell -- he's already wreaking havoc on at least two BC angling boards (and probably more -- I just haven't found the other ones yet).

The only truthful thing he's written so far in this thread is that some of the summer runs do fight like old boots.

As for the rest, he's just teasing.

[smilesforu]

Come on Snagly you know its a fish desert up there (oops forgot the s) http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Can't get the url to work...Is it correct? or just me http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

[Centerpin]

I really think you guys have it good. 5 to 10 fish days. Nice chrome fish. Warm weather. It is damn hard to get a chrome fish up here. Water temp is getting to be around 33-34 F. What is the fishing like down there in April?

The proper link to my page is
http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/RallyRd/centerpin/

I will warn those with a faint heart that there are fish on the site that are dead. There are dead steelhead too. Please don't label me as a poacher or unethical because taht is the farthest from the truth. I believe in taking fish home if the runs can sustain the retention of a few.

Enjoy.

[smilesforu]

Geez you love to take pictures...took me an hour to sort though them. Got a couple nice fish in the album the 15+ variety.
Fishing in April can be dynamite if you hit it right, but your catching the tail end of our runs. Its strictly a native chase that time of year...Darn http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif But you never know what you got on your line until you see um. Boot or Toad or maybe a boot toad http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

------------------
Marty M
Steelheader.net (http://www.steelheader.net/)

[Deleted User]

Some of the best C&R fishing for steelhead nates occur in March and April. And we don't have crowds on them because the Columbia, Willamette, and Clackamas rivers, and SW Washington rivers also, have fresh mint bright spring chinook fishing going on then (April is peak for the Willamette Kings).

------------------
Know fish or no fish. - RT

[Centerpin]

What does a license cost for a non resident alien? Not that I am interested. I would never want to catch bright springers and mint bright chinook. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[willierower]

Are you the same centerpin who uses the sport fishing B.C. message board? And if so, Do you guys still screw with Scott?

[Centerpin]

I think Scott has been knocked down a few notches these days. Aren't you the guy who was thinking of moving to BC but changed your mind when the steelhead stocks crashed?

[Deleted User]

I can't remember how much the out-of-state license fees are offhand CP; just know they are less than we pay for "classified" B.C. steelhead licenses, and rightfully so. .... Hey, what's the URL for the Sportfishing B.C. message board. (or massage board if have one of those too http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif). I would like to see how long it will take me to get banned from that board up there. Nah. But I would like to mess around with you "floats" up there for a bit http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif. And learn some things in the process. - RT

[dock rat]

Oregon non-resident angling licenses run $48.50 annually. There are also 1,2,3,4,and 7 day options at lesser amounts. In addition you would need a $16.50 combined harvest card that covers salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut. Complete Oregon regs are available at Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife's website: http:/www.dfw.state.or.us/
Good fishin'!

[Jennie@ifish]

I think it only fair, should we have people on the site posting from other than Oregon, that I have a try at it.
Here are the rules: You post from somewhere that has good fishing out of state, Jennie gets one trip for every post. Free round trip air, free guided trip. It's only fair, right? Oh wait, I guess R.T. gets to go with me, since he is the head honcho here.
It's a deal. I cant wait! THANK YOU!!!!! http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Jen

[Deleted User]

Here's a huge thumbs up on that brillant idea Jen! I'd give 2 thumbs up but my other one ... nevermind. So, how about next Sept. for the 30 lb. steelhead on the Sustut or Babine? Expensive fly-ins. So, how about the road rivers like the Kispiox or Copper? Or the secret Zipperlip River that CP will take us to http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif . .... Another idea, it sure would be cool to have an Ifish caravan campout, fishing, and partying next summer on a B.C. river. Sort of an invasion of NW B.C. As for that matter, we wouldn't have to travel that far. The Thompson and Vedder rivers in the SW area of the Province are trophy rivers. For some pointers Jay, I'd take you out in my boat in some of the Tillamook tidewater holes next fall (when the runs should be back fairly healthy again) where you can tussle with 40 lb. mint bright Kings just a couple miles in out of salt water, mega-strong and a blast to fight in tight narrow snaggy areas with 25 lb. leader. 40 lb. line is fine if you aren't a light tackle sportsmen, and many times I wish I had that. I just lost a chrome 25 to 27 lb. hen about a week and half ago that ran me and my 20 lb. line right around a branch down there and broke the line. No big deal in normal years, but in this poor conditions year that one stung a little. Enough ramble (B.C. & T-Nook tidewater fish talk gets me going http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif ). - RT

[Grant Scheele]

And I was worried about me scaring him away!

[Centerpin]

I actually work for Tourism BC. It is my goal in life to get as many yankees up here working the steelhead lies with their short rods.

[Gone Fishin]

Hey CP,

Just remember...It's not the length of the rod, but how you use it!

http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[meyersbilly]

CP: too much. Sustut is dead (winter kill), Babine is un-fishable (Nichyeskwa), Copper is undrivable(road washed out), Kispiox snaggy bottom (large moving logs), Bulkley is crowded (merganser floatilla)...

Based on what I have seen on this board, our brothers down south could probably show us a thing or two about catching fish.

Sort of Along the how many fish lines, where do the posters on this board think the largest steelhead live (Wash, Org, BC, AK...). Yankee springers seem quite a bit larger than Canadian. Any ideas as to why, if they are?

[Gone Fishin]

Well, well now Mr. Meyershillbilly, sounds to me like you're not a part of BC Tourism but, maybe "keep them dang yankee's out of my water of BC" ?!? http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And where here in the US can we yanks go and have the opportunity to catch 20 to 30 pound steelhead with regularity?

Come on down here to our trophy waters; maybe try the Hoh (too high) or the Sol Duc (too low) in Washington State or perhaps the Trask (too muddy) or the Deschuttes (too far) here in Oregon. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[meyersbilly]

Tried fishing the Nooksack once, but jet skiers chased me off, and the skagit tubers constantly spooked the pool.

The Fraser tribs are great, lots of large agressive fish, with little crowding. My choice HEHE.

[Deleted User]

Alright you 2 'floats' .... let's get a couple things straight here. Marty already informed you it isn't the length of the rod but how you use it that's important. Right on Marty. But they need to know about the study done last year in Psychology Today magazine that clearly indicated that the longer a man's fishing rod is the extreme likelyhood that his 'manhood' is conversely shorter. It's a kind of compensation thing ya know http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif . For me, I use a 6' bass rod http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif . I think it's the same with the big fish thing? Nah, can't go that far. ...

No secret why I'm such a NW B.C. fan ... that region not only has the biggest average sized steelhead in the world, but the King salmon there are a very close second to the biggest in the world to AK's Kenai River (I have never fought tougher fish than in the Kenai; fortunately there aren't many snags in that big river). Two big B.C. advantages to the Kenai though is less crowds on the trophy rivers despite being closer, and not just one river has huge 'nooks; there are so many river tribs to the Skeena (especially the Kalum) and even the Nass that have trophy sized Kings! The Kitimat isn't as good as it was when I fished it in the late 80's, but the unknown roadless helicopter/raft Kitlope R. a ways down Douglas channel is on my "to fish" list big time! My wife says it's "to wish" list though. No crowds at all (except for some bears - article in Beautiful British Columbia magazine) and full of trophy fish. Of course the Kilbella is where many of the Kings over 100 lbs. ascend the Rivers Inlet mid-coastal region. That saltwater isn't that crowded compared to down here, and B.C. fish biologists I've talked to say the Kilbella has no pressure! Taking a jetsled up there is on my fishing "wish I could" list; BIG TIME! Maybe someday http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif. The mid-coast Bella Coola and Dean rivers have trophy steelhead that won't get crowded on due to the really long tough road and fly-ins to fish them. BTW, all of those rivers are just the well known ones; I didn't mention any zipperlip rivers. ... Hey O'My, we wouldn't bring a caravan up to one of the zipperlip rivers, so no scare for CP's tourism and fishing lifestyle conflict. ... B.C. gets me on the ramble. Can't help it. - RT