winter steelhead

[joef]

i hunt the coast alot around the salmonberry river and have heard about good winter steelhead there has anyone had any luck and if so about when should i start looking (this is my first steelhead) season

[Wild Chrome]

February/March. It's all natives (catch and release) too. That's a hard river to fish; fast/high gradient, tough access. It's also had a lot of damage to the streambed and access due to the flood of 12/07. If this is your first season, I might try elsewhere first. North Fork Nehalem is close and already has fish in it.

[chrome obsession]

Originally Posted by Wild Chrome

February/March. It's all natives (catch and release) too. That's a hard river to fish; fast/high gradient, tough access. It's also had a lot of damage to the streambed and access due to the flood of 12/07. If this is your first season, I might try elsewhere first. North Fork Nehalem is close and already has fish in it.

That river is no place for a beginner Steelheader.....Here within a few weeks the North fork Nehalem will be loaded with Steelies and offers great water for a rookie Steelheader...

[chumkiller]

Originally Posted by joef

i hunt the coast alot around the salmonberry river and have heard about good winter steelhead there has anyone had any luck and if so about when should i start looking (this is my first steelhead) season

The Salmonberry is a great place to start learning how to fish. It's not a zoo fest like some hatchery fisheries. It is a pure as it gets. My favorite places to fish are the ones where nobody wants to go. The ones that require walking in or hiking down a canyon. That is what true winter steelheading is all about.

Wait until you get some high water that last for quite a while and not until at least until mid January until late March.

Good luck.

[joef]

Originally Posted by chrome obsession

That river is no place for a beginner Steelheader.....Here within a few weeks the North fork Nehalem will be loaded with Steelies and offers great water for a rookie Steelheader...

im new to steelhead not to the area I have spent most of my life in those woods I know them well

[joef]

oh and thanks for the info

[chrome obsession]

Originally Posted by joef

im new to steelhead not to the area I have spent most of my life in those woods I know them well

Never said anything about you knowing the area, if your looking to "catch fish" that's not a good river to start on. It is a beautful quit river but its a hard river to fish.

[joef]

Originally Posted by chrome obsession

Never said anything about you knowing the area, if your looking to "catch fish" that's not a good river to start on. It is a beautful quit river but its a hard river to fish.

yea i got that after i posted sorry

[chrome obsession]

Originally Posted by joef

yea i got that after i posted sorry

No worries! If you ever need some info on "how to" or "where to catch" steelies send me a PM some time, I will help ya out!

[djb]

Originally Posted by chumkiller

Wait until you get some high water that last for quite a while and not until at least until mid January until late March.
Good luck.

Joef, That is some good info. As earlier stated, it is a catch and release river. It can be very snaggy. Bobber and jig is a good way to fish it. I too like the rivers where there are not alot of fisherman. If you are into the experience and not concerned about tagging a fish then this could be a good river for you. Give me a pm if you need someone to fish it with. djb

[Flatfish]

The Berry is a fine place to learn steelie basics. Pitch spinners or bobber and jigs into the seemingly endless pocket water.

[Pinecone]

All the above info is great, but keep in mind too that the Salmonberry is one of the few remaining untouched wild steelhead rivers. Please respect it! (oh and have fun, I love hiking and fishing the Salmonberry, one of my favorite places on earth)

- Joseph

Salmonberry falls in March a few years back...

[Wild Chrome]

Originally Posted by Pinecone

All the above info is great, but keep in mind too that the Salmonberry is one of the few remaining untouched wild steelhead rivers.

Untouched? It's been burnt to the ground, logged to the riverbank, hemmed in by the railroad bed, and silted in by mudslides from abandoned logging roads. Can you define "untouched"?

Nice photo, BTW!

[joef]

Hey thanks alot everyone for all the great info. djb i will defiantly PM you next time im heading up that way

[Pinecone]

Originally Posted by Wild Chrome

Untouched? It's been burnt to the ground, logged to the riverbank, hemmed in by the railroad bed, and silted in by mudslides from abandoned logging roads. Can you define "untouched"?

Nice photo, BTW!

good point Wild Chrome..."untouched" probably isn't the best word. I guess I
just like the place. There's just something about it.

And thanks! my buddy and I stood there for over an hour just watching and taking photos. Out of I don't know how many pictures I took, only about a half dozen ended up with fish in the frame. But it was super cool!

- Joseph