Tide Water Steelhead ?

[pearl]

Wasn't able to get out on one of the rivers this morning so here I sit drinking coffee and staring at my computer screen.

My question is;

Has anyone developed a method or had sucess catching winter steelhead in coastal tidewater. The fish have to come through that section of river before hitting the currents of the main river. Knowing it's easier to locate fish in the main river due to the current, water levels, structure etc, is there an option lower in the system? I would assume the steelhead would move with the tides. Do they hunker down in holes like salmon do?

Would jigs work? , back bounced bait?, plugs?, spinners?

I may be thinking a little off base due to alot of caffine this morning but it does seem feasible.

I appreciate any shared info or successes.

Pearl

[River Ranger]

your right on pearl.I have caught them on the wiloson and trask tidewater using all you mentioned but spinners.I've done best on bobbers and jig or eggs and plugs.I look for the narrow water with some current,structure.Good luck.
R.R.

[slabhunter]

I've seen some of the plunkers do real well with spin-glo/bait just as the tide is backing up the Chehalis River. And then again the first hour of the ebb.

[First Light Bite]

You may want to read Scott Amerman's article he wrote for Salmon Trout Steelheader for the February-March issue earlier this year. The whole article is about Tidewater Steelhead. It provides a lot of [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]