Northwest Fishing Reports

Hey guys, well for my 16th bday I got a truck, my license and some gasoline. Once my truck is ready to go im going to be fishing for steelhead all over when ever I have a chance. I know what set ups to use, and what hardware to toss.
But along with tossing spoons, and spinners at steelhead- when is the best time to do it? Water conditions, etc?
Thanks in advance.

I don't think there is a wrong time to toss spinners and spoons. They can be used in all water conditions. The key is learning where in the body of water to target them with varying conditions along with spinner/spoon size/weight/color. There is a lot of good information both on-line and via books. I checked out a couple books on spinner/spoon fishing from the library. I think Bill Herzog and Jed Davis both produced a couple popular editions. I found that they've usually got a waiting list for reading though, so good idea to put them on hold at the library ahead of time if you got that route and if possible.

mepps spinners are my favorite in the metallic finishes up to size 3. as for spoons I prefer the daredevils and similair shaped ones in red/white, pink/white, orange/white and gold, silver and copper.

Jed Davis' Spinner fishing for Steelhead, Salmon, and Trout is a must read if you want to get into spinner fishing

As to when to toss such gear is a very subjective question. Depends on a lot of factors such as river, level, color, time of day and hole. I generally will toss other gear first such as drift gear or float rigs before the hardware as to not possibly spook any fish unless the hole I am fishing is more suited for a spinner or spoon or even a plug.

Just a very broad question with too many variables.

read any spoon article of bill Herzog and you will find the answers to everything, I am not kiddy, there is quite of bit of great information in his book or article that I don't really feel like typing haha but rule of thumb I think is silver spoons on cloudy days, gold or copper on sunny days. I have had my best luck on steelhead with metallic pink or orange/silver stee-lees, silver BC steel, red vibrax spinner. Don't forget bobber and jigs. you should be at your king honey hole getting eggs for steelhead season right now haha

Color is important but not near as important in how the lure is presented. Like brat bonker said read up on some books and articles and it will improve your success.

Thanks for the info!
Hunter I got quite a few eggs right now, enough to start me with anyways. Lol

FishBaitThe2nd wrote:Thanks for the info!
Hunter I got quite a few eggs right now, enough to start me with anyways. Lol

oh haha well theres still chrome silvers to be had, got me a piggy hen today and lost a few more

Down south Brat? I havent been out in about 2 weeks. I thought the majority of chrome silvers would be gone by now.

mallard83 wrote:As to when to toss such gear is a very subjective question. Depends on a lot of factors such as river, level, color, time of day and hole. I generally will toss other gear first such as drift gear or float rigs before the hardware as to not possibly spook any fish unless the hole I am fishing is more suited for a spinner or spoon or even a plug.

Just a very broad question with too many variables.

Very true. When I'm working a run, bobber and jigs or corkie goes through first, then hardware. I like blue fox spinners, Indiana spinners like Joe's Flies, spoons. Try to jig the spoons a little. This weekend we got a very nice hawg hen silver jigging a spoon through the back water on the Humptulips. Keep some brass, silver, chartreuse and black in your box. These are the stand by. Bigger in heavy flows, drop down with clear water. Some of my biggest fish have come on a silver size 6 blue fox.

Don't forget to put some plugs in your hardware box. Brad's Wigglers tend to really piss off the fish and will give you a massive take down.

oh yeah don't forget some cop car or met pink hot shots if you go to the skook, those fish slam the plugs, just got to find the right hole.
Yeah 90% of the coho I have been getting have been dripping with sea lice dannyL, I have been on the OP rivers. Got me a fat hen yesterday just before dark on a twitching jig, it was 12-13lbs and also lost 3 more nice ones.

I got a bright silver yesterday too, still chrome out there!
And thanks for the info guys!

i second the recommendation for herzogs book on spoons.

skagit510 wrote:i second the recommendation for herzogs book on spoons.

I 3rd that