Salmon River steelhead fishing report

Finally got a chance to download some pictures to my laptop and put a report together.  Have been busy on the river since the last posting and the steelheading is awesome.  Most all stops in a float produce steelhead, with some areas of the river holding amazing numbers of fish. 



Joe holding a typical Salmon River steelhead, about 8 lbs


Have been fishing both flies and egg sacs, both producing well.  As for egg sacs two colors are producing excellent, blue and chartreuse.  If your going to put your money on one color, then make it blue.  Have had some limited success with pink but you will do best right now using blue or chartreuse.  If you are a trout bead man, then the chartreuse bead in 12 mil will be a good choice.

Flies that are producing well are Glo-bug  patterns in chartreuse with pink or cherise dot, solid cherise, solid steelhead orange, Oregon cheese with pink dot and try a pale blue with cherise dot, these egg patterns are working.  If you want to try nymphs, try black stones #8,10 and Copper Johns.  I've been floating all these under a strike indicator and have been having the best success with the Glo-bugs.  If you are swinging flies then Intruders, BH Wooly Buggers and MOAL leeches are going to work for you.


From Tyler Texas, Darryl withstood the cold
for a few sleelies.



As I mentioned, most areas of the river will produce good steelheading right now.  I fished / floated the Altmar to Pineville stretch for a few hours this past Saturday and it was loaded with fish.  Only problem is it was loaded with fishermen too.  It's surprising to still see so MANY people fishing right now.  It obviously speaks to the excellent fishing right now but the parking lots and the river look like salmon season.   Mid-river, Pineville to the Ace, crowded,  upper Sportsman to Sportsman, crowded.  In between these areas though you can find some solitude and steelhead that are willing to play.

 I have seen a lot  more spey guys on the river this fall, in areas I have never seen them in before.  Most single hand fly-rodders are indicator fishing and most guys with spinning gear are using floats now-a-days.  Most spin guys I see are using beads and I've noticed many using the 'ol pink worm (with success).


Also from Texas, Allen holds one of several steelhead brought
to the net this past Friday.