Downer: Steelhead creep into local rivers, memories
Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:41 PM PST
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E-mail this articleColumn by Chuck Downer
For The Daily News
Thanksgiving is next week, and that means it’s time to talk turkey about winter steelhead.
Fishing isn’t that good but reports indicate that steelies are already being caught in some tributaries.
According to Brad Schoenborn, at Bob’s Sporting Goods in Longview (425-3870), steelhead are being caught in the Lewis River system, and in the Kalama River. Schoenborn told me that the Canyon area of the Kalama has been producing both late silvers and early winter-run steelhead recently.
There seems to be renewed fishing activity on the lower Cowlitz, but given the height and color of the water, I doubt if it’s steelhead or salmon that are being targeted. A friend who lives at Lexington seems to think that sturgeon may have moved in.
The remnants of a December run of smelt usually enter the Cowlitz before Christmas, which, in turn, is followed by sturgeon, intent on an easy meal. Perhaps this entire cycle is getting an early start this year. Often this fishery continues strong well into the new year, provided there are enough smelt present to keep the sturgeon interested.
However, it’s been years since the smelt run amounted to much.
The main-stem Columbia River should be producing some fish by Thanksgiving. For many families it’s a tradition to get out and put in a few hours of steelhead fishing on Thanksgiving morning.
Years ago, I used to spend cold winter mornings on the chilly banks of the Columbia, plunking for winter steelhead. I remember one winter morning (I think it was the last time) when we set a wind-break and fired up a metal bucket full of Presto-Logs. It didn’t seem to make any difference whether we huddled together in the car or paced rapidly up and down the beach in front of the fire in the bucket — it was impossible to keep your teeth from chattering.
Don’t get me wrong — we caught fish. One guy got a beautiful steelhead of about 18-19 pounds, and several small ones were caught as well, but I wasn’t one of the successful fishermen. I think I’ve mentioned before that I’m saving plunking for when I get old. It’s never been one of my more successful pursuits.
The following weekend, I ventured out on Germany Creek, west of town, to do a little drift-fishing. The morning was cold, but not bitterly so. In those days I had an Eagle Claw Power-light spinning rod, with a Mitchell 300 reel, which was state-of-the-art at the time. This was before graphite rods hit the fishing scene.
To make a long story short, I caught my first drift-fishing steelhead that morning, and from that point forward I never considered plunking again. With the snow falling gently around me, I fought that fish until it tired out, then waded into the water and flipped it up on the bank with my foot. I don’t think any steelhead has ever tasted as good as that one, in all the years since.
The Elochoman generally has a few steelhead by Thanksgiving, but Germany and Abernathy creeks don’t really get going until late December and January. Remember, only hatchery fish may be retained, so fishing the creeks is going to be primarily an exercise in catch-and-release.
Be sure to check the fishing pamphlet for regulations for the waters that you fish.
Silver Lake eagles
The bald eagles are back!
I’m sure you’ve heard that a good indicator of wildlife activity is to watch a herd of cows. If they’re up moving around, wildlife, including fish, are likely to be active as well. If they’re bedded down, chewing their cud, you might as well forget it. I’ve never found this to be a good indicator as far as the bite is concerned at Silver Lake, but eagle activity is a sure sign that something is going on beneath the surface of the water.
Since late August, there haven’t been any eagles on Silver Lake. My buddy says they’ve all been on vacation up the Toutle River Valley, feeding sumptuously on dead salmon. Sounds yummy, doesn’t it? Salmon is one of my favorites, too!
Currently the water level at Silver Lake is as high as it ever gets. Back in the canals, and at Walden Island, it’s flooding up onto resident’s lawns. Back in the canal system, beavers are helping themselves to neighbors trees and shrubs.
The panfish bite continues, however. Some bigger crappie are present, but you’ll have to ferret them out. As a general rule, these bigger crappie will be suspended above the bottom, so the length of your leader is critical right now.
Fish light! Two-pound test is appropriate for current conditions, and the lightest float you feel comfortable with. These fish are being hammered! I use a Thill-brand balsa float called a “Mini-Shy bite,“ and weight it with enough split-shot to keep it barely on the surface. Light line and a small float will get you a lot more bites.
mole wrote on Nov 21, 2008 11:19 AM:
Atrucker wrote on Dec 2, 2008 3:47 PM:
This will cause quiet the stir , I am sure. "
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