Cowlitz Winter Steelhead

Hunting the "silver beast" or taming the "steel bullet" what ever you call it this can some of the best worst fishing you have ever done. This is the first year I have tried for winter steelhead. I have tried for them in all weather rain, snow, and sunshine. Out of ten trips I have scored five times with a number of lost hook ups. I have only had hook ups when the water level was between 9500'cfps and 7000'cfps and all have been in shallow water 4' to 6'. As to lure type that has varied but the common factor is shrimp scent.
This 21
lb. winter run steelhead I caught on the Cowlitz river 4/5/2012.





I was using shrimp scent on an orange and black aerodrifter, size 0/2 hook, 8' 17lb. leader, and 1/2oz weight. The river was at 7,000cfps.




It took me on a 200 yard ride down the river. The B run winter steelhead are in all the way to Barrier damn for the next few weeks. Steelhead seem to run close to shore. So there is no reason to wade in past your knees. I hooked this one about ten feet in front of a line of waist deep fishermen about 50' from shore.
4/10/2012 10lb. Steelhead caught at Blue Creek about 15' from shore the river level was 9,000'. his fish was caught just after sun down on a glow corky and shrimp scent at Blue Creek up stream from the boat launch.




These were caught at Blue Creek on bobber and black and red marabou jog dipped in shrimp scent and water level at 8000'cfps. I was on vacation and was able to fish two mornings in row.


Loser takes all!