The Fishin' Magician Reports

Monday, November 12

I just got some good news for steelhead anglers in the region.

I had mentioned that the season may close early in November, but I just got word from Jeff Korth, Regional Fish Manager with the Department of Fish and Wildlife office in Ephrata, that the season will run at least through Thanksgiving weekend.

The department will evaluate where we are at the end of the month and determine whether or not to close the steelhead season and reopen it sometime after the first of the year, maybe as late as mid-February. It will all depend on the number of wild fish "encounters" anglers have reported.

It is important that anglers report fish that were "in hand" when released, and not "long line" releases. There are very strong numbers of wild fish returning to most of our streams, which increases the number of encounters and accelerates reaching the mortality threshold.

This leads to the closure of steelhead fishing. The cold weather that is forecast for the next week or so should help drop area rivers into better fishing shape.

The rivers are running clear, but high for this time of year.

Cold water in the tributaries pushes fish out into the main stem Columbia and really improves the fishing on the "big water".

Wednesday, November 14

I have been having great times fishing for steelhead this season, and I know it is only going to get better.

There are other things to do this time of year, though, and since my wife has the day off on Thursday, we are going to make a trip to Rocky Ford Creek, just outside of Ephrata.

The Ford is known well as place anglers, particularly fly fishers, can find open water through the coldest winter. It is spring fed and stays at a constant temperature pretty much year round.

I warned Darc Knobel, at the Desert Angler Fly Shop in Ephrata that I coming his way, and asked his advice. He said there is nothing new in terms of what to use to catch the big rainbow at the Ford.

Small scuds and leeches are working well, and so are egg patterns.

I like to fish a leech trailed by an Ultra Scud on an intermediate sinking line in the deeper stretches down there. I have some amazing days stripping this combo.

I have also caught many large fish with just a scud under an indicator, too. My wife will probably just drift a scud, no indicator, and I have seen catch rainbow to 25 inches doing it.

It has been a while and we're both excited about the trip.

Friday, November 16

A good place to get the lowdown on what's going on in fishing in the region is to attend the Icicle Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited's monthly meeting.

I did just that recently and really learned what others had been doing and what kind of success they've had. In attendance was Shane Magnuson, Upper Columbia Guide Service, and just the day before he had four anglers on his boat.

He fished the Pateros area and had ten fish to the boat and kept four two-fish limits of hatchery steelhead. He was using 1/16 to 1.32nd ounce jigs with bright jigs working best when it was over cast and darker colors producing when the sun came out.

Doug Pendleton, a fly fishing guide, gave a presentation on fly fishing for steelhead, and also shared that due to foul weather on the Methow was taking clients on floats down the Wenatchee.

Jeff Stroup, fish checker for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, said that he has seen more success for steelhead in the last few days than he has in quite a while on the Wenatchee.

Things are looking good on the Wenatchee as we approach the first Holiday weekend. Better get out and give it a try.