Weekly Report with Dave Graybill the Fishing Magician

Wednesday, October 17

The upper Columbia and several other rivers opened to steelhead fishing yesterday, and put an end to the waiting for the announcement. The Similkameen will open on November 1st.

There was no split season, but the potential for early closure included in the release from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The rain we received in recent days will help raise the levels of our trickling streams and will also help move fish into the tributaries.

The daily limit is two fish per day this year, and all tagged fish or fish with holes punched in their tails must be released in addition to all adipose present steelhead.

There will be big crowds of anglers near the mouths of most of our tributaries in the early season, and then, as fish move further up, anglers will be fishing water up stream.

Light leaders will be the rule with the low and clear conditions, along with small jigs. Bait is allowed only on the main stem Columbia.

All rivers require selective gear, meaning barbless, single hooks. For fishing boundaries and other information to the WDFW web site and read the details of the release.

I want to remind anglers that the steelhead season is made possible largely due to Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement Stamp funding.

Friday, October 19

"Careful what you pray for" is an old saying, and anglers that were praying for rain got maybe a bit more then they wanted on our local rivers.

Water levels rose sharply and made fishing difficult for anglers fishing from the shore.

The weather on opening day was difficult even for boaters float the Wenatchee.

High winds made boat control a chore and heavy rain added to the frustration. I did get reports that fish were being taken on all the rivers that opened earlier this week, and some indicated that fish are running larger than last year.

It seems the average size of the steelhead returning to our area varies from year to year, and this is good news.

I had reports of fish taken from the Wenatchee, Entiat, main stem Columbia and Okanogan.

The best report was from the Methow River. Good numbers of fish are being found from the estuary up stream. Steelhead anglers fishing the mouth of Entiat also had good success opening day.

I will be fishing Pateros and the Methow myself, and I will be sure to let you know how I do.

Monday, October 22

We had a great turn out at the free steelhead seminar at Town Ford.

Shane Magnuson did an excellent job imparting the finer points of rigging for bobber and jig fishing, drift fishing and pulling plugs.

We had some very good questions from those that attended.

I handed out prizes that were provided by Town Ford, Hooked on Toys and Northwest Bait and Scent, and was surprised when I saw where some of the winners came from. One winner was from Oregon, one from Puyallup.

We had others there from Moses Lake. I want to remind people that if they didn't get to the seminar but want some information on how to rig for bobber and jig fishing, they should sign up for my free e-letter.

I just sent one out that includes a feature that details this method.

Just go to my web site and click on the buttons on my Home Page. I will send you the latest e-letter and then you will get future e-letters automatically.

These are sent out quarterly and offer information on specific techniques and forecasts on where the best fishing will be in our region.