Steelhead Fishing

Steelhead Fishing

Steelhead:  Natural Range of Steelhead

Steelhead Fishing:  Where to Catch Steelhead

Steelhead Fishing:  Fishing for Steelhead in Washington State

Steelhead Fishing:  Run Timing of Steelhead

Steelhead Fishing:  Hatchery and Native Steelhead

Natural Range of Steelhead:

Steelhead can be found throughout the North Pacific.  Asia and North America are where you want to go if you want to catch a Steelhead. As a result of dams, habitat degradation and over fishing the natural range of steelhead has been reduced resulting in a loss of Native Steelhead especially in the Pacific NW.

The natural range of Steelhead can be seen in the below image.

(source Wikipedia, 2017)

As you can see from this map of the north pacific ocean Steelhead have a range from Russia through southern Alaska and down the Western Coasts of Canada and the United States.

The largest concentrations of Steelhead being found in Russia and Washington State.  While we don't offer guided steelhead fishing trips in Russia (yet, hahaha), we do offer lots of opportunities to catch steelhead in Washington State and for Columbia River Steelhead near Portland and Astoria.

Where to Catch Steelhead:

Catching steelhead today has less to do with the natural range of steelhead and more to do with ODFW and WDFW regulations around the seasons for steelhead.  Salmon and Steelhead seasons are set annually by state regulators in coordination with NOAA fisheries and local tribes.  NOAA regulates salmon and steelhead seasons for federally listed endangered or threatened species.  

Steelhead fishing is usually always open on rivers that have catchable numbers of hatchery steelhead during times that do not threaten native species of steelhead or salmon.  It is common to see steelhead seasons created by hatchery steelhead which are planted at times of the year that ensure the steelhead return to the rivers at times other than when native steelhead and salmon are returning to help minimize threats to native fish species.

The best steelhead fishing in the populated world is found within a short drive of both Portland and Seattle metro areas.  Portland based Steelhead Fishing Trips and Seattle based Steelhead Fishing Trips are definitely real true adventures that will result in you catching steelhead.

Portland Steelhead Fishing Trips:

If you live or are traveling to Portland there are abundant opportunities for you to catch steelhead near Portland.  Portland Steelhead Fishing Trips are available year round on many rivers within easy driving distance of Portland.  Some of the steelhead fisheries we offer include (listed by proximity to Portland):  Columbia River Steelhead Fishing, Lewis River Steelhead Fishing, Lower Columbia River Steelhead Fishing, Cowlitz River Steelhead Fishing, Kalama River Steelhead Fishing, Chehalis River Steelhead Fishing, Satsop River Steelhead Fishing, Wynoochee River Steelhead Fishing, Humptulips River Steelhead Fishing, Quinault River Steelhead Fishing and Queets River Steelhead Fishing.

Columbia River Steelhead Fishing:

The best place to catch steelhead near Portland will vary depending on the month and week of the year.  For example summer is a great time to fish for Summer Steelhead near Portland on the Lower Columbia River.  This is the closest and best steelhead fishing for Portland.

Kalama River Steelhead Fishing:

The Kalama River Steelhead seasons include both summer and winter steelhead options.  A great time to fish the Kalama River for steelhead is during the late winter/early spring when you can catch both Summer Steelhead, Winter Steelhead AND Spring King Salmon aka Spring Chinook.  The Kalama River is very close to Portland about 30 minutes from North Portland. Kalama Spring King Salmon Trips

Lewis River Steelhead Fishing:

The Lewis River is also very close to Portland and offers great summer and winter steelhead fishing opportunities.  The Lewis River is only about 20 minutes from North Portland.

Cowlitz River Steelhead Fishing:

The Cowlitz River Steelhead fishery is a BIG ONE.  One reason the Cowlitz River is so famous for steelhead is because it has huge salmon and steelhead hatcheries.  The Cowlitz River is a very easy drive from Portland and makes a classic fishing trip for any angler.  The Cowlitz River gets over a million steelhead smolts planted each year.  

Chehalis River Steelhead Fishing:

The Chehalis River also gets a lot of steelhead smolts planted each year.  The Chehalis River has many tributaries and while it's not as big as the Columbia River it does contain some formidable numbers when it comes to catching winter steelhead.

Satsop River Steelhead Fishing:

The Satsop River is a popular winter steelhead destination because it is close to I-5.  It's a great river for steelhead depending on the hatchery steelhead smolt plants and river pressure.

Wynoochee River Steelhead Fishing:

Due to closures around north Puget Sound and the abundance of public access the Wynoochee River has become a very popular destination for steelhead fishing with ever increasing numbers of anglers found on this river since around 2000.  The Wynoochee River is about maxed out these days with high numbers of anglers the locals are venturing further NW to find more quiet places to enjoy steelhead fishing. . .

Humptulips River Steelhead Fishing:

A quiet river near the Washington Coast, the Humptulips River is usually best known for it's king and coho salmon fall fishery.  Little attention has been given to the hatchery steelhead returns found on this river in both the summer and winter months.  At this point you're getting a little far from the Portland Metro area but you're in luck because the small resort town of Ocean Shores is nearby and provides lots of lodging availability when you go on a Humptulips River Steelhead Trip.

Quinault River Steelhead Fishing:

The Lower Quinault River is located within the boundaries of the Quinault Indian Reservation.  This means that fishing on this river is limited to Quinault Tribal Members and their guests or customers.  Quinault Tribal members upon applying for a business and guide license can host up to 3 guests per day on this remote river which boasts more steelhead than you're likely to find anywhere outside of Russia.  The upper Quinault River is open for all anglers to fish but is limited to native steelhead and stray hatchery steelhead.  

Queets River Steelhead Fishing:

The Lower Queets River is similarly limited to Tribal Members and their guests.  However, the upper Queets has an abundance of hatchery steelhead for non-tribal anglers to enjoy.  The Queets is a wild river and can go from 1000cfs to 50,000+cfs overnight so you definitely want to watch river flows and go your first time with an experienced guide.

Seattle Steelhead Fishing Trips:

There is an abundance of steelhead fishing opportunities near Seattle, many of which are outline above.  The closest rivers for seattle steelhead fishing trips are the rivers which flow into Puget Sound, but have been heavily dampened by regulations aimed at protecting endangered wild steelhead.  As you can imagine with so many people living on and near native steelhead habitat in the Seattle Metro area the real losers are native fish and anglers who appreciate their beauty.

Luckily there are remote rivers as close as 1.5 hours from Seattle where Seattle Steelhead Fishing Trips can be very successful.  The Chehalis, Cowlitz, Satsop and Wynoochee are less than 2 hours from Seattle - read more about these rivers above.

Fishing for Steelhead in Washington State:

We've talked about where to catch steelhead in Washington State now let's talk more generally about actually fishing for Washington State Steelhead.

The easiest way to fish for steelhead in Washington State is with a licensed fishing guide.  All you have to do is show up with your fishing license and catch record card ready to catch steelhead.  Steelhead fishing guides provide you with a boat, fishing rods, gear, bait and tackle all precisely set up for you to catch steelhead.  

Book any Washington State Steelhead Trip Entirely Online - Winter Steelhead is best December through April:  https://fishwaterswest.rezdy.com call/txt: 253-389-0359 email:  jessica@fishwaterswest.com 

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Columbia River Fishing Guides

The mighty Columbia River is home to millions of returning salmon each year.  With runs for king salmon, coho salmon, sockeye salmon, chum salmon and steelhead and various strains of these fish all headed for different upriver destinations planning the timing of your columbia river fishing trip can seem a bit daunting.

Columbia river fishing guides have you covered.  Our columbia river fishing guides are all seasoned veterans of the river.  Many people think of native american fishers when it comes to salmon expertise and being one with nature.  However, you would be hard pressed to find any native american in Washington or Oregon who spends more hours each year on the river than any of our columbia river fishing guides.

Our columbia river fishing guides are often licensed to fish in both Washington and Oregon.  Washington State gives commercial guide licenses for salmon and steelhead and Oregon gives guide/outfitter licenses.  The reason we obtain Oregon licenses is because there is a moratorium in Washington State on Charter Licenses for salmon.  This means that if we want to take you fishing below the longview bridge on a columbia river fishing trip, we must obtain an Oregon guide/outfitter license which allows us to fish all the way to the mouth of the columbia river.

Columbia river fishing guides must obtain charter captain licenses from the U.S. Coast Guard.  They must provide proof of insurance to the state that licenses them.  

Most importantly by booking a trip with one of our Columbia River Fishing Guides all you have to do is show up dressed for the day with lunch and recreational fishing licences.

Your columbia river fishing guide will take you out on an adventure on the columbia river to fish for king salmon, chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and sturgeon.

Humptulips River Fishing

The Humptulips River is famous for huge king salmon and plentiful coho and chum salmon. The Humptulips River sees thousand of salmon return each fall beginning in good number in September with coho returning some years into January.  The sport fishing season for the Humptulips River usually begins September 1st.

Early in September you can expect to catch lots of King Salmon.  The 2016 season is set for a 2 king salmon per person limit for September. Early in the season the the Humptulips our Fishing Guides usually fish the lower stretches of the river because that is where the king salmon are early in the season.  As soon as there is a good amount of rain some coho salmon will start entering the river and some king salmon will also move to the middle stretches of the river.  Typically the first rains are short and do not sustain a mid or upper river fishery for more than a day or two.  Our Humptulips River Fishing Guides are very experienced with the influx of salmon, river levels and temperatures so know very well each day what the best stretch of river is for you to catch the most fish.

Usually by the first week of October you can expect to be fishing the middle section of the Humptulips River with your fishing guides.  Once it has rained steady enough that the fish are moving through the lower and middle sections of river you can expect to fish the upper float of the main Humptulips River for King and Coho Salmon.  The main float starts near the fish hatchery where you float through the 'chute' in the dark. It is quite an adventure to hear the sounds of the rushing water get louder and louder in the dark morning and then culminate as you float through the chute in the darkness.  Fishing the Humptulips is an adventure for many reason but this is one of the first you will experience each morning with your fishing guide.

There are several popular spots to fish along the river that most fishing guides and anglers know about.  What the majority of people do not know is how to successfully fish the Humptulips is all conditions in both low and high water for catching you limits of king and coho salmon.

Many guides have been fishing the Humptulips for years and more guides have been fising it only 2-3 years or are just starting out taking customers on guided fishing tours here.  We guarantee that when you fish with Waters West Guide Service you are fishing with the absolute MOST EXPERIENCED fishing guides on the entire river.

No team of guides has put more hours in or caught as many fish as we have!  If you're looking for the best of the best in a Humptulips River Fishing Guide - you've found us!

Book Online 24/7 or call our friendly fishing trip advisor:  http://www.fishwaterswest.com 253-389-0359

Buoy 10 King Salmon Fishing Charters

One of the Pacific NW's most popular sport fisheries is known simply as Buoy 10.  Buoy 10 is a nautical marker marking the entrance to the Pacific Ocean of the Columbia River.  This marker also serves as a fishing regulation boundary.  The Buoy 10 fishery usually encompasses a line through Buoy 10 and Tongue Point near the Astoria Megler Bridge.

We have two of the best full time Washington State Fishing Guides available to fish the peak month for King and Coho Salmon each year in August.  During years when there is a strong Coho Salmon run we will stay and continue fishing into mid-late September for Coho Salmon.

The small towns of Chinook, Astoria and Warrenton along the mouth of the Columbia come alive in August due to summer tourism and the return of millions of fall salmon.

Our guides meet at the West Mooring Basin in Astoria and the Hammond Marina in Warrenton.

The 2016 King Salmon Forecast for the Columbia River is just shy of 1 million fish and as a result of the strong anticipated return King Salmon is open through Labor Day pending actual returns.

The largest King Salmon we caught in August 2015 was probably 43 pounds with at least one king salmon over 20 pounds caught daily.

If you want to catch the biggest and freshest king salmon of the year without taking your chances in the Ocean or Alaska then Buoy 10 fishing near Astoria, Oregon is the best bet for you!

When are they going to announce a Sockeye Opening for the Upper Columbia & Brewster?

Short Answer:  Sometime between tomorrow and early next week.

Long Answer:

The Sockeye salmon we are catching and releasing now and hoping to keep in the coming days and weeks are bound for Lake Osoyoos in the Okanogan.

Last year we had a stellar return of Sockeye but only 37,624 of the fish made it back to lake Osoyoos and only about 10,000 reached their spawning grounds on the upper Okanogan River.  And that is from a huge return that entered the Columbia of 512,000 fish!  The high water temperatures in the Okanogan are to blame for the death of almost 170,000 Sockeye Salmon that passed Wells Dam but never made it home.

As a result of this dismal return the pre-season forecast for 2016 was very low around 101,000 sockeye.  As of July 5th there have been 312,422 sockeye over Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River and 78,131 have made it over Wells Dam on the upper river.

The popular Brewster Pool fishing area is just south of the Wells Dam on the Columbia River.

As of last Thursday they have counted 5,000 Sockeye as returning to their spawning grounds and they want to see at least 60,000 before they open the upper Columbia River to Sockeye Sport Fishing.  As fisheries biologists tally up the Friday-Sunday fish counts that 5,000 number could be very close to reaching the 60,000 goal.

The fisheries biologists are hopeful that the Brewster Pool and upriver destinations will open for Sockeye before this coming weekend but at the latest it will be early next week.

If you have a sockeye trip scheduled for this week or weekend you are welcomed to come and fish for a 2 hatchery king salmon limit + 2 jacks and release lots and lots of native kings and sockeye salmon during your trip.

Since July 1st, everyone who has fished has had a terrific time with 20+ hookups per person per day.

You can book a half day or full day trip now through July for Kings and/or Sockeye.  Half day trips until Sockeye opens will be for King Salmon and after Sockeye opens half day trips are for Sockeye only and full day trips are for Kings and Sockeye.  All trips are scheduled for Brewster.

Stay tuned for updates - feel free to call/txt/email.  If you want to reschedule a Sockeye date you have booked for between now and early next week please email with alternate dates you can fish.  If you don't have a Sockeye trip booked yet please try to book one soon because most dates through the 20th are full but we may send another guide over to help with morning trips on the weekends starting next weekend to get everyone accommodated.

Thank you for your calls/emails/questions - more coming soon!

Jessica - 253-389-0359

Brewster Pool Fishing Report Update

Brewster Pool Sockeye and King Salmon Fishing

Looking for a fishing guide for the Brewster Pool Sockeye Salmon Fishery?  Then look no further.  Ryan is our Expert Lake Pateros Fishing guide and Brewster Pool Fishing Guide.

Year after year Ryan provides customers with excellent fishing opportunities all over Washington State and you could call July the icing on the cake!

Waters West Guide Service provides guided fishing trips for Salmon and Steelhead in the upper Columbia River near Brewster Washington.  We are located in the city of Brewster Washington for all of July every summer. This area of the Columbia River near Brewster is an amazing and very productive fishing area. The fishing pressure and boat numbers are noticeably less then the lower Columbia and we think the fishing is even better. We at Waters West Guide Service want you to enjoy your fishing trip, and always encourage participation from you.  There are few experiences as exciting as setting the hook at the bite into a feisty Salmon or Steelhead.  It is hard to explain the feeling when you lift as hard as you can on the pole and the fish pulls it right back down to the water.  Come fish with us out of a very comfortable 25’ Brand New Wooldridge.   

Salmon,
Summer Chinook/King, and Sockeye Salmon starts in July and ends in October.  From the start of the season to the end salmon can be consistently caught.  Kings will peel the line off the reel in hard and long runs.  The Kings range in size from small jacks to over 40lb monsters, and the majority of the Kings weigh in the mid teens to mid twenties.  We have also been able to fish for Sockeye the last couple of years.  Sockeye season is not pre-set annually, but the season is opened based on numbers of returning fish.  The Sockeye returns the last few years have been huge, and we have been fortunate with a large limit size.  We have heard people say Sockeye are the best eating salmon, but we think it is hard to tell which one is better Chinook or Sockeye.  We mainly troll for Salmon using bait and lures.  We also will anchor up and fish bait if that is the most productive method at the time.    

Brewster Pool Sockeye Fishing at Lake Pateros

Escapement Goals for the Okanogan will be reached for Sockeye Salmon in 2016!

If you're looking for a sockeye fishing guide for Lake Pateros aka Brewster Pool - Look No Further!  

Our fishing guides have many years of experience helping customers catch lots of Sockeye and King Salmon in the Brewster Pool and we let YOU catch the fish!  Light tackle, no downriggers or fidgety guides worrying about netting every fish.  You will have a great time, catch fish and kids can lose fish after fish and still catch their limits.  

If you want a fishery that will keep kids engaged and excited - this is it!

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Book a Sockeye Fishing Trip Online or Call/txt: 253-389-0359