Kalama River (Winter Steelhead)

After being skunked on he Wynoochee the day before, one of the twins being from Portland and a friend being from Portland we headed back down to Kalama. Keeping the same stroke and rhythm as before we put in at Red Barn and floated the river. Rowing up river a little and fishing the first tail out again we got hit again in the first hole. Fortunately it was on the friends pole who we brought along so he got some action but unfortunately we were unable to land it. We drifted down the river, again trying everything we had but successfully were unable to hook up again. 


Summary:
Location: Kalama River, Exit 32 off I-5, near Kalama, WA
Time: 7am-3pm
Rod: 8 wt w/ sinking tip, spey rod, spinning rod, & bait caster
Tackle: Purple egg sucking leach, black and purple streamer with an egg bead, yarn balls, bubble gum wiggle wart, and other plugs.
Fish: 0
Species: N/A
Biggest Fish: N/A
Smallest Fish: N/A
Rating: 7/10

Wynoochee River, WA (Winter Steelhead)

As I mentioned in an earlier blog I live really close to this river. I haven't fished it near as much as I have wanted to, but now my buddy has a drift boat and its time to give it a drift. We have watched the river for weeks and it has come into pretty good shape. Putting in at the 7400 bridge we set a drift down the river. We were no alone. Talking with other anglers we had heard many different methods to fish the river. After our new found confidence the week before on the Kalama we were feeling pretty good. One method that had been discussed is getting behind th line of boats that drift the river and fish a small single egg. See many fishers use big globs of eggs with little success. Following them with a single egg fly has produced in the previous weeks. We tried this and many other methods; new hot shot plugs, slip bobber, egg bouncing, flies, and other plugs. Unfortunately we didn't catch any fish after floating all the way down to whit bridge. Checking in with other fisherman, every other boat had two fish landed. Most of what they were using we cured sand shrimp. Noted for next time.

Summary:
Location: Wynoochee River near Montesano, WA; Twin Bridges
Time: 7am-4pm
Rod: 8 wt w/ sinking tip, spey rod, spinning rod, & bait caster
Tackle: Purple egg sucking leach, single egg fly pattern,  yarn balls, bubble gum wiggle wart, hot shots, and other plugs.
Fish: 0
Species: N/A
Biggest Fish: N/A
Smallest Fish: N/A
Rating: 6/10

Kalama River, WA (Winter Steelhead)

After floating this river last weekend we had gotten smarter about what are plan of attack needed to be. We brought a couple more plugs, picked up a few tips, and found a weekend were the river had cleared up a little more. The Kalama is a funny river. It will rise really quick and drop extremely slow. If you hit it when it is right then its hot. Today turned out to be one of those days. Putting in again at red barn, we paddled up river a hair to hit the tail out of the put in. First hole = first fish! A long lean hatchery steelhead caught on a blue pirate. Excited we moved our way down the river. In the spot we had hooked up the weekend before another fish, this time a much smaller hatchery fish, but still another fish. Then just above the lower hatchery at the very start of a tail out my pole got hammered. Luckily for me, my drag was way loose and the fish was able to run. We could tell it was big and it was chrome. Pulling the boat over Kyle jumped out with the net, ran to the bank, and down river from me. I on the other hand, clumsily caught my back foot getting out of the boat and did a rolling maneuver keeping my pull tip up. Figuring out my drag as I made my way to the shore and a conveniently located beach continued to fight the fish. After a great fight we managed to land it in the net 50' down river. In the process of removing the hook we found the plug had been broke by the fish during the fight and somehow managed to stay intact enough to land the fish; a beautiful, chrome bright, wild steelhead. Getting the picture off we let him go. Continuing our float we hooked up one more time at beginner hole but lost that fish. What a great day.

Summary:
Location: Kalama River, Exit 32 off I-5, near Kalama, WA
Time: 7am-3pm
Rod: 8 wt w/ sinking tip, spey rod, spinning rod, & bait caster
Tackle: Purple egg sucking leach, black and purple streamer with an egg bead, yarn balls, bubble gum wiggle wart, blue pirate, silver/pink and other plugs.
Fish: 3
Species: Steelhead
Biggest Fish: 16lb
Smallest Fish: 6lb
Rating: 9/10