The Run Has Started!

This summer was one of the worst summers I can remember for steelhead fishing. Warm harbor temperatures kept the fish out in the lake for nearly this entire summer. Pier fishing was only good for a few weeks in early June and then the fish fled to more comfortable water temperatures out in the lake.

Here is a real creek report. There are fair numbers of fish in the Indiana creeks at this time. The bulk of the fish are Skamania Steelhead, but there are a few King and Coho Salmon coming in. I wish I had more time to fish for them.

Here is Meppsman with a nice steelie from a few days ago. This fish slammed a silver/pink spinner.

The water levels are low at this time and the streams are clear. Small neutrally colored presentations will will hook the most fish.

Here is Meppsman with a nice King from a few weeks ago.

The steelies are very healthy and running large from the extra time they have spent in the lake eating this year.

It took me all of five minutes to hook into this beast this morning. This fish took a wax worm presentation. I like to thread one or two waxies onto the hook shank and then I hang one off the point. This method hides the hook and produces more strikes.

For spinner guys the best spinners are smaller black, brass, or orange #3's. The fly guys should fish #10 green caddis larva and black stones. Egg patterns will be best in a few weeks as the salmon start to spawn. Small bait presentations are most effective now. Dime sized spawn bags, pea sized shrimp, wax worms, and small squid strips will be most productive.

A big thanks to the DNR for putting us on these fish. :D