Spring Run Steel
- Thread starter chrome/22
- Start date
SilverFly
Legend
Last time I saw an April return summer, 40-ish years ago, it was 75 yrds downstream from where I hooked it and cartwheeling 6' above the water just before it threw the hook. Not that it would've mattered. No way I could stop it from crossing over the tailout into the rapids. This was a Skamania fish, and no it was not small. Best guess was mid-teens.
Last edited:
DerekWhipple
Steelhead
I've always heard around PDX and SW WA the "spring" steelhead were wild fish that were usually on the larger side.
There are two kinds of "spring" steelhead, late winter run and early summer run. The largest steehead I have caught were all late winter Skagit and one Stillaguamish steelhead. I've also caught a few spring steelhead - of the late winter variety - on OP rivers, but they were average sized fish although a few large ones were caught by friends. I caught "springer" early summer run steelhead on the EF Lewis, and they were in the 8 - 12 pound range.
I'd think that average steelhead weights would increase through the winter season due to added months of ocean forage. But that hasn't been the case in my limited sampling - other than the cookie cutter smaller early winter Chambers Creek hatchery steelhead. Large wild steelhead show up as early as January and continue into April. If it seems like there are more in April, that's most likely because of the aggregate of fish that entered the river January through March or April.
I'd think that average steelhead weights would increase through the winter season due to added months of ocean forage. But that hasn't been the case in my limited sampling - other than the cookie cutter smaller early winter Chambers Creek hatchery steelhead. Large wild steelhead show up as early as January and continue into April. If it seems like there are more in April, that's most likely because of the aggregate of fish that entered the river January through March or April.
Agree.
The majority of the fresh April Sol Duc fish were smallish hens of 5-7 lbs.
Did see what I'd consider a true Spring Buck on June 1st one year, the Duc was low & clear as we dropped into a big long crystal clear pool it was laying right at the head & we spotted each other at the same time.
Got a perfect look at him, chrome brite buck translucent fins just a touch of rose on the gill plate. He was mid teens & not interested in us at all. Flicked his tail and vanished into the whitewater.
The majority of the fresh April Sol Duc fish were smallish hens of 5-7 lbs.
Did see what I'd consider a true Spring Buck on June 1st one year, the Duc was low & clear as we dropped into a big long crystal clear pool it was laying right at the head & we spotted each other at the same time.
Got a perfect look at him, chrome brite buck translucent fins just a touch of rose on the gill plate. He was mid teens & not interested in us at all. Flicked his tail and vanished into the whitewater.
I can only comment on the so-called spring fish in the north Puget Sound rivers. In the 1970s through the early 1990s early return hatchery fish were pretty common. I saw them as early as mid-February and April it was not all that unusual to encounter one during the spring CnR fisheries that were common at that time. The wild summer fish of the region were later timed with earliest fish being taken in late May or early June with the runs in full swing by early July. On rivers like the Skagit where the peak spawning was not until mid-May and the late spawning timing tail extending through most of July there were a few late winters entering the system in early April.
The vast majority of "bright" steelhead I have seen in April have been winter steelhead that had spawned earlier in the year with the females the most likely to leave the spawning areas and brighten up much quicker. It was not uncommon in the past to hear of large summer steelhead being caught in the late spring and early summer. In the majority of the cases those fish were in fact post spawn winter fish.
With changes in the summer steelhead hatchery programs and a lot few wild winter steelhead those "springer steelhead" are much rarer on the north Sound rivers.
Curt
The vast majority of "bright" steelhead I have seen in April have been winter steelhead that had spawned earlier in the year with the females the most likely to leave the spawning areas and brighten up much quicker. It was not uncommon in the past to hear of large summer steelhead being caught in the late spring and early summer. In the majority of the cases those fish were in fact post spawn winter fish.
With changes in the summer steelhead hatchery programs and a lot few wild winter steelhead those "springer steelhead" are much rarer on the north Sound rivers.
Curt
SilverFly
Legend
Hatchery program stopped in 2014, but likely still a few wild fish around. I just remember what it was like in the 80's.
fishbadger
Smolt
The way the regs have evolved, it appears I may have caught my last April steelhead, as everything is shuttered now. But it was a good season!
fb
fb
Maybe remnant's of spring of early summer runs in May/June? On some systems open for spring kings.
But knowing you you're probably focused on the salt by then
Is that down your bank? If so, very very cool.
SilverFly
Legend
Yes. First time I've spotted anything other than a few dark chinook last fall.
Kind of a weird spot for a redd at the base of a small rapid, but the depth, bottom cobble, and water speed are about right. If I were fishing it from the other bank, I wouldn't expect a redd there, and more likely a good holding spot for fresh fish moving upriver. Fortunately the river is closed until later next month.
fishbadger
Smolt
Yeah, it's halibut/ling/chinook time, time to fish for keeps again,
fb