I’ve seen 50 at Millers. Once a newbie to that particular stretch got upset with me when I stepped in 30 feet down from him. That was funny.
Methow Steelhead Opening 2024
- Thread starter Evan B
- Start date
Sounds like he was probably counting the Miller stretch, which is the lowest point in the river before it slacks out to the lake between there and the highway bridge. From that lowest point of riffly water on up for about 3/4 of a mile or so is probably where he was counting from the sounds of it.
That stretch is suuuuuuuuper fun when you can get it to yourself, and I've had that happen many times in the past mid-week. Especially crossing and hiking up to that long stretch above the combat fishing hole at the very bottom. I've skated up plenty in that area. As well as pretty much every run in the bottom 2-3mi of river.In either case, I’ve never enjoyed Millers. Not enough elbow room for my liking, and I’d take one skated fish over a bunch of bobber fish any day. *Ira’s ears perk up*
We haven’t had a good nymph vs swing fight in a while….just saying
DanielOcean
Fart! : )
Once my truck is back from repairs I may be swayed into a buddy trip out there. I would probably stay out all weekend, and call in sick on a Monday.
charles sullivan
Life of the Party
I've never even fished it. I've only done a few trip over there so I never made it down there.
The best run that I fished over there was given up by one Evan B on another BB. I thank you for that. It made a few really great memories. I started heading North in the fall so I did not continue with the Met. The 4.5 hour drive vs. 15 hour drive is more appealing 10 years later. However, I'm too old and cranky to fish around people.
My gear fishing friend always fished up high and did well enough. He liked the scenery and float better. If the whole river was open, I'd be fishing over there, maybe with him.
Did I tell you about a spot or did you scope it out from a photo?
I didn't often give up the goods on the Methow spots above Miller's
I'm friends with one of the locals - he told me the locals BEGGED WDFW to hold off notification of the opening to give the locals at least a day or two of quality fishing before the masses descended. They were of course told to pound sand.
I mean, I get where they're coming from... but it's a public resource. Not a "Methow Valley residents" resource. That would not be a good precedent to set.
charles sullivan
Life of the Party
You told me. You gave up a little. It was quite kind and limitted.Did I tell you about a spot or did you scope it out from a photo?
I agree that it was never going to fly, but "BEGGED WDFW" is not what happened. If anyone cares, when it became clear that the fish counts were going to be high enough to justify opening up the river for a Steelhead season, the Methow Fly Fishers, sent an email to the local WDFW biologist. In the email they offered a list of recommendations that they would hope to see happen in conjunction with the season opening. One of those bullet points was a suggestion that they delay the announcement to give locals a chance to fish the river first. I would not exactly call it "Begging", but it was a good attempt, considering what they do for the resource on an ongoing basis, while the masses use it and go back to wherever they came from, often leaving gifts like their trash behind.
Paige
Wishing I was fishing the Sauk
Sorry, but that doesn't fly with me.
Sure fly clubs do a lot of good work, but why should anyone be excluded just because they aren't a member of some club or considered a "local"?
My fishing license along with everyone else's entitles them to fish the entire state. That's a slippery slope in my opinion if WDFW starts doing stuff like that.
SF
Sure fly clubs do a lot of good work, but why should anyone be excluded just because they aren't a member of some club or considered a "local"?
My fishing license along with everyone else's entitles them to fish the entire state. That's a slippery slope in my opinion if WDFW starts doing stuff like that.
SF
charles sullivan
Life of the Party
I detest local's should have special privaledges BS. It really rubs me the wrong way.
Oh, I’m sure! There is just so much fun water up higher, I could never stop at Miller’s.
WDFW was never going to set that kind of precedent. It was one line item on a list of about 8 bullet points of dialogue like 1) open up more river above Burma, 2) limit fishing from floating devices, etc. They have a relationship with WDFW from years of collaborative work in the valley. It was more of a "any way you can throw us a bone" since we have been waiting 10 years for a Steelhead season.
You guys are making way too big of a deal about it......
That was probably a lousy example (late announcement) I kinda regret posting it. I took it not so much as a "locals first" and more as a individual fisherpeople before commercial exploitation/guides/trip advertisements. Some of the other requests were more reasonable and were also ignored. The 'collaboration' with WDFW is a one way street IMO.
Your interpretation is correct.