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The Cowlitz was in good shape Monday, with river flows at 8,300 csf for the day. I met up with Gringo Pescador and Nate Treat for one last shot at the “B” run steelies. Conditions were upper 40s to low 50s for the day, with clearing conditions and breaks of (warm!) sun during the day. The big problem (again for us) was an afternoon wind that whipped our pontoons around and made it difficult to fish from the big bend down to Mission Bar. But I’m getting ahead of myself…

Pontoons in the water at 8am and we dropped downstream 100 yards or so to our first shore location. We fished this spot for about 45 minutes, and finding nothing going on moved down another 100 yards or so, just upstream from the heavy brush before the tail out. It was here that we saw fish rolling on a regular basis, and here that we got our first steelhead, a nice chrome in the 5-6 pound class caught by gringo on a white/pink jig (his creation). With all the fish rolling we figured another had to come our way, but after a couple hours it was time to move down river. Between the three of us we fished all combinations of jigs, eggs, prawn, yarn balls, crystals, and spinners. So yes, we pounded the area hard.

Next stop was the island across from the old Blue Creek hole (the slide area). But first, gringo hooked another fish on the other side of the tail out, which came unbuttoned.

The island is more an island at 8,300 csf, with actual hard ground to walk on, LOL. The slot requires heavy weights to fish it – I was using a 1 ½ to 2 oz bank sinker which was perfect. This spot is a deep, fast slot, with a nice irregular, rocky bottom and has yielded a lot of fish over the years. We saw the bankies on the opposite side catch three nice chromers. Our luck - not so good. It was 2pm and time to press on downriver as we wanted to fish some spots we couldn’t hit last time due to the high water.

The first part of the long drift Nate side drifted, and when we got to the switch over we put on two plugs and I got my exercise. The river flow was just a tad fast to be on the sticks, but manageable. I think 7,000 would be perfect. What wasn’t perfect, and hit us full on, was an afternoon wind that made it impossible to pull plugs. So it was a repeat of the previous week, trying a few shore spots and side drifting.

One fish between us certainly wasn’t so good, but it was a great day to be on the water. This has been a tough steelhead season for me, after starting out well. Nate and I were thinking, I must have used up all my good luck on the fish I was able to pull out of the brush that day back in December. One thing I am reminded of, is the randomness of steelheading (and fishing in general). Two guys can be side by side doing the same thing and one is skunked, the other on fire. If it was just about the catching I guess I’d retire. Instead, I’ll look forward to next season to pursue the steel. For now it’s on to other species to be frustrated by!

nat

3/27/2012 9:55:00 AM

Why again does this have to be the 'last shot'? I have a guide friend who says the majority of the run is just now showing up- everything is late this season!

Gringo Pescador

3/27/2012 1:26:00 PM

Fun day! Nice to be able to bring one home! Still stings a little the one that got away just because I hooked it while side drifting and that is still a new experience for me. Also kicking myself for not making my way back up to that section to see if there were any more along there willing to bite. I will add if you are like me and not much of a drift fisherman the island is probably not the best place for you. IMHO the water is way too fast for float & jig or spoons/spinners. Also those guys fishing the other side under that overhanging cliff are nuts!

djw0414

3/27/2012 1:42:00 PM

Nice fish, Gringo! And way to hook one on side-drifting. You can never have too many tactics when it comes to steelhead ......

Mike, how were the crowds on the bank and in boats? Looked like a zoo on the weekend but it can be completely different on the weekdays.

Gringo Pescador

3/27/2012 2:57:00 PM

Thanks Dave, yeah the more you know the better your odds, I drift fish when the conditions require it, but it's definitely not my strong suit. There were 6 -10 boats around I am guessing. A few bankies just down from the launch but not enough to make it hard to find a spot and I'd say 5 or 6 at Blue Creek and another 5 or 6 crammed onto the bank under the cliff just past the slide debris.

Mike Carey

3/27/2012 3:56:00 PM

like Gringo said, very tolerable crowds. The guides were working the river all the way down to Mission Bar, and not slamming the hatchery hole quite as much. We saw a pretty good number of fish rolling in that area though. For me, drifting in that slot is my comfort zone, although it does wear on the shoulders after awhile, although not as much as trying to pull plugs at 8300 cfs. Ibuprofen is my friend.

Acefishon

3/27/2012 11:16:00 PM

the run not even started really for b run steelies the springer are starting show I got 20pound on mon lost one springer and a steelhead in boat down river of blue creek I saw you guys at island hole when went up river the wind got be to much so headed home with my bounty.

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