I borrowed some gear from a friend and set out to fish steelhead on the Methow two weekends ago for the first time. I was near the mouth of the river just north of pateros in what people refer to as the miller hole. I got there early on Saturday and caught two right off the bat. seemed like the bite only last about 30 minutes at first light and then really slowed down. It was the first time I had ever caught a steelhead on a fly-rod, what a BLAST!
So I came back the next day and didn't get there as early. Over night the rain had increased the flow of the river and made most of the holes I had fished the day before unfishable. So I moved up river and it wasn't until about 1 or 2 in the afternoon before I had my first pickup and they kept coming! I landed three right in a row and lost one that straighted out my hook what a bummer. The last one that I landed took me forever to get in. It had to have weighed 10+, what a beautiful fish! I am officially addicted to steelhead fishing. When I got home I immediately ordered some new gear of my own.
As far as gear I was using a streamer with a small egg pattern tied off the back, trailing about 16 inches behind. I caught an equal amount of fish on the streamer and the egg pattern. The fish also seemed to prefer darker colors in the afternoon, pink or red in the morning.

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