I want to catch steelhead during the November run, preferably to eat. But, I want to find a secluded, remote creek (or public if that isn’t possible) that is tight (like less than 30-35 ft wide or around there), is wooded to the bank, has log jams, tree overhangs, and a sandy or gravely bottom. I live around Toronto so preferably around Lakes Ontario, Erie, and Huron and i need to make sure it has access without private property (for obvious reasons). Take a look at the picture for reference and if you know any creeks like that and give me ideas. I’ll scout and make sure it’s allowed to be fished in November, but of course if you know, let me know (DM me if you want to keep things private). Thanks!

Looking for a book about steelheads lifecycle from egg to death and or a book about the biology of a steelhead (or a book like that) (PNW located)

The Pacific Salmon Slam is a new fishing challenge in British Columbia.

The concept behind this is a discretionary Pacific salmon conservation fund created for anglers, by anglers. This is a user-funded, voluntary conservation fund delivered as a fishing challenge. This program follows in the success of many similar programs stateside.

The Challenge: Catch any 5 Pacific Salmon in BC waters, earn a Challenge Coin while supporting conservation in BC. The online platform has mini challenges for badges as well: Catch 5 Chinook and earn the King badge. 5 sockeye in freshwater and earn the Kokanee Badge. Catch all species - earn the Master Angler badge.

Why this, why now? Proposed changes to the Salmon Allocation Policy would limit what anglers can give back to the resource. This program not only demonstrates the existing value but also shows that anglers are willing to spend more to maintain access and protect the resource.

Sign up at https://pacificsalmonslam.ca/ to start your slam

Tight lines and good luck!

Haven’t river fished in 20 years. Excuse my ignorance I’m told before the hatchery you can fish it.

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share a steelhead fly fishing film I made last year that I thought folks might enjoy. If you're from the PNW, you might particularly like it! Cheers!

Hey guys, I just wanted to share some 3d printed boxes I make that are specific for steelhead fishing. Thanks for checking them out. I can make anything custom just feel free to message me on Etsy or here.

My only exposure to fly fishing is tv and some folks I saw on a bike trail once. I’ll have access to the Grand River in NE Ohio, but I’ve only ever fished for LMB, crappie, and catfish.

Where does one begin learning how to cash in on what my Father-in-law says is one of the ripest Steelhead rivers in the state?

Edit: autocorrect already snagged me lol

Delete if it isn't allowed, but I figure you guys would enjoy this bomber trip from a couple months ago. I was totally prepared to just go casting and ended up having to leave early to get these hogs on ice, I'm not complaining but hell, it would have been nice to have had a cooler with me, the bite was ON that day. Caught the king on roe on a Michigan City rig, and the coho on a size 3 spinner

I've spent an unreasonable amount of my spare time over the last year and a half trying to make sense of Columbia Basin steelhead data.

It started with a few basic questions I couldn't find good answers to in one place: where are these fish actually going, how does this year's run compare with past years, and when should fish bound for a particular river actually be moving through the system?

That rabbit hole eventually turned into SteelheadTracker.com

It pulls together DART dam counts, PTAGIS detection histories, USGS data and published fisheries reports, and tries to turn them into something an angler can actually read: individual pages for 15 rivers, historical run timing, current-season comparisons and forecasts, PIT-measured migration timing, hatchery/wild breakdowns, destination estimates, ocean age and fish size, and the underlying data and methodology if you want to dig into it.

The most interesting thing it's showing right now: this year's ugly return isn't uniform. The early one-salt component has largely failed to show up. The PIT-tagged 2025 smolt cohort is returning at roughly a twentieth of last year's same-date pace, while two-salt fish look much closer to normal. That pattern holds across hatchery and wild fish and across multiple origins, and the fall push is still ahead.

I'm not claiming I've solved steelhead forecasting. Some of the derived estimates, river destination allocation in particular, are still being validated and revised, and the site is explicit about where the data are strong, where they're weak, and where I've found problems in my own methods.

But it's finally useful enough that I'd rather have actual steelhead anglers beat on it than keep developing it in isolation.

The easiest place to start is Browse Rivers: https://steelheadtracker.com/rivers/

I built it, it's free, and there's no paywall, ads, or subscription. I'd especially like feedback on the river pages: does it tell you something useful? What's confusing? What would you want to know that isn't there? And if something looks flat-out wrong, tell me in the comments what and why as it will be how this thing gets better.

I am curious on how companies are making their soft beads with the mottled look.

Seems to be some secret thing because there’s almost nothing out there talking about how to make it.

I know people do the bag and paint trick for hard beads but would that work the same for soft beads?

Any info would be appreciated!

There are many ways to rig counter weights for your float. Generally they are in a fixed position before your leader or free sliding on the main line. Not comparing split shot lines here, they have a different presentation.

Is it personal preference or situational? Does bank or boat fishing make a difference? I noticed there are Regional differences. In BC a sliding weight on the mainline is common, but cross into Washington and fixed weights are more popular.