Our top fall spinner picks :

(Native Trask river Coho, Took a Brass and Purple spinner sz. 5)

Many N.W. streams have received their fall runs of Coho , Chinook , and soon we will start to see winter steelhead heading up the rivers . I put together a list, by species , and water conditions of our best fall spinners .

COHO: LOW CLEAR WATER OR RIVERS ON THE RISE - STEALTH BOMBER , PURPLE STEELHEAD AND STEELHEAD GREEN IN SIZE 3 AND 4

HEAVY GREEN WATER-BRASS AND BLACK OR ALL BRASS IN SIZE 4 AND 5

CHINOOK- LOW CLEAR WATER - HEADBANGERS IN SIZE 3 BLACK BLADES FOR SPOOKY FISH , BRASS BLADES FOR OVERCAST DAYS AND COLORED WATER.

( Wilson River Coho, Caught and released on a sz.4 Purple and brass.)

STEELHEAD - LOW CLEAR WATER AND RIVERS ON THE RISE - PURPLE STEELHEAD , STEELHEAD GREEN , BRASS AND BLACK , STEALTH BOMBER , AND HEADBANGERS W/ A BRASS OR BLACK BLADE IN SIZES 3 AND 4 SUBSTITUTE A BRASS BLADE IN THE PLACE OF BLACK BLADES ON OVERCAST DAYS AND FOR LESS SPOOKY FISH.

VERY COLD WATER TEMPERATURES AND SLUGGISH FISH - PATRIOT , SILVER DEMON , BLUE FLAME, BLEEDING EGG , PURPLE STEELHEAD W/ SILVER BLADE . SIZES 3, 4, AND 5.

(Wilson Coho, Took a sz. 5 Stealth Bomber)

   

Update : 8/22/08

Our new lures are ready . We have ten exciting new patterns specifically for trout fishing . These new lures have been extensively tested and are ready for you to buy on our website . Check them out. We know you will love these as much as our classics and are happy to have a a full catalog of a total of twenty unique and amazing trout catching lures.

 

Report

Oregon:
Area Resources:
Stocking Schedule
Regulations
US FOREST SERVICE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
 

Worth The Drive
Wallowa River - If you love big bug hungry trout , I highly recommend visiting the Wallowa River in early July .Located in north eastern Oregon, the river starts in the Blue Mountains before it tumbles into a glacier carved lake and spills out into the valley to meet the Grande Ronde 50 miles later . The best trout fishing will be found between Minam state park and the town of Lostine . Most of this section of river is accessible by pullouts along the highway . The river is relatively shallow and easily wadeable . You can fish flies (these fish go nuts over big stonefly patterns) lures or even free drift a worm with no weight into tight little pockets where big rainbows wait to gobble up the meal . There are large native trout as well as planted trout ranging from 10-16" , While we visited last year my Daughter even hooked into a healthy native summer steelhead that had decided to hold over in the river. Also in the area are the Minam , Lostine and Imnaha Rivers , all of which have native bull trout as well as rainbow trout . You can also hike the upper portion of the Wallowa river for a rugged mountain adventure . The trail runs for about 6 miles almost straight up into the Blue Mountains from Wallowa Lake to Aneroid lake , There is fishing available here too for 100's of hungry brookies both in Aneroid lake and in a meandering meadow section of the Wallowa River a couple of miles below.

If you have the Family along for the trip be sure to visit the town of Joeseph for some tourist activities , art browsing, and ice cream . For more information go to www.wallowalake.net

Close to Home: Portland-Clackamas Drainage : A handful of lakes and mountain streams make up this drainage and provide a variety of fishing and recreation opportunities . Some of our favorites to visit are the oak rove fork of the clackamas, we enjoy fishing for native cuts here , and Timothy lake .
Roseburg-North Umpqua : The north umpqua has earned it's fame as a world class steelhead fishery , but there are also some great opportunities for fly fishing for trout here . There are rainbows ranging from 10-15 and some very big brown trout roaming the deeper pools . A few searrun cutthroat make their way up the river each year as well .
Salem-North Santiam River : This is a fun river to take the whole family for a summertime adventure. The river is planted but also has native trout and mountain whitefish . There are many places to camp and if you are looking for a little bit of privacy you can camp on Marion creek a little ways below the trailhead for Marion and Ann lakes.
 

North Coast-Wilson,Kilchis and Trask Rivers

Trout fishing on the coastal rivers begins to pick up in mid July . All trout are native cutthroat and must be released unharmed but it is a lot of fun to fish for them and explore the rivers . As a bonus you also have the chance of running into some early searrun cutts starting in August . These fish can range from 14" to 20"+ . You can also visit some of the area lakes , during July and august and into the fall the planted trout in these lakes can grow to over 20" and they can be very fun to fish for . Cape Meares lake is best fished from a small boat  , and lake Lytle can be fished from one of the docks along the shore but is much more fun from a boat .

 We have been spending our time off exploring some of north Oregon coasts lakes . So far the favorite has been Lake Lytle . We spent a few hours there last Tuesday and nailed 14 hungry trout on berzerker lures , best lure of the day was our Brookie pattern. There are plenty more lakes to explore , here is a link with a description of some of the best on the 101 corridor . LAKE FISHING GUIDE TO TILLAMOOK COUNTY

I have decided to post a guide for this seasons trout fishing opportunities , I'll go state by state and show you our favorite places to go , plus a bonus section for each state showing the best places to go near your major metropolitan area , to save you money at the gas pump.

Washington: Area resources -
Stocking Schedule   
Regulations
US FOREST SERVICE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Worth The Drive
Goose Lake - A peaceful setting on a natural lake that has plenty of trout, were talking Brown's, Brookies , Rainbows and maybe even a few natural cutthroat , in all sizes . This Lake can be easily fished from the bank but it is great fun to troll a small plug from a row boat, canoe, or small motor boat . There is camping at the lake and for trailer camping you can head up to Forlorn lakes .This lake makes a great family trip but be sure to bring plenty of warm clothes , it can be very cold day or night even in the middle of summer . From Highway 14 take the Wind River Highway, take road 65 to Road 60. About 8 miles of gravel road to the campground. An alternative way is taking Highway 141 from White Salmon to Trout Lake, west on Forest Road 60. About eight miles of gravel road to campground.

Close to home: Vancouver-North Fork Lewis River and Lewisville Park: North Fork: This river offers hiking and fishing in a pristine and beautiful old growth forest and is only a short drive from southwest Washington's most populated areas. Take highway 503 through Cougar , the last reservoir on the river is Swift , after wich the river is free flowing and you can fish for cutthroat with flies and lures anywhere you can find access . Take your time and enjoy the scenery and natural history this rich forestland has to offer .
Lewisville Park: Easy access, picnicking, camping nearby even swimming are all available in this well maintained and expansive park not to mention some pretty darned decent cutthroat fishing . Use lures or flies to catch 6-12 inch cutts here . You can make a great relaxing family trip out of this one . plan a BBQ in the park, bring your pole and the family dog, and lay back to have a good time . For more information visit

Lewis River.com

Olympia-Deschutes River: The Deschutes river starting in the Gifford Pinchot national forest and draining into the Puget Sound at Tumwater Washington, offers cutthroat trout fishing that is hard to come by so near a large city and urban sprawl . Our favorite places to fish the river are out in the countryside near Rainier , and Tenino , Follow Yelm ave. from Lacy out to Rainier rd . you can turn off on vail loop rd. and access the river near any bridge , or continue on 507 towards Tenino and access the river near the first bridge just before town , the river runs low in the summer and is easily wadeable . The best time to fish it is between march and june and then again in the fall with a chance at some searrun cutts.
Seattle-Lake Washington: Although I have not had a chance to fish it , I like many Seattleites grew up in the area never knowing that this lake was host to a healthy population of cutthroat trout , including large searruns. The best fishing will be from a boat but there are many public parks where one could fish from the bank and have a decent chance at catching something interesting . Also for more bank fishing check out the Cedar river that feeds the lake at the south end .

All of our contact information has changed , to get a hold of us directly call (503)815-2813 or e-mail us at wyldedge@hughes.net

We have got our new shop on Highway 6 up and running . We are located 6.8 miles east of Tillamook on the Wilson River . Come by and visit us if you get a chance .

The Wilson river has been turning out good numbers of hatchery steelhead with a few natives as well, the fish seem to be congregated in the lower river for the most part this year, with the best fishing being from about mile 7 down and some decent fishing up to about mile 17 . We've been hitting the upper river with gear hoping for natives and broodstocks but haven't seen much action so far .Bait and drift gear in the lower river seems to be the ticket . The Trask has been turning out fish as well and we are still waiting to see some good numbers in the Kilchis .

A recent trip to the Klickitat rewarded us with a great video of some early summer steelhead . These fish were hot and bright and loved to munch on our spinners. We used low and clears and number  4 and 5 metalheads , switching between silver and brass blades .

Click on the picture to see the video!

Also Check out this awesome video Rick at Glacier Bear Lodge sent us of fishing in Yakutat AK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4rhDCn--Bk

My 9 year old steelheader :

Yeah that's right got out fished by my daughter . Again . At the last light of the last day on our Deschutes river trip this fall , Eric and I were cooking dinner and changing out of our fishing clothes when Adrienne shouts " FISH ON" So Mom and Dad run down the bank to help young Addie fight her fish in . Turns out it's a beautiful 8lb native . Also turns out ,I should have left my fishing clothes on because while netting her fish I had to get waist deep in the water in my last pair of clean jeans and my only dry tennis shoes . Oh well it was more than worth the smile on her face .We got a picture this time , and then sent mr. steelhead on his way.

PROUD PARENTS

Adrienne fought her first steelhead to the bank this holiday weekend . We were all fishing the Wallowa river in eastern Oregon for trout . We didn't even expect there to be any steelies in the river at that time of year . Anyway Eric and Adrienne were fishing around the corner downriver from me, I couldn't see them . I hear Eric start hollering , "SHAI , SHAI" the first image to pop in my head is one of Adrienne in the water bobbing up and down as the current carries her down stream , next image to pop into my head immediately after is Eric with a "big" fish he wants me to take a picture of so I drop my rod on the nearby bank and grab Leif and take to running down the bank . When I get around the corner I see Adrienne with the BIGGEST smile and look of complete bewilderment holding her rod which is bent in half with a HUGE fish splashing around at the end of her line . I get the camera out, get it turned on, point it at Adie and her fish push the button and ,pop, the lure is spit back at Adrienne's feet . Eric goes to his knees dang near, and Adrienne is dumbfounded . She had apparently hooked into a large steelhead that was holding over for the year in the river . Eric said he saw her trying to release a snag and crying and when he grabbed her rod to help her realized it was a steelhead and handed the rod back to her , she had almost gotten it on the bank before she lost it . What a tough little fisher girl , we are very proud of Adrienne and her first steelhead .