I agree ChadK. I have observed the same things. I fish these areas on smaller streams but once I hit a river like the Skagit, well lets just say my fishing senses are fubar. My favorite steelhead water on well defined streams is tail-outs. Most tail outs make a really good drift for drift gear.


One thing that I have noticed also is that on rivers and streams its like the fish are all in a train but move at different times. They all take the same path to some degree. So basically when you figure certain rivers out, you are finding the tracks that these fish follow. Certain spots along the trail just always hold fish. They remind me of game or cow trails.

As far as the cracker issue on new streams, well I think that may be a little true. The fish must smell my "crackerhead scent" on the lures.

Oh yeah, I do catch my fair share of steelhead but when I hit a new stream or even a large river like the Skagit, well my numbers plummet.