Sg,

I have nothing to compare it to since I never did fish it before but I'd say it may have been a little high for greased line fishing only because it would take a pretty aggressive fish to take a fly near the surface from its holding lie. The other technique would be to fish skinnier holding water. After the first three days with all the pressure I'm guessing the fish are looking for some sactuary water, meaning they could be looking for some non-traditional holding water. Monday the fish were pretty aggressive but by Tuesday, they were not near as aggressive, meaning the pressure was getting to them.

I wanted to float so I could scout for walk in spots later and the extra water didn't hurt in that regard. There are about 8 runs that I'd want to fish again. Some are relatively accessible by foot but then they get lots of pressure too. Fish are spread throughout the system. The trick will be to find some secluded water and fish it hard.

S.G. - I just checked the Monitor gauge and ironically the river was close to the median flow on Monday, but for the last couple of days has been climbing. I guess there's been some slop over precip along the crest that we haven't received here in the Methow.

While the lower Methow has been hit hard, the middle section (Carlton to Methow) has had light pressure midweek. Good hatches of caddis on warmer evenings.

The warm weather yesterday and today has melted low elevation snow that I forgot was even there. So much for my strategy. It's running 1590, and I can't tell yet if it's crested. The weather seems to be cooling. Maybe it will begin to drop. I empathize with the weatherman.

I see the Met is running at a good flow for fishing. That's an extra two hours or better from here though.

so what is the latest? i may head over tomorrow and do a chukar/steelhead combo. Any guidance? i have never fished it before.

It just dropped below 1100 cfs this afternoon. It's still higher than I like it, but it's on a slow steady drop. Supposed to be 900 by Saturday. That should be pretty good conditions, but I don't know how crowded it might be on the weekend. I'm not sure if I'll drive back over or not.

did you go?
i hunted chukars on friday and shot my limit quickly enough that i had time to get down to Yakima for some more hunting and hanging out with friends. I would have liked to fish and the river looked great, but pulling myself away from the birds is tough this time of year...

D3,

I did on Oct. 25 at 1800 cfs - way too high. Picked the worst day of the season it seems. It's down around 800 again, so the flow's right, but of course the season is advancing and the water temp is ranging from 39-44 from what I recently heard, so winter rules may apply (sink tips). Still , a co-worker bonked a hatchery fish last Saturday. I'm thinking about trying Sunday-Monday if I don't have any better idea.

Sg

We spent 3 days on her on the opener and before the closure I fished this system every Nov and early December until the weather turns it to almost to ice for years and almost 10 years was far to long and I have always had better numbers on the Wenatchee over the Methow both great Eastern.Wa. rivers.
For many years in one section with 3 to 5 guys we could spank 8 -15 fish perday and my personal best was 15 landed in this selective fisheries.
That being said we use noodle rods and floats, Pink worms, spinners, corkies, yarn, puff balls and when we brought the drift boats we did well on small plugs single barless with Colored Gamas.
Long Floracabon leaders and we let are presentation sit longer then normal in the tail outs.
I have caught some large nats in the early 90's as well and we would land way more then are share of hatchery brates.
Pulled over 50 anglers over highway 2 for many years and was jacked they opened her back up!
On the opener we released 5 nice fish on the opener and the next 2 days was a bust hooking dark Kings, white fish and trout.
Was Mucho Grande pressure, toons, drift boats and bankies and my one bud with his puffer Sage landed a chrome hen at first light on the opener that had some shoulders.
The Key is the (Orchard hole) the most productive water on that great pretty river , very large structure , many depths, great holding water after a big push for them running skinny before reaching this long deeper seam loaded with very big boulders. You can view this section above on small cliffs just off Highway 2 make sure you get permission to cross the Orchards we always gave him a super nice Grower a Hatchery brate on the way out.
As far as forgiving you better have your best wading boots on , I have floated 100's of yards with ice in her under and above water and blew up a knee as well ! Slick as Rick
I also drift many bright flies with a very small sliding slinky and do well as it keeps it down in the bag zone, this river eats gear as well , light, small and Look for some sweet apple trees in the gut of her= there you will find metalheads on any year, weather or conditions.
We stayed in 2 toy haulers the park was loaded and most of the puffer guys were not happy the last day our 3rd it hit 73 degrees I was very happy.

Stayed on the river this past weekend, looked SWEEET other than the big chunks of ice floating down it;)