What rivers in Eastern Washington are known to be "good" this time of the year until the Spring run?

Rivers I'd look in to would be:

Columbia
Snake
Walla Walla
Grand Rhonde
Omak

Parker

Agree with Parkers list, but don't overlook the Touchet and Tucannon. While they are fairly small streams, they can produce some big numbers. Grand Ronde has been the hot number this winter so far, and it should do nothing but get better as the winter goes on.

While fly fishing for trout on the Yakima, I actually had a steelhead swim through my legs! I guess he didn't really see me as a threat. Anyone ever fished the Yak for steelies?

That would be illegal!!! Although, I do know that more than one has been dragged up the bank headed home with some moron during the fall chinook season.

hi peeps, sometime this year i will be moving over near spokane, soes anyone know of a good river besides the clearwater river over there for stealhead..has anyone fished the river that flows thru spokane and does it support a good number of other fish i know the steelie dont go up that one but maybe there is some other fish to go after..thanks for everything.. **schitzo**

Schitzo, try the mouth of Rock Lake(south of Cheney & Sprague. Can't remember the name of the stream that flows into it but there are some incredible BIG Browns and Rainbows. We caught a 21" Brown that had a 6" rainbow in it's gut!

Schitzo, try the mouth of Rock Lake(south of Cheney & Sprague). Can't remember the name of the stream that flows into it but there are some incredible BIG Browns and Rainbows. We caught a 21" Brown that had a 6" rainbow in it's gut!

Hey Mike L.,
Can you tell me more about how the fishing is doing on the Grande Ronde???

Haverrod-
I was down there last weekend- fished it hard. Had only one on - lost it and caught a few 15" smolt.
The fish biologist reported only ONE recorded catch for all of Saturday. The GR is at an all time low for flow of cubic ft.
Love the area but the fishing was slow. But you know how it can be- slow one day hotter than He*l the next!
Good luck!

Mac,
You say that the river level is really low? That's too bad...have you ever fished the GR from the Snake, up river? If so, how would you get there? Would you take the Snake River Road from Lew./Clarks. to the GR? What WA hatchery are you talking about?

Hey HaveRod,
Go to Clarkston, then take Hwy 129 towards Asotin. Once you get to Asotin, follow the sign that says 129 Anatone. This will take you up and over the hill, and drop you in on the Grande Ronde. Just before you cross the bridge, take a right on the dirt road. This will follow the river upstream all the way to Troy. The Washington hatchery at Cottonwood creek is about 3 miles from where you turn. Expect some company, it's no secret. But, they are all there for a reason. BTW-- I don't know how much fishing you've done, but that hole stretch from Boggan's(just across the bridge you don't cross, except to eat!!) to Cottonwood, and even beyond, if very fishy water. Lots of places to pull off and fish. As for the mouth, you are correct. Go to Asotin just like I said, only don't take the right turn to continue on 129. It's about 20 miles to the mouth, and then the road will follow the Ronde upstream for a couple of miles, before it crosses and goes up Joseph creek. That's all the access there is on the bottom end. This stretch normally fishes better in the fall, but with the low water all winter, who knows??? Sounds like maybe the fish aren't stacked at Cottonwood.......yet.

Good Luck

Backlash2,
Thanks for the info, I drive that stretch all the time to get to my parents house, who live on into OR on 129 (which turns into Hwy 3 across the state line) in Enterprise where I grew up. Fished the GR from Troy on down to the OR/WA state line all my life and now have dual residency thanks to the military (WA and OR). I just have never fished the GR from the Snake upriver, but want to. Thanks for the all your info, keep me posted on how your doing on that river, and I will get there in about 7 hours. If your ever in the Tacoma area, let me know, I am sure you have heard about our steelhead "secret" over here on the Olympic Peninsula...ha ha
Let em rip your drag up....Justin

Hey there-
Being a college student here at WSU I have done a good job of finding all the good steelhead water around. To get to the Lower Ronde........follow the directions that the other guy gave you to Asotin. Once you get into Asotin keep going strait on the road you are on and when you get to the turn to Anatone........don't turn and just keep going strait. You'll know you are on the right road because about 2 miles lator you'll hit the Snake and follow it all the way up to the mouth of the Ronde. OR.....just give me a yell and I'll be glad to just go with you and show you the way as I haven't been up there since December and am excited to go back and get some fishin in. Haven't been out in almost 2 weeks and am gettin withdrawl symptoms. My email is in my profile. You only have access to about 3 miles of river though from the bottom so keep this in mind. Hope this helps.

Tim

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"Walk softly, but carry a big steelhead"

Tim,
Thanks for the info, will be heading that direction about the 16th-19th of February. Talked to Mac Huff, who guides on the Ronde, out of Joseph, OR, tonight on the phone who said he got on to 9 fish yesterday (Wed), landed 3, from Boggan's to Troy Bridge, all on fly tackle. I am not a fly fisherman (yet), but I used to work for him in Enterprise when I was in Junior High when he owned Wallowa Outdoors, and he is strictly a guide on the GR, Wallowa and Imnaha rivers, and he said even though the river is really low for this time of year, there is a lot of low level snow pack that could melt off at the first sight of some sun and bring the river up. At least I know from him that the fish are there now, he says to use small tackle if your drifting/spinning. I would love to fish that section from the mouth of the GR upriver anytime. He also said the mix of natives and hatchery brats are about 20% nates to 80% hatchery, so the big ones are just starting up river from the Snake. Drop me a line and let me know what you think...and if you have any other info on rivers close to you there at WSU, am open to anything...Justin

I do some volunteer work for our local biologist, so I get pretty frequent reports on all the s.e. rivers including the ronde. Some days down there have been real good, and some a little slow. It is generally been worth ones time to fish it though as it is a fairly consistent producer. As the water warms some next month this river should pick up dramatically.