To any one who cares:

I live in pullman washington, and I am currently a student. I have fished on the west side, and have only caught two steelhead in my life. To tell you the truth the only reason why I caught them was because of my brother. Unless I am in the ocean I am helpless. I do know that there are great rivers to fish east of the mountains. However, I am a broke student and do not have a car. The two things I need most a car and a good fishing partner, i have neither. If any one is in need of a fishing partner, I will provide the gas and the beer.

NEIL

welcome aboard!!

what areas do you usually fish?

meatlhead:

That would be the whole problem. I have not fished anywhere in eastern washington, yet I also have not the slightest clue on how to catch them. I hear the snake and rio grande are good places to start.

I don't know how the fishing is on the Rio Grande but it is a good spot to cross over into Mexico.

I too was a Pullman resident and suffered the fishing bug there. I graduated in May and live in Bellevue now. To answer your question, the closest place to get a fix of stellhead is on the Snake. There are two areas: below lower Granite dam and another spot called Wawaii (spelling). Each spot is less than a half hour away and you can get into some decent fish.

Grandpa-
Great sense of humor!! Should we tell the young pup the difference between the Rio Grande and the Grande Rhonde? Na...thats what I thought!

If you went to UW, you wouldn't have this problem.

Sorry...........that wasn't nice.

neil
hey when I am headed back down there I can help you out, I am down there almost every weekend workin as a deck hand for an out fitter in lewiston when he gets his drift boat back we can take it out and get into some fish
Dances

That would be great, fell free to give me a call.

NEIL

509 432 9718

That would be great, feel free to give me a call.

NEIL

509 432 9718

Neil-

If you can, hook up with someone and fish the Grande Ronde at Shoemaker grade. Use a simple corky and yarn drift set up and you'll do fine. This is a fishery that remains good all the way until late March or early April. By late Jan. there are fish throughout the whole Ronde system so you can then move on up to Boggans, cottonwood creek and toward the stateline.


Jeffroe :p :p

Hey Neil
I gave you a call so feel free to give me a buzz
360 490 2521
Dances

Dances, You are a really nice guy...... That is such a nice offer you have offered to Neil.....Did you forget he is a damned 'Cougar'?

The Rhonde is super.....not the 'Rio' one.. :p

dances got your message

I will give you a call

Thanks


Neil

Dont worry Periwinkle Im a dog at heart and all a cougar is, is just a big cat so I am not to worried. :p and my little sister is a cougar also. So I have been dealing with that fact also

Dances

Jeffroe has it right. Just make sure if you are thinking about going down to fish shoemaker, it is not poring down rain, or you have a four wheel driver rig. I almost got stuck coming out of there one time in the mud. I am heading there as soon as the water comes up a little. Very low right now but I am hearing reports that they are catching fish. E-mail me if you need any help. I don't profess to be an expert, but I fish the Grande Ronde 5-6 times per year and do pretty well.


Sambo

Neil,
I am a Coug and had fish the Grand Ronde for Steelhead alot when I was there from 94-98.
This is a perfect time until freezing.

The steelies from this region are small around 3 to 12 lbs.
You will be amazed that the majority of them are chromers.

The mouth of the Grande Ronde and Snake in this region is your best bet.

To get to the mouth of the Grande Ronde from Pullman:
1. South 195
2. South 95
3. West 128
4. South 129 through Lewiston/Clarkston
5. South Snake River Rd (gravel).
Stay on Snake River Rd until you reach the mouth of the Grande Ronde.

Drift bait (eggs or small pieces of prawns) and cheap 99 cent WalMart Steelhead spoons (Chrome body with red) was the best rig I found.

In around March you should go to the Cotton Wood hatchery. This is where most of them will end up.
To get there, Stay on 129 and go through Anatone and down the Rattlesnake Grade.
When you hit the Grande Ronde, swing a left on the Grand Ronde Rd. to Cottonwood creek.

Same setup here.
But most of the fish are very colorful.
The locals here keep everything. They have no choice.

Another spot closer to campus is directly 100 ft above the Lower Granite Dam on the Snake.
The guys here use red coon shrimp on a jig under a weighted bobber.
Here you will have a chance to catch the bigger Clear Water Steelies which are much bigger in the 10-20.
Or you can use power bait under a float to catch smolt all day long.

Small mouth bass and channel cats can be caught below the dam in Almota or above the dam in Wawawai in the spring time.

Good Luck and have fun.
Oh, please verify my directions.
It has been a long time and my memories are shaddy.