I love early May! Not only do you get a shot at some springers, but there are almost always a few over-achieving summer runs out there as well.

Yesterday proved to be one of those days.

I managed to hit my first summer of the year. The first one is always cool - especially when it is a "two tone" fish. Black and white!



Bob got in to the act as well and hit this super nice chrome fish!



The 3rd fish wasn't photo worthy, and Stlhdr1 busted my IMX 1141 in half on the hookset on a super large, super chrome, and super hot, MONSTER hen summer run. This fish was easily 18 pounds (that's a big summer run hen for May). I guess fighting it with only half a rod and one guide wasn't good enough, as it spit the hook on us.

Oh yeah, we boated 11 springers, which meant limits for everyone.

Oh, and for those whiners that say no information comes off of this board - NF Lewis, using eggs (and whatnots). Fish where the fish are - not necessarily where the boats are. It's a complete zoo up there since the Big C has closed. Don't expect a whole lot, because it won't happen.

Nice looking fish Parker! Any chance I could offer a boat ride for a little help on the NFL.

Dude.............sweet.

I'll spare Stlhdr1, and won't post the photos, but he had to pull a "DanS" yesterday and cut his sweat pant legs off so they would become "shorts".

Not as bad as Daisy "DanS" Duke, but pretty close!

Hairball - there's no secret to the Lewis. If you can read water, and set your boat up correctly, it's easy as pie. On the flip side to that statement, I'm starting to seriously believe that most people can not correctly read water, and don't have a good handle on how to correctly run their boat for proper boondogging.

Oh just great! Now everyone will start using whatnots and they'll be sold out! Sheesh, another zipper exposed.

What........that weasel wouldn't let you guys have some fun with the scissors?

Way to go guys nice fish.Got me first summer 4-21-04 look like its going to be a good one.

Doesn't leaving the definition of a "whatnot" out of that statement make it a conundrum?



See... even when you offer info freely you get flamed. It's a hostile crowd! Way to go Parker!

Whatnots.

What that is....

I'm nots gonna say!



Flame away!

PS. I'm pretty convinced that even if I did disclose that information, it wouldn't help the 90% on that river. "Clue" and "less" are two words that come to mind.....

PARQUITO

You are killing me with that report!

You and Keith are out there limiting on springers and steelhead while I am stuck at this eye meeting in San Diego (a federally-designated salmonid-free zone) watching and listening to guys debate which of the countless ways to whittle on an eyeball is the best one.



Only one more day... can't wait to get back home.

Parker,

We will have to get together this summer when I get back.

Since Ill be living in shelton I will be pretty central to all the fishing spots and not far from SW rivers.

Dan S,

Same to you as well.

Shelton, huh?

The town I grew up in (or as some say, didn't)................and proud home of the Highclimbers.

I can't say the fishing around there is on par with the rivers you had to pick from up there in Forks, Rich........but there's still some good fishing to be had close to home.

When you get settled in, drop me an email and I can go show you some fishing ops. around Shelton.

Sounds good Dan!

Hey Dan...Purdy Creek

Okay I saw the word Shelton so I thought I'd speak up. I also live in Shelton and have been wanting to fish with some fellow board members for quite a while. If you are up for meeting a guy that lives for fishing let me know. I think it would be great to fish with someone from this board. I'll whip up a batch of my super duper secret egg cure to share with everyone. I'll even bring some stuff to fish with too.

Right on Parker!

Hows this, First inland summer run came on Feb 28th, and my first Coastal summer came on March 29th. So far Ive caught summer from 3 different rivers this year.

Im taking a break from Steelhead for awhile. Its Springer time!!

Hey Dan,

What year did you graduate from Shelton H.S. if you don't mind my asking?

I have some step brothers that also went to school there.

Class o' 1985

Did you happen to know a David Fitchitt by chance?

Sure I knew BIG Dave. Dave had an older brother there, too, didn't he?

unsubscribe.



Man, that'll learn me to turn "Email Notification" on!

Take it to email, boyz and girlz!

Sorry parker... didn't mean to hijack your thread. Nice fish.

Hey Parker,
You every get down here to fish the Kalama. I get out there quite a bit. Trade some trip down the kalama for a trip down the Lewis. Know the Kalama, don't know the Lewis (yet). Have all summer to try that one on (teacher).
later

~steelymann~

Beautiful fish man, I cannot wait for our summer runs to start over here in Michigan. Gotta love the aerial displays.

Well I'm about tired of the Springers and have been trying pretty hard for the summer fish and only catching the occassional fish... Slow but of the 13 summers we've hooked this year with the first on March 6th, 3 have been 16 lbs and the one I busted Parkers 1141 on the hookset was a toad 18-20... I hope these big fish last and they're not just the early 3 salts we get in late April and first couple weeks of May....

I'm looking forward to the 20 fish days but with only 38 pints of eggs left, things might get tight.... These Springers need to start maturing quickly so I can get some more good eggs....

As for the lewis right now, I've never seen such a zoo... The word is out for the springers... There were 49 boats in the meathole monday morning and 23 at the Johnson Creek Flats along with 13 at the Happa Swirl.... We're still catching limits but a lot of people are going home empty handed....

Keith

Add in the 20 or so pints of eggs I have, Stlhdr1, and I think we can manage to get you through Ok until the fall fish arrive to replenish the stock.

I just don't think you've really been trying too hard for the summers..........too much springer on your brain.

Once you tune yourself to the steelhead frequency, they'll be sorry you did.

Going by your avatar, steelhdr1, I assume sandshrimp are not on the menu as an alternative to roe. If you run out of eggs though I heared that what-nots are the hot ticket!

You are mistaken, JTD. You use the what-nots in *addition* to your eggs, not as an *alternative* to eggs.

I'm not too sure how well a lonely what-not would work for a springer, and I'm almost positive it wouldn't work for a steelhead.

Although Stlhdr1 might not publically admit it, I have personally witnessed him hooking/catching fish on just a sandshrimp! No eggs involved! Not often, but it does, and can happen.

PS. We have stopped using what-nots for springers. We're back to the same-olds-same-olds now.

Heck I'll bang Springers on whatever they want to bite... I taken them on kwikies, herring, prawns, shrimp alone, eggs/shrimp, eggs/sardine, eggs/sardine/shrimp, eggs/crawdad tails... You name it I've taken them on it this year.

I know that 38 jars of eggs will make it through the fall.. This summer we don't have to fish all eggs on the summer fish we can use some of the ooooh-ahhhhs.....
Keith

ooooh-ahhhhs are fun!

Here's the movie from last year to get you all excited about summer run steelheading.

Be sure to say your "Oooooh's" and "Ahhhhs" as you watch this film!

Summer Run Steelhead Movie

Hey Stlhdr1 - I'll bring down the video camera tomorrow so we can film some springer take downs! Maybe make another movie!

Note to self-
1. Check out ooohhhh-ahhhhh's and same-old same-olds.... maybe ask at Sportco next shopping trip when their next shipment will be.

2. PM Parker for maps and GPS cooridinates for every spot he has ever fished before heading anywhere.

3. Document and plan fishing trips to every spot mentioned on this website by anyone. See step 2.

I fished the Kalama yeserday. I would not call it hot. About one fish per boat is what I saw.

Next thing you know, you'll be floating a jig.

Oh, the horror....................

Stlhdr1 and Parker using training wheels and metal bugs on the Lewis? LOL! We'll be sure to call you DanS, the day that it does happen!

Parker:

Great video footage...it's a "keeper".

Now, next winter when your freezing your arse off play that and remember the "warm days".

Gonna head down south for some fishing this weekend, too. Haven't decided where yet, but I'm sure if I spend some time digging around I'll find somewhere to toss a line from the bank.

Mike

It probably wouldn't kill you, you know. It DOES make Keith a little agitated every time I reach for that float rod though.