Okay,

I'm a bit rusty at steelheading....since most of it's been closed for awhile here on the Eastside. However, I get to go out tomorrow on the Methow for a day!!

So here is the question......What techniques are good for fishing spoons on a medium sized river this time of year for summer steelhead?

I know how to work a spinner, and I'm not bad at the whole jig and bobber gig, but I don't have alot of experience with spoons -

suggestions?

JK

drift it like you would a spinner and use it in the same type of water. do not go to a heavier spoon if it is not getting down, you want to match the spoon shape to the speed of the current (ie- fat teardrop like a stee-lee or wob-l-rite in the slower tailout type water, oval spoons like a ltl cleo in medium flows, the thinner dardevle style in faster water) if you've caught steelhead on spinners then you already know how to find good spoon water.

Try to keep your line on the verge of being loose (almost having slack) without the spoon ticking the bottom of the river. It takes a little practice but if you use a baitcasting reel, you can let out line as the river current applied to the spoon starts to tighten your line (which also means that the spoon is spinning versus wobbling). You should also be able to see (on the tip of your rod) and feel your spoon wobble. The key to spoon fishing is to make it wobble, not spin. Bill Herzog has a great book on spoon fishing that might be of interest to you. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the hints guys! Had a great day on the Methow! Spinners and Spoons didn't work out, but I hooked up two with a slip bobber and Maribou Jig. The first got off after bending the hook straight out (now that's a fish!). The second one, a hard running six pounder, I caught and released.

My fishing partner did even better with a fly rod! He started the day with a nine pounder and ended it with a six pounder, both C&R Natives!

good work, but isn't the Methow steelhead season over? isn't the maximum hook size a 12? if it isnt, I would like to make the trip over to catch some steelies. I just hate to see people get in trouble.

Check out the spoons at www.fishall-lures.com you may find something there you can use, Kingfisherguides

Thanks for the tip Kingfisher!

Also - SWJ - sorry I didn't answer sooner. The Methow opened up this late this year for steelhead fishing for the first time in five years! Selective Regs apply and you can keep hatchery steelhead if you can find any with the adipose fin clipped (I hear they didn't bother with that much while the season was closed for the last few years).

Heavy rain (for the eastside at least) has let up the last couple of days. I suspect it's prime time to hit the river as new fish have probably come in from the Columbia and it should be in good shape!