For any of you SE Wa. steelheaders, try the Tucannon river. Has been red hot for several weeks now. Have been averaging a fish for about every half hour of fishing time. Running about 40% natives, and has been a ball.

5

Mike, I would really like to try and learn that little river. I tried for about an hour or so just for kicks about a week and a half ago with no luck. I usually fish the Grande Rhonde with excellent success but sometimes the Rhonde can be a bear to get to (at least where I like to fish). I'f your willing to give out any tips (like what part of the river to try) give me an e-mail and I would certainly be willing to send some Grande Rhonde info your way.

Thanks,
Duke
dnaguy@mail.wsu.edu

I have not fished the Tucannon in the winter for steelhead, it's a 6 hour drive for me, but I have gone down for a long weekend several years in a row with 2 friends to trout fish. This is a fabulous trout fishery in the late summer and early fall (probably at earlier times too, I just haven't fished it any other time). The area where we fish we get to by going east out of Dayton on State Route 12. Just after it crosses the Tucannon, at about 15 miles out of Dayton, take a right on the local road that heads south toward the Umatilla National Forest and the Tucannon Wilderness. For about 10 miles this road runs more or less along the river without crossing it. The area I have fished starts where this local road first crosses the river, and for about two more bridges up river from there. I have fished all of the river between this first bridge and the third bridge and have had great luck on rainbow, and some steelhead juviniles. Large dark stonefly nymphs and wooly buggers, as well as caddis dries have been all the flies I've needed. We're talking catching fish until you just get tired of catching fish. The majority of the fish are to 10 inches. There are an enticing number of larger fish. In these stretches, I've fished over slots that looked as if they'd be great steelhead producers. As you can tell, I'm a big fan of this river. I have never seen it crowded on these weekend trips.

The Touchet is also well worth a try. With the same flies, I've found an occasional brown in that river (I lucked into an 18 incher last October), along with rainbows. The fishing is good, but not as good as the Tucannon, I think. I have fished it near Waitsburg to the east, but the access is not nearly as plentiful as along the Tucannon. I understand that it, too, has a good steelhead run.


------------------
Tad

T Dodge, Your right in all counts on both the Tucannon and the Touchet. Both have good to great trout fishing. The same areas you fish trout in are also good steelhead producers. Wait untill you tie into one of the Touchets big browns. We have gotten them to about 28 inches while steelheading, and were surprised when we saw what we had. Touchets steelheading is a bit more spotty, but can be quite good in late Feb. and March.

I've been checking this BB for a long time to figure out how and where to find fish in this urban sprawl. It's about time someone started talking about something I can relate too. I grew up fishing the Toucannon and the Touchet and have worked almost every inch of them. I taught my wife to flyfish on them and hooked her into an 18 inch brown her first time out. I've also been surprised by a few Dolly's and Chinook, so watch closely.

If you get a chance, give it a try. I've caught fish in almost every stretch... including steelhead in Downtown Waitsburg! A couple wooley boogers, hare's ears, and some Elkhair Caddis are all you need for some fun 'bow, brown, and steelheading.

If you head that direction, let me know. I may be able to offer some local tips... including some warmwater flyfishing sport for the Non-purists among you.