Here is a good question. Does any one know of small little creeks or rivers that have big fish in them and are not zipperlips? I would like to try small water fishing for steelhead, like I do for trout, but there are not many good ones around.

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Just because I look big, dumb, and ugly, doesn't mean I am. It means I can stomp you for calling me it!

Jim,

Small water and NOT a Zipperlip? Not likely, other than the likes of the Salmon, Goodman and Stevens Creeks etc. But hey, do a little searching. Look for tribs to the rivers you KNOW have big nates in them and do a little probing and you could come up lucky.

Keep in mind that you will be fortunate to hook one in these smaller tribs, but when you DO hook one, look out. A big nate in small water is quite the challenge.

Remember that stealth is the name of the game when probing these small waters. Keep low and fish either well above or below, depending on the technique you're using.

Sorry I can't name you some names but that could lead to bodily harm to me from some of my buddies. A little scouting could pay off for you though............


Fish on.........

OK Big Jim being from tacoma if you want to drive north there are a few small rivers up here that hold fish and I do not believe the Pilchuck would be considered a zipperlip. Give it a try the river is accessable from Snohomish to above Granite. Also you could check out the Wallace.

Jim,

One comment on Dan's reply about looking for tributaries of rivers with big nates in them.

Be careful! Don't get the illusion that most tributaries of larger rivers are open for steelhead! Most are NOT as they are often sancutary for spawning fish or are considered too fragile to be open to fishing. A good look at the regs. will tell you.

If your still not sure if a body of water is open do it this way; most rivers/creeks are open from June 1st to Oct. 31 If it is not listed in and of itself in the regs, it is closed from Nov. 1st to May 31st.

You don't want to get nailed for fishing closed waters-it can be an expensive lesson.

Just use your Reg's. All the Zipper's are listed. Check map's to see what look's good, and verify if their open. Sorry if this does'nt help much, but once you find your Shangra-la, You'll feel your lip start to zip too.

Just a thought for you Big Jim....I've spent almost all of my fishing days this winter on only one river. It just happens to be very near to my home and this year most of my free time consists of only 2-4 hours to spend on the water, so that has been the only logical place to spend my limited time. This would usually upset me as I normally make many trips to the coast and southwest rivers. However a funny thing has happened this year, I'm catching more fish than ever. This is not because of a huge return here, if anything it is just a little better than average. But rather it has allowed me to learn every inch of the river. I've fished in high water, low water and every point in between. I know where the fish will hold in all conditions, and I'm only fishing a little over a mile stretch of this river. My point is there can be some excellent fishing right in your backyard. Instead of trying to find a zipperlip, or driving to where the reports tell you it is hot, I would choose a river you can return to frequently and really take the time to learn it. If you've read any of my posts you won't have trouble figuring out where I've been fishing, and by the way I got two nice natives there this afternoon in a little more than two hours. I'll be back out in the morning, Fish on!!

I recommend the Washington Delorme Gazeteer to locate small streams near you. Many of the zipperlips are unpublished and continue to be that way because people enjoy the solitude. Worth every penny!!
Follow this link and pick your state. http://www.steelheader.net/store/delorme_atlases.htm

Tight Lines
Marty



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Marty
www.steelheader.net
marty@steelheader.net

Thanks for the input! I have several streams I have thought about trying. B Mac, I have fished the same river you do for about 10 years now. I use to know it like the back of my hand and that does help. But the past couple years I have not fished it at all! I don't even have a good excuse. I almost always catch fish there, but just have not been out much. I just need to get out there and relearn it. Won't take but a couple trips.

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Just because I look big, dumb, and ugly, doesn't mean I am. It means I can stomp you for calling me it!

Hey Big Jim try the Kitsap Penninsula and Mason County. The Union River in Belfair, the Tahuya river and the Dewatto river are all small river that can be a kick in the pants when the fish are in. You usualy want to fish these rivers on the in-coming tides. Check your maps for location and check the tide book.

Fish on!

Speaking of the Union river, do the sturgeon still come in to the mouth area? I knew some people who fished for them there.

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Just because I look big, dumb, and ugly, doesn't mean I am. It means I can stomp you for calling me it!

I hear tales of those pre-historic fishies hanging around there though I have never fished for them.