To give you an idea how much of a rookie I am, my first thought upon logging onto this forum was "wtf is Dumbledor and the Jolly Green Giant holding onto there? Is that a sturgeon? Geez I hope it's dead".

Anyway, I took up steelheadin' about two weeks ago and have been up to the Lewis bridge and Rieter on the Sky the last two Sundays and I'm thinking dang this river looks big even now with the water supposedly running low and how am I gonna read the water like Mr. Herzog's son tells me I'm supposed to when it starts to rain?

So I'm wondering, do the tributaries to the classic NW steelhead rivers typically have steelhead in them? I'm not asking which tribs or when the fish are there, just if the tribs typically have fish. I'm thinking maybe I oughta start off on something a little smaller.

Dude, don't worry too much about the tribs yet. Wait for rain, and then go to a major spot, either, Blue creek, Reiter or Tokul, and watch the guys there. Then, work down river and look for the crowds, and see what they are fishing. Look for the guys with fish on the bank, and watch where they are casting. Like, exactly where they are casting. To the foot. Look at what they are using. Get that stuff.

The crowds are where they are for a reason - there are fish there.

I agree with Silver Hilton. Go where the crowds are a nd PAY ATTENTION!! Especially to the guys who are catching fish.

Also consider booking a trip with a guide who will teach you. Some will some wont. John Koenig is a good choice.

The answer to your questions is yes. Many of the tribs, such as Tokul Creek, The Tolt River, Pilchick, Sultan River, and many more hold steelhead. But the big numbers are in the big rivers they must pass through.

OK, thanks guys. If you see someone at Rieter with a paper and pencil but no pole, that will be me.

C,

That would be a thoughtful strategy. I have often learned more when I was having a smoke on the bank, than when I was casting. I watch a lot, and learn a lot while doing it. After about 20 years, it pays off. But that's only because I'm a slow learner.

You talk about trying to read water. I see that you're a geologist. Think about steelhead as lava that run upstream. Like lava, sometimes they run quickly, sometimes they collect. There is always a reason they are in the path that they take. Think about funnels.

Think about rapids as gravity, but in reverse. Thinkabout how lava will puddle out after a fall. That's how fish act when they come through a bit of fast water. First they are concentrated, then they spread out. When fish move up through rapid water, the first thing they do when they clear the rapid is pause. Somewhere. Where? They get oxygen from moving water, so they like that. Where is it? Where is the first deeper spot, with moving water, after the rapid? Where is the first moving spot after a long spot of slack water?

When moving upstream, they tend to be within 20 feet of the bank. When holding, they tend to be over large (6 to 10 inch) cobble that disrupts current flow and gives them a disrupted flow to hang in. They don't feed much, so food presentation lanes don't matter. They want enough water overhead so that they feel safe, but 3 feet of water is usualy more than enough to do that. Obstructions such as rocks may or may not be necessary.

If you feel like a flu might come on during the week in the next month, PM me, and we might be able to work out a water reading lesson. I'll have to blindfold you and swear you to secrecy first, but you don't need that firstborn son anyway. You have to be ready to lift anchors and such.