Fall Steelheading

Anyone here ever fish the Klickitat? I'm kicking around a trip this fall sometime. Not sure whether I want to make the treck. PMs are cool. I'll be banking it. Places to stay,access points?

No one goes there any more because it is too crowded. Last I heard anyway. I haven't fished it for about 6 years. Returns to the Klick and other Columbia River tributaries have been very poor the last two seasons and are expected to be poor again this year. Wish I had better news.

I guess my query isn't destined to turn into the 2019 PP hot topic of the year.

Do a Google search on Klickitat River. Lots of links. Watch for rattlesnakes if you’re banking it

The Deschutes is where I'd go.
Last season was an anomaly.
The run was down and we got burned to the ground in places.

The Deschutes is where I'd go.
Last season was an anomaly.
The run was down and we got burned to the ground in places.

No fishing from a floating device and artificials only.
A "Large Western River", in the lower reaches where you want to be for higher numbers of steelhead.
If you like smaller water, go the Maupin/Mack's Canyon area.
Camping galore, some by reservation some not.
Deschutes River Rec Area Campground (OR State Parks) at the mouth....hike up West bank.
East bank is mt. bike or hike.

There is an access road out of Maupin that takes you to Mack's Canyon Campground.
Several named campgrounds along this road.
BLM administered I think.

From Mack's Canyon to the mouth is a 24 mile float.
No roads so you are committed to 24 miles.
Jet boats are on alternating days.
Booking a day trip on a jetboat would be a thing.
The guides will favor either fly or hardware so choose accordingly.

PM me with the prospective guide's name and I may be able to comment.

Great suggestion! I never fished the Deschutes or Grand Ronde when I lived up here. I have much to chew on!

I can't think of another fishery in the Lower 48 that has a summer steelhead fishery like the Deschutes.
The Snake is good but they're boot-ish by the time they get up there.

What's the gear method,float and a jig or swinging spoons? Because I get bored fishing spinners.

I use homemade spinners....French blade size 4.
If you like spoons, it's a good spoon river especially when it's windy.
They are good wind cutters as you know.
4500 CFS average summer flow, but not real deep. Lots of structure.
You can do float and jig in some spots.

It's about 60% Spey and 40% hardware as far as methods go.
And probably 60% wild and 40% hatch.

You could do both. They aren't that far away from each other. Both are cool rivers with good summer run fishing.

The Klick will have kings in it, too.

I've never seen a rattlesnake on the Klickitat, but it is that kind of country. I'd be more wary of cougars myself.

I thought those were in Woodinville. I live in rattlesnake country here. Tons of them. You just gotta be smart about it. I know a guy who pokes around snake dens and takes pictures. To me,that's not smart. Yeah I am thinking of trying both. I can read water with the best of them so I will have no problem finding fish.

By late Sept we are getting into Chinook on the D.
I've had some big wars with Chinook.
Some of those Chinook fights on steelhead gear you never forget.

I've tried to love the Klick, but I can't with the D so close.
The Klick is a river to fish. The D is a summer Rite of Passage.
The snakes are a good douchebag repellent.

Well,this douchebag ain't skeered a no snakes!

Me either.

If that's the case, I'm going to have to reenact the snake pit scene from Indiana Jones over on the Dark Side.