Lower Columbia Steelhead

Every time a season comes and goes in the Northwest, little nuances show themselves signifying the ending of one season and beginning of the next. The autumn colors as the leaves begin to change, usher in the fall. Driving rain and winds mixed with plummeting temperatures start the winter, while longer days and glimpses of sunshine signal that spring is on its way. And to many of us fishermen here in the Northwest, immaculate chrome-sided, blue-backed steelhead surging through the Lower Columbia River say loud and clear, summer is here! There’s not a single fishery I loved more growing up on the Columbia River more than summer steelhead in June, July and August. You can have all the spring and fall Chinook you want, summers are where it’s always been at for me. They’re aggressive, acrobatic and most importantly, plentiful. It’s one rod-tip-ripping takedown after another when you get in their lane! From now though August, summers will be flying up the Columbia like cars on the highway. Steelhead will be racing around inside corners, running along ledges and congregating near cold-water tributaries like rest stops along their way. Fishermen anchored in 5 to 20-feet of water armed with cured coon shrimp paired with Spin-N-Glos, small orange and pink Mag Lips and Flat Fish, or small spinners should have no problem catching these fish’s attention as wave after wave of summer steelhead migrate towards their homes. The weather is beautiful, the fights are brilliant and the fishing is easy. There’s not many way’s I’d rather spend a summer day than barbecuing on the boats, soaking up the sun and fighting one red hot summer steelhead after another!