Pacific Northwest Steelhead: Anyone on here into chasing Steelhead in the PNW? I live in eastern Oregon but travel in about a 400 miles range during the season to chase these awesome...

Johnston89 Loc: Eastern Oregon

Anyone on here into chasing Steelhead in the PNW? I live in eastern Oregon but travel in about a 400 miles range during the season to chase these awesome creatures and am always looking for more angling buddies who are passionate about fishing!
I have a pretty good collection of gear, an extra rod/reel setup and over 10years of experience I am willing to share

I'll attach a picture of my PB Steelhead to show I am serious, caught at Heller Bar on the Snake River October 2019, side drifting corkies

Thanks for reading, hit me up let's chase some chrome!

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

Johnston89 wrote:

Anyone on here into chasing Steelhead in the PNW? ... (show quote)

Wish I were closer, I'd letcha show me how it's done.

Johnston89 Loc: Eastern Oregon

Spiritof27 wrote:

Wish I were closer, I'd letcha show me how it's done.

I am definitely no expert, but I have put some serious time on the water. October through April, I leave Friday after work, throw an air mattress in back on my Yukon XL and sleep on the river for 2 nights almost every weekend.
I am blessed to have a wife so supportive of my passion!

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

Johnston89 wrote:

Anyone on here into chasing Steelhead in the PNW? ... (show quote)

Looks awesome. I catch quite a few on the Columbia as a by catch and release them all. We have two good runs up here on both salmon rivers but those B run fish ain’t quite that pretty when they get up this far. Huge though. They catch some big ones up the big salmon river in the fall. My PB was a big wild one too. Male,18 pounds, and had to throw it back🤨 I don’t chase them any more. Good luck.

Johnston89 Loc: Eastern Oregon

Catfish hunter wrote:

Looks awesome. I catch quite a few on the Columbia as a by catch and release them all. We have two good runs up here on both salmon rivers but those B run fish ain’t quite that pretty when they get up this far. Huge though. They catch some big ones up the big salmon river in the fall. My PB was a big wild one too. Male,18 pounds, and had to throw it back🤨 I don’t chase them any more. Good luck.

I've caught Salmon in the Columbia, Kings, Coho and Sockeye but not Steelhead there yet

I've caught steelhead in the Snake River in Oregon and Washington/Idaho, and the Grande Ronde, Wallowa, Minam and Wenaha rivers in Oregon

Hoping to expand that to new rivers in the next few years

Johnston89 Loc: Eastern Oregon

Catfish hunter wrote:

Looks awesome. I catch quite a few on the Columbia as a by catch and release them all. We have two good runs up here on both salmon rivers but those B run fish ain’t quite that pretty when they get up this far. Huge though. They catch some big ones up the big salmon river in the fall. My PB was a big wild one too. Male,18 pounds, and had to throw it back🤨 I don’t chase them any more. Good luck.

18 pounds is an absolute brute no matter where you're fishing, that had to be an epic battle man, too bad you didn't get to eat it!

johnlmac Loc: Salem OR

I live in Salem and usually fish the North Fork Nehalem and the Klaskinine in the winter. I would also like to find more fishing buddies to fish with and different places to fish.

John

hacksaw Loc: Pasadena, Texas

Johnston89 wrote:

Anyone on here into chasing Steelhead in the PNW? ... (show quote)

Wish I lived closer... Are the fires affecting where you fish? Just wondering.
Hack 🇺🇸🍺🍺

Fishonoff Loc: Sacramento, CA

Johnston89 wrote:

Anyone on here into chasing Steelhead in the PNW? ... (show quote)

Looking for some trout to spin fish for on the Snake. Staying in Twin Falls. Any suggestions?

Johnston89 Loc: Eastern Oregon

Fishonoff wrote:

Looking for some trout to spin fish for on the Snake. Staying in Twin Falls. Any suggestions?

Twin Falls Idaho?

Look up CJ Strike reservoir and see if its within striking (pun intended) distance, I love it there and we've landed some really large rainbows up there. 20 inches plus is regular and as a bonus they're some of the strongest fighting 'bows I've ever had the joy to hook into

If that's too far away let me know, I'll do my best to send ya somewhere you can catch some for sure!
Are you fishing boat or bank?

Johnston89 Loc: Eastern Oregon

Fishonoff wrote:

Looking for some trout to spin fish for on the Snake. Staying in Twin Falls. Any suggestions?

I've heard of a Twin Falls in Washington but am clueless as to where that is, to be clear why I am asking if you're in Idaho

Johnston89 Loc: Eastern Oregon

hacksaw wrote:

Wish I lived closer... Are the fires affecting where you fish? Just wondering.
Hack 🇺🇸🍺🍺

It's been smokey, and a lot of national forest land is closed

But I have been fishing all the same places as usual and new ones without a problem!

Johnston89 Loc: Eastern Oregon

johnlmac wrote:

I live in Salem and usually fish the North Fork Nehalem and the Klaskinine in the winter. I would also like to find more fishing buddies to fish with and different places to fish.

John

We outta find a spot somewhere between us to explore, or I'd definitely be willing to make a trip down there!

The Salmon trip I just did was around 350 miles one way for me, about 6 hours drive
You aren't much farther, google says 381 miles

Do you know the average steelhead size down there? Just curious

Some rivers I fish average 5-12lbs and some or more like 10-18lbs average

michael4now Loc: wilder id

Johnston89 wrote:

Anyone on here into chasing Steelhead in the PNW? ... (show quote)

that is very nice

Johnston89 Loc: Eastern Oregon

michael4now wrote:

that is very nice

Thanks man!!