Steelhead fishing is challenging at best. Not as many fish especially natives that are way more aggressive than hatchery fish. That said flyfishing for steelhead is very effective. The challenge is your ability to cast and control the line. Spey and switch rods maybe more efficient, for they allow you to cast further in tighter situation. Practice casting is key. A few years ago I had the opportunity to experiment with fish in the Salmon River. I got to cast to several fish and watch their reaction to different presentation . Found that day it wasn't the big gody swing flys but the tiny beads that pert interest

Boat be nice,but then I have to learn to row and back up. About a mile of beach below the hatchery. Everyone congregates up by the hatchery or down at the deep hole. I think they call it the Cliff hole. I like it in between. When the guides are drifting through pay attention to where they hook fish. Most the time those spots are holding areas. Lots of hang ups until you find the sweet spots. Some of them aren't very big. As little as a three ft sq.. weight is curial, to light drift over the top, to heavy spook the fish.leader is curial can't be to long or to short. It's a little experimenting

I must be lucky, notice people collect in certain areas. I agree those areas are slots where the fish like to hold. There are other slots where people don't seem to go that have fewer fish but do have fish. Watch the boaters they seem to know some of these other holding water. Most the time I run into very little foot traffic. On occasion people will see me hook a fish and start wondering my way. Rare for me have to combat fish on the humtulip. Not like the Nisqually or Pulalyup

If I'm getting this right just below the hatchery early gives a better chance of hooking a bright fish and lower on the river in the pocket holes The fish are running up to getting ready for that last push to the hatchery. The hours in between the Chum rule the river. That's what I've noticed

Think it depends on where you are on the river. Lots of Chum where I was a few dark silvers and caught one Old boot Chinook. But up by the hatchery there was a few good silvers and one steelhead caught. Later in the day I was catching more silvers lost a couple bright ones down where I like to fish

Haven't seen any Steel head. Lots of Chum, some silvers.

If you are a beer drinker bring.sturgon are awesome to catch and eat. Pay close attention to the rules and he willing to get your ass kicked

Any reports from mouth of willapa at Tokland

How's the fishing in Olympia areas. Are the Salmon schooling yet