Photo courtesy of Diamond Back guide service

  Trophy Steelhead

Steelhead are one of the most prized sport fish of the Northwest.  They are born in the river and travel to the ocean as smolts (commonly mistaken for small trout). They usually stay in the ocean from 2-4 years. The longer they stay at sea the bigger they are when they return. Steelhead don't die after spawning like a salmon. They may succumb to the rigors of the journey but many return to spawn again. The largest fish grow to over thirty pounds, steelhead of this size are record class.  A twenty pound fish is a real trophy and usually measure over 40 inches in length. There are two types of steelhead that migrate to the ocean. Summer steelhead return from the sea from  April -  October. Winter steelhead return from the ocean from November -April.

Steelhead are usually caught in the river system In which they return to spawn. They can be caught in the saltwater, but it is much more common to catch them in the river.

This chart will vary some according to each different river system. Every system has different peak run times for the different species. Some may be similar but each run is a independent species of fish that needs to be preserved accordingly. Don't forget to go to the bulletin board where the other anglers will share some great tips.

Books

The Steelhead Trout
by  Trey Combs

Steelhead River Journal
by Dec Hogan

Steelhead
by Barry M. Thorton

California's Salmon and Steelhead : The Struggle to Restore an Imperiled Resource
by Alan Lufkin (Editor)

Hoh River (Steelhead River Journal, 3)
by Steve Probasco

Western Steelhead Fishing Guide

by Milt Keizer

Click on the links above for techniques