Well, it has been a while since my last blog and report — sorry about that, but we have just been fishing everyday as the weather, the fish, and river conditions have created the perfect storm of steelhead catching! We can’t miss a day as you never know when it will change. You can always “like” our Facebook page for more information also.

Right now, the weather is chilly in the mornings, but warming up and sunny in the afternoons and the fishing and river pressure are great as well! We have been spending most of our days floating the Wenatchee River in our raft with an occasional day or two on the Methow River also, as both are fishing very well as we are averaging four to eight fish a day.

We are using mostly jigs right now in blacks and pinks and some oranges under a bobber (or float for some of you guys) to get some bright nice fish that are hanging out for the catching. We have many days open if you are interested in catching some of these prized fish and also we have gift certificates available on our website for all of your Christmas shopping needs! Lets go fish!

Brad Wagner
Bobber Down Guide Service
509 670 3095
email Brad

Originally published on Brad’s Fish Wenatchee blog — check it out for his latest updates.

I’m Baaaaaaaacck…! I just arrived back home on 11/1/11 from my month-long guiding adventure at Heller Bar, WA on the Snake River. I was able to guide 27 of those 30 days with some great people on my boat. The scenery was epic and the weather, except for three rainy days, was fabulous. Summer-run steelhead were the fish of choice, but we caught many Chinook adults and jacks, plus catfish, squaw fish, white fish, sturgeon, bass, and suckers — all side-drifting good eggs. The Snake is a very healthy river system to say the least.

If you missed this fishery in 2011, not to worry: I am already working on my 2012 season on the Snake River at Heller Bar, WA. I will start around 9/15/2012 and finish up around 10/10/2012. I would recommend two days on the water, if at all possible. This year was wall tent central and I’m looking to rent a house next year. If nothing is available, I will run my trips through the Red Lion in Lewiston, ID which is 45 minutes from the boat launch and is surrounded by restaurants and stores for your convenience. Otherwise, you’re more than welcome to camp out at Heller Bar right at the mouth of the Grande Ronde River with me. Fish, big horn sheep, turkeys, chukar, deer, fires, glo corkies and spinners from the bank, drinks, and that day’s fish stories are all a part of the Heller Bar experience.

I was looking over my fish log for the month of October and my boat landed over 250 steelhead, not including king salmon and jacks! You can expect double-digit fish days on this river. We did have a couple of slower days where we caught 5-8 steelhead and kings. But, again, only a couple of slow days. The water was at a 20-year high for that time of year, which definitely changed the fish holding locations a bit … it took me a day to re-figure it out. But after that day it was on. Our best days were 25-30 hook-ups on salmon and steelhead — NO joke! Below are some of the fish that we caught. FYI those un-clipped fish (you will see in the pictures below) are legal to pull out of the Water with an Idaho fishing license. Get a hold of me with any questions regarding my favorite Jet Sled steelhead fishery, hands down!

I am now booking winter-run steelhead trips on the Cowlitz, Skykomish and Snoqualmie Rivers starting 11/29/11 through 12/30/11. Get your date before you’re too late! Fish ON! and see you on the water.

Bonner’s FishON! Guide Service
Website bonnerfishon.com
Cell 425-281-8772
Email bonnerdaniels@live.com

Also, don’t forget to check out Steelhead University’s fishing report as I put up a fresh weekly report there, you can go directly there through the links section on my website’s home page. Mention Salmon/Steelhead University and take 10% off of your next fully guided trip from now through December!

Well, with the first frost of the year here, and some high water in our river systems, don’t be afraid to move around to find some chrome coho in our local rivers. We have been on the Snohomish River System and will continue to be there as we are having one of the better seasons in a long time with limits of coho the norm. Chum are also definitely showing up in our catches (must be released) as well….

Last year we got our first winter-run steelhead Nov 15 so it’s a very fun time of year to be out on the river. If you want to get out in a heated boat, give a call. Prime dates still available.

Todd
Tall Tails Guide Service
(206) 437-8766
email

Originally published on Steelhead University’s weekly fishing reports.

FishON and see you on the water.

Bonner’s FishON! Guide Service
Website bonnerfishon.com
Cell 425-281-8772
Email bonnerdaniels@live.com

Here are a few pics from the last few days:

Originally published at Steelhead University.

Also, there are still plenty of pinks around to get your rod bent and if you pick through your catch, there are still bright pinks coming in on the tides.

Then I’m off to the Snake River to chase around feisty summer-run steelhead and up-river bright chinook salmon! I still have one open date left (10/26/11). I’ve been in touch with my local buddies and fishing has been pretty good, so far. Give me a call if you want in on this slayfest of a salmon/steelhead fishery!

There should be close to 150,000 steelies over lower Granite Dam by mid-October . . . not including the 50,000-plus chinook salmon! See you on the water and FISH ON!

Bonner’s FishON! Guide Service
Website bonnerfishon.com
Cell 425-281-8772
Email bonnerdaniels@live.com

Here are a few pics from the past week’s guided adventures:

Originally published on Steelhead University (Sept. 27, 2011).

Originally published at Steelhead University.

I have been targeting sockeye and Chinook salmon, bass and walleye the past week and will continue to do so through mid-August. The Brewster Pool and Well’s Dam fisheries are in prime form right now! Expect to fill your cooler with bright, red sockeye meat. The limit on this Columbia River fishery is six adult salmon per person. We are trolling on down-riggers, enjoying cold beverages, and catching fish in exceptionally nice Eastern WA weather. Bring your sunscreen and I will put you on the fish.

Also, if anyone wants to get their top-water big bass fix, now is the time. We have been doing VERY well on these massive bass. The BIG Walleye are on the feed, as well over on Moses Lake and the Potholes Reservoir. If you would like to get in on the action get a hold of me before August 17th.

I then shift gears back over to the Snohomish River system for pink’s and coho and Lake Sammamish for king salmon through late September. These are “local” fisheries only 30 minutes, or less, from downtown Seattle. FISH-ON GUARANTEED for any of the Snohomish River, or Lake Sammamish fisheries … and if you like, we can even fish the lake and river on the same day (they are only 45 minutes apart)!

Remember, the pink salmon run is only every other year and I have only a few prime dates left open … that is if you and your friends and family would like to come and enjoy the most productive fishery the Puget Sound has to offer — hands down!!!!

Oh, and thanks again to every single one of you whom came out to experience the fantastic fishing we had on the Skykomish River from the opener through this last week. What a great season it was for king salmon and steelhead! Hope to see you all out there again next year come June 1st!

Sincerely,
Bonner Daniels
bonnerfishon.com
425-281-8772

Here a just a few of the pics from this last month’s Guided Adventure’s:

After the 31st of July, comes the August 16th opener for the pink salmon run on the Snohomish River System (odd years only). This system should see more than 500,000 of these pink salmon!!!! If you’re interested in catching limits of salmon GUARANTEED, get a hold of me sooner rather than later, as I only have a few select dates still open. This fishery is great for the family, friends, kids and less experienced fishermen and women … along with those of us die-hard fishermen who simply want to catch salmon, after salmon, after salmon.

The walleye action continues on a strong note over on the Potholes and Moses Lake. Trolling worm harnesses and crank baits are the top producers. Crab Creek, Lind Coulee, and the mouth of the Frenchmen’s have all been super productive on the reservoir. Fish early and late if you are targeting trophy fish. The large and small-mouth bass are in full swing. This year has given up some of the biggest bass we have seen in years on the Potholes. The bass we target will average right around 3 lbs … with the bruiser’s pushing near 10 lbs! My favorite fishery on the Potholes is chasing these lunker large-mouth bass — hands down. If anyone wants to see a little slice of summertime, Washington State heaven get a hold of me for a Sand Dunes large-mouth bass adventure. Top water fishing at dawn and dusk … soft plastics and spinnerbaits in between and you’re in for some serious BIG bass action from now through September.

See you on the water!

Sincerely,
Bonner Daniels
bonnerfishon.com
425-281-8772

Here are a few pics from our guided adventures since I last reported:

Vern Eide Steelhead Derby short from Hawg Quest on Vimeo.

Last year, Fetha Styx had a great time at the Vern Eide Steelhead Derby — it really is a great event! Hawg Quest gives us a peek into the story behind the event and what it means to the Lewiston, Idaho community.

For more information on this year’s derby in November, click here.

Winkin’ Blinkin’ & Todd from Hawg Quest on Vimeo.

Fun day on the water as Glenn Hall of Hawg Quest joins the Graham family for some true coho slaying in their Alaskan backyard. You have no idea . . . they have some seriously good spots, especially the last one featured in this episode. Glenn’s fishing the Fetha Styx True Hero series in this video.

On to the fishing report:
Fishing has been fantastic for my boat. Big bass and big numbers of bass have been the norm. I prefer to fish plastics and crank baits this time of year. Crawdad imitations are always a top producer. When the bite gets slow try searching the same water, or new waters, with your favorite crank baits. The Potholes has some real big smallmouth and they are not line shy, so beef up your tackle if you want to land those large reservoir bass. The water levels are super high at press time, so I have not been focusing on largemouth bass, but they are my favorite warm water species of fish and the fishing for these bad boyz will get good any day now. Especially when we start to get consistant 80-degree weather days…. It took 51lbs to win the Potholes Open this year and the guys only weighed 11 of their 12 fish limit — that is a new lake record!!! Largemouth took home the 1st place check again this year, that’s why they’re my favorite fish. Big money, big fish, tough fighters, spectacular scenery, all great attributes.

When the wind picks up, so do I and then we head walleye fishing. The winds over east have been putting a nice “walleye chop” on the water almost everyday. I prefer to fish walleye in the wind. Trolling worm harnesses has been the golden ticket on my boat. Use bottom walkers, beads, corkies, and blades and you’re good to go. Walleye are some of the tastiest fish in fresh water, so bring your fish cooler.

For you rainbow trout enthusiast’s out there, we have been smoking the trout! Expect limits every time, if you would like to do some trout fishing. I typically troll for these fish. I also fly fish a few “special” lakes at the Potholes for trophy trout, as well. If you’re interested let me know. Drift boat fly fishing over on the eastside is very relaxing and productive all at the same time.

NOW BOOKING: Summer Run Steelhead and King Salmon trips on the Skykomish River. Opening day is June 1st and king salmon closes August 31st. Book earlier in the season for prime-time steelhead and a little later for prime king salmon fishing. Then on August 16th the opening of “The Catching Season”! The pink salmon run is this year and not again until 2013. This is hands down the greatest catching season of the year on our west-side rivers. My dates are August 16th-September 11th. Expect to bring home the boat’s limit of chrome-bright, pink salmon and to release many, many, many more!!! Give me a call and get a date . . . before again . . . you’re too late.

I will let the below pics speak for themselves on how great the fishing has been over on the Potholes Reservoir. Here are a few pics from the last month of fish catching:

See you on the water!

Sincerely,
Bonner Daniels
bonnerfishon.com
425-281-8772