Bonner Daniels with a Cowlitz River chromer.

It’s already March and I can’t believe how the time has flown by . . . I guess that’s what happens when you’re having fun catching so many steelhead The steelhead fishing was great in February and is continuing on a strong note right into March. I have been guiding on the Wynoochee and Cowlitz rivers of late, with good success. The Wynoochie natives are making a stronger showing every day now and there are still chrome bright, hatchery steelhead to be had, as well! The Chehalis system just rose a bunch and that system will be on FIRE starting today and should remain strong until it closes at the end of this month. If you want a nice, peaceful drift boat trip down the Wynoochie, the time is now, as the water levels are perfect and the fish are in the river system!

On the Wynoochee.

I have also been down on the Cowlitz catching quite a few fish for being so early in the late winter-run hatchery season. This river will be on fire any day now, so get yourself a date before it’s too late! Last year we averaged hooking into limits of steelhead on every trip from mid-March through mid-April . . . along with some springers as very nice bonus catches. I typically side-drift eggs this time of year so we can catch steelhead and springers side by side. Give me a call and let’s get you out on the water and off the couch from watching Hawg Quest and let’s make you your own Hawg Quest episode, with you as the guy catching all the fish on TV!

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

Here are a few pics from the last couple of weeks guided adventures:

Here we go… the past month of January had me fishing on the Wynoochie river, as the Skykomish, Snoqualmie and Cowlitz were all blown out. We have had some stellar days on the Wynoochie so far this season, with our smallest hatchery fish weighing in at 12 lbs and the largest native — SO FAR — at 21 lbs!! We have been and continue to hook into multiple fish per day. I jet sled and drift boat fish this little gem of a river. The fishing will remain strong here through March. I typically cover 15 river miles a day on this pristine fishery and the scenery is simply fabulous.

I am also starting to switch gears again. I will be back on the Cowlitz and starting to fish on the Satsop, as well as the Wynoochie. From now through March on these rivers (mother nature depending, of course) we are in line for some spectacular winter-run steelhead fishing in our Washington state coastal rivers!! Big natives and loads of late-run hatchery fish are what we will be in for. Give me a call, or shoot me an email and lets get you a date to go catch some huge natives and/or hatchery steelhead for the barbeque.

Here are a few pics from the last couple of weeks:

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

A river fisherman is never happy: rivers are too high…too low…etc, etc. Right now every river in Washington is, at the least, fish-able. Some are low and some are in perfect condition. Which means it’s time to get out there and take advantage of the low water and your opportunity to fish.

Now that February is upon us, expect the start of BIG native steelhead to enter into our river systems. Up size your baits a bit, stronger line and leader, fish cover, and deeper/heavier currents for these brutes. They have a little bit of a different ticker in comparison to their hatchery brat cousins.

I have been out fishing quite a bit of late and the steelhead just keep on coming. This week we averaged three hook-ups a trip. Surprisingly, all of the fish were bright, late hatchery fish, except one really nice native. February and March are historically the prime-time native steelhead months. Now is the time to get a hold of me for your best chance at a fish of a life time…and the last time I checked the calendar, it read February!

Pictures are from this week’s guided trips:

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bdfishon.com

Ps. Check out Jerome Jefferson at “By the River” Fish and Tackle in Fall City, WA