Fishing is good on the Wenatchee River now, and also the Columbia is fishing really good using shrimp in Pautzkes cure and marinated in Nectar. On the Wenatchee, we are using our tried-and-true cold water jigs that have a little slower action and cold water steelhead can’t resist them as we got nine the other day in a half-day fishing.

Fishing is good — a little chilly, but book a trip and catch some fish! We are offering cold weather specials this time of year also. See you on the water!

Brad Wagner

fishwenatchee.com
(509) 670-3095
brad@fishwenatchee.com

The Gods have awoken, unleashing a massive amount of water into our Washington State river systems. For all intensive purposes, our winter-run steelhead season will be put on hold for a few days, at least on ALL the main stem rivers anyways. But, not every river system is shut down due to high water: Tokul Creek, the Salmon River, Cook Creek, Rieter Ponds, Barrier Dam, Stevens Creek, and Cascade River to name a few, are spots that excel in high water situations.

Before this rain storm the fishing has been great and the catching has been above par to say the least. We have already limited the boat on multiple outings this winter-run steelhead season. I have been fishing on the Cowlitz, Snohomish and Chehalis river systems so far this season. Side-drifting good bait has been my key to success lately. Just keep on moving and searching for a pod of steelhead, and then stick on them and pound that section of river.

Let’s get you out on the water before you miss out on your 2010 chance at chrome-bright, ocean-run winter steelhead — quit wishing and lets go fishing!!!! See you on the water.

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

Here are a few pics from the past two weeks guided adventures:

I have been over on the Eastside hammering away on the summer-run steelhead and sneaking back home to see the family and guide the local coho. The fishing went really strong over on the Eastside for steelhead. We have been side-drifting bait to catch these feisty fish and now that the water temp. is cooling plugs, along with divers and bait, also work well. The local coho have migrated up into the tributaries and are definetly on the tail of the run. As of a few weeks ago, there were some new fish coming in, but the chrome fish were fewer and further apart. Try fishing eggs under a float in the smaller tributaries and you will catch coho and you just might catch your first winter-run steelhead of the season, as well!

Speaking of winter-run steelhead, my winter western Washington guide season is up and flying, with fishing on the Cowlitz, Skykomish, and Snoqualmie rivers for the month of December. If you’re looking to catch hatchery steelhead for the BBQ or smoker, December is prime time! Call me ASAP to get your date of choice for December before it’s too late. Last year we hooked into limits on almost every trip in December.

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

Here are some glory shots from the past few weeks. Again, this Eastside fishery is still good fishing and you can have the catch of a lifetime on any given day over there. It is a four hour drive from Issaquah, WA to Lewiston/Clarkston and another half an hour to the boat launch. Let me know what you want to catch and I will do the rest! See you on the water.

From the Snohomish River System to the Cowlitz River to the Snake River, if you want to follow Bonner and I you better call ahead of time first. We have been putting some time in on the road, but it is paying off. We have been playing the weather game here on the west side of the mountains; however, the Snake River just keeps putting out fish after fish and come next year we will have something pretty special set up there for you starting the last week of September and running through mid-November 2011 — it’s not too early to inquire…. In the meantime, we are targeting late silvers as well as catch-and-release chum for the next month or so ’till the winter-run steelhead show up in strong numbers. Now through January can be some of the best fishing on the westside, so give me a call and we will get you on fish…..

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

Fish On Guide Service (Bonner)
(425) 281-8772

To the fishing report: walleye fishing is very good right NOW and should remain that way through the month of May. The largemouth and smallmouth bass, weather permitting, have also been biting very well. A typical day in May with me consists of limiting on walleye for the grill, and then finishing off the day catching trophy-size bass. I am in Eastern Washington for these fisheries on the Potholes Reservoir and Moses Lake. If you would like a nice change of pace and a relaxing day on the water, catching fish…this May warm water fishery is for YOU

On the river side of things, June 1st is right around the corner and I will be spending my time chasing summer-run king salmon and steelhead on the Skykomish and Cowlitz Rivers. The catch-and-keep king salmon season runs from June 1-July 31 — and I am running out of open dates on my calendar. If you would like a chance at these chrome beauties call me before it’s too late.

Here are the pics from this last week’s guided adventures:

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bonnerfishon.com
View Bonner’s blog here.

425-281-8772

PS Check out Mario at Doug’s Sports in Woodinville they have a wide selection of fishing and hunting supplies.

Mother Nature sure has made the river fisherman’s life tough of late with fluctuating water levels. In for half a day and out for another. Chums are definitely here…. Also, all this cold weather and higher water bring signs of winter steelhead back into our local Puget Sound Rivers. We even landed a few winter runs this week on the Snohomish system. I sure hope these first fish are a sign of good things to come! Whomever does the fish return predictions has this winter run predicated to be very good! I am almost fully booked up for the month of December — get a date before it’s too late.

OH…and I got tired of the weather around here messing up the river clarity, so a few of us packed up and headed east for a shot at the record return of steelhead over lower granite dam. To say the least, the fishing was off the HOOK! We managed to hook a fish every thirty minutes and it was my first time over there in my own boat. Not too bad.

Enjoy the pics from last week

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels
bonnerfishon.com
425-281-8772

Ps !!!!Save the Snoqualmie River Summer Run Steelhead. Write your congressman!!!!