Early Steelhead talk

NO secret here, late August, early September a few will show up at the mouths or lower sections of the stream. Usually early in the a.m. then once the sun warms the water they head back out.
Shore fishing can produce a few (throwing spoons, floating egdg sacks with a bobber, powerbait on the bottom). But no decent numbers of fish until October from what I've learned over the years.

The first steelhead will be caught August 22nd off the Walnut wall by somebody using a Zebco 33, and wearing camo neoprene waders while it is 90 degrees out. A photo will be posted on here of the fish on a yellow rope, an' the first spot burning rants of the season will appear shortly thereafter, followed by the people saying how keeping that one fish is ruining the fishery, followed by the people saying "it aint what it used to be," followed by the people saying that yer not a real steelbow fisherman unless you don't fish 'till the windchills are below zero, an yer fingers are freezin off 

In all seriousness, usually sometime in September, it kinda depends on water temperature, weather, rainfall, the steelheads instincts, etc, I been goin up the last weekend or two in september the past few years, and last year I had one of my best trips of the season the last weekend of September with streamers.

chet1185
So, for someone driving over four hours, when would be best?

Depends how much time and money you have to burn.  If it was that big of an investment of time and money for me, knowing what I know, I'd wait till mid-late October.  
 
If you've got time and money to burn, you'll have a good shot at catching 'em starting in early-mid September close to or in the lake in deeper water.  

October 3rd is first day of full archery season. Probably be less dingdongs there that weekend!!

All this dirty talks getting me excited to blow gas money to catch some oversized stockies! Another 412 fisher that will be up north all that week tryin my luck lol.

I'm heading up tomorrow. I hear the streams are loaded right now.

chet1185
So, for someone driving over four hours, when would be best?

2nd week of October

I don't get discouraged. I can pick out the truth. I'm all for having fun.

johnthefisherman
The first steelhead will be caught August 22nd off the Walnut wall by somebody using a Zebco 33, and wearing camo neoprene waders while it is 90 degrees out. A photo will be posted on here of the fish on a yellow rope, an' the first spot burning rants of the season will appear shortly thereafter, followed by the people saying how keeping that one fish is ruining the fishery, followed by the people saying "it aint what it used to be," followed by the people saying that yer not a real steelbow fisherman unless you don't fish 'till the windchills are below zero, an yer fingers are freezin off 

 
It's truly amazing how accurate this is!

I know people say it's difficult to fish raccoon, but is there anywhere that's open enough to fish it?

Case in point:
http://forums.fishusa.com...-steelies-of-the-year/

If you want to catch steel, Racoon is NOT the place to go. The creek is sandbarred at the lake most of the year. It is 3 feet wide six inches deep and choked with brush. Picture a drainage ditch running underneath an overgrown raspberry patch. Easier places to go. Especially if you are driving up a ways.