major steelhead run coming

nickbille
it is currently poring down rain right now. It has been raining like this for a few hours straight now. the creeks will be semi-high the steelhead are most likely going to start a major run. meaning a lot of fish are going to be in the mouth of most creeks. good luck! stay safe, fish on!

what makes you think that, Nick?
do you think rain triggers "major" runs like most others do?
 
been my observations over the years, rain/hi-water triggers movement up stream, but  not so much  waves of fish from the lake
(this assuming there's enough water at the mouths for them to enter before a heavy rain)
 
I know that's contrary to what most think, but fish filter in more or less every night from now til mid/late October
Rain or shine, by Nov 1 the majority of runs  are in the creeks
 
 
..L.T.A.

The other issue to consider is the lake temperature, around 68 is often considered the magic number for number of fish to stage near the trib mouths. Since the lake temp is above 70 at one of the latest dates ever, the run is behind schedule this year. The cool temperatures this week, combined with the rain to open the mouths up, should help push some more fish in. 

According to the sensor, walnut went from 74 degrees down to 60 in the last week. 

I put the boat in yesterday and just had to laugh at the few fisherman harassing the 5 fish that were stuck at the stop sign hole.

At Trout Run today. Saw a few waterspouts trying to form.
Oh, and one steelhead.
 

From what I saw on Sunday.... No.

This time of year, it's rather simple, however this year is unique, since the lake temperatures are still very high for this time of year, so things are behind schedule. Generally,  will there be some fish around? Yes? Will anybody who knows what they're doing with a jig, wooly bugger, single egg, etc, be able to catch some (anybody who watched my video from the weekend can see that I had one bolt from the pack to hit my woolybugger) Yes. Will there likely be some crowds, especially at the more well known spots? Yes. Will there be October numbers? Absolutely not. 

Personally, Ive gone up the the last few years the last full weekend of September irrespective of what reports say, take both the fly rod for fish in the streams, and a spinning rod with spoons just in case. A few years back, I was debating about a trip, and despite reading reports about "nothing happening, don't waste your money," but went anyway to verify things for myself, found a few streams loaded, and had one of my better steelhead fishing days of all time.

I don't know about bringing a major run in with this rain, but it will at least bring some more fish in. Now, the rain later in the week is something to keep an eye on, may make the trip this weekend if things are up but not blown out. 

With all that said, for any newbies, I suggest keeping a log of your days on the water, or at least some notes with date, conditions, fish caught, what you used, etc., so that you can revisit these when deciding if a trip is "worth it,"  and match your desired conditions to your better days. 

No minnows for this guy for several years. I use my share of soft plastic minnow imitations though.

Lake temperatures just finally dropped in where we needed them. As expected Sunday afternoon was good fishing with the water temp drop. Expect things to pick up quickly now.

Start em young you got a future bug slinger on your hands keep it up!

Love it, Rsquare 
Absolutely LOVE it!!!
 
LTA

Yea I always try as hard as I can to fit the kids in I've even given up my spot, ive even gone as far as requesting the pfbc to create an access area for children, seniors and disabled veterans even if it's just a 30 foot spot on the wall at walnut that would make a huge difference hopefully they address it. I'm a little hesistant sometimes because I let a young kid in my spot one time and his dad or whatever took it off him and gave him some bull**it to do, the kid wasn't even able to fish because his supervision wasn't even paying attention to him Glad to see your puttin in work with him especially the way the world is today with video games, drugs and all the other crazy **** kids are faced with

rsquared,
cool stuff.
Brings back memories with my 5 year old daughter out-fishing the fly guys on the local creek...... 20 years ago.

rsquared,
If your kids weren't there, I would have said you should have slew footed the doosh.....
Congrats to your boy!
Keep making memories..

rsquared

eyesandgillz
rsquared,
If your kids weren't there, I would have said you should have slew footed the doosh.....
Congrats to your boy!
Keep making memories..

he was younger and bigger than me.  i'd probably have taken a bad whoopin.  

 
sling shot (one of the hi-power wrist sling type) and acorns
from stealthy cover
 
he'd never know who
 
 
Old age and cunning smarts/tacticz  can be a game changer 
 
..L.T.A.