The high water of a few days ago has come down to manageable levels and we are back on the Klickitat River fishing for steelhead and salmon. The river flow is still a little faster and stronger than normal, but the water has cleared up and fishing conditions are improving. Weather is pretty decent, so it’s all systems go.
We’ve been getting used to the unbelievable salmon fishing during this record Chinook salmon run, but sad to say that the salmon fishing is slowing down quickly. I got lucky and landed this good looking late season Chinook, a hatchery female who put up a great battle with strong runs and plenty of jumps. Got her unhooked and back in the river to head back upstream and spawn.
This is the time of year when there are almost as many spawned out salmon drifting back downstream as salmon swimming upstream, completely spent after spawning they swim against the current until they wear out and die, their decaying carcasses lining the riverbank.
Time to break out the fly rod and start going after steelhead. Up to this point in the season, when you cast your line out, it could be Chinook or Coho salmon and if you’re lucky, a trophy steelhead. Now, with less salmon in the river, it’s time to go for the steelhead. They will be harder to catch than the salmon, but a big steelhead would really cap off a memorable fall fishing season and provide some great memories through the Pacific Northwest winter.