Salmon fishing has continued to slow down over the last few days. I had one group of 6 guys all limit out on the 22nd but you had to stand in one spot and then over the next three days there was very little activity even in that exact spot. Rising water levels certainly changes the dynamics of our drifts in particular areas but we weren’t even seeing any splashing around in the eddies and seams. Could it be over? Not sure but we persisted and then suddenly on the afternoon of the 25th we really got into some nice sockeye and watched as schools of fish cruised upstream not far from the banks. Mysterious creatures and persistence is definitely the name of the game when it comes to salmon fishing. They’re never in one spot until there dead so just stay at it and I think you’ll get some for a bit longer.

Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing however has been really good with eager biters on all forms of flies and tackle. We have been fly fishing fro them but the guys with spin rods look like they’re having success as well. Hanging a small brown nymph a couple feet below an indicator has been best for my groups but a close second place is my custom brown bug streamer. They grab those and run! I haven’t had the opportunity but the rising water conditions present some good chance to swing some mouse patterns of the grassy banks and around the log jams. Beads looks like they’re working and probably some small flesh flies as well but most of my attempts have been made on traditional nymphs, dry fly and streamer patterns.

This coming week should see some of the salmon crowds lightening up and you just might find yourself out there all alone and right in the middle of some great fishing! Hope to see you out there!