Grande Ronde Steelhead Update - September 2017

Early Season

Well, it's official, a member of the Silver Bow Team has landed a steelhead on the Grande Ronde. Silver Bow Spokane River guide Kenyon Pitts was down on the Ronde Monday with Bo Brand and swung up a beautiful wild steelhead and even had a brief encounter with another before loosing it to a thrown hook. The fly of choice was the classic purple peril, always an easy one to pick out of the box and fish confidently.

This is now about the 3rd report we have had of confirmed steelhead in the Grande Ronde. Bjorn Ostby, Silver Bow Guide, and friend Chris M. had one hooked up at Boggan's on the weekend but unfortunately the fish decided he had enough at the net and see ya next time. Another called in Monday and said on his 3rd day of fishing the GR that he swung four down at the mouth. The angler did mention that his second day was spent at Boggan's and nothing up there for him.

These numbers sound about right for no matter how many steelhead are coming back. Traditionally I make a trip or two down in September and usually find a few fish between a couple of us anywhere from the Boggan's area down to the mouth. On anyone of those years we may find just a few, some years, many. Sometimes no matter what it's just the luck of the draw and timing.

Will this be the year that you can go down and crush ten fish on a single day? Eh probably not, but you never know. I'm not a biologist and will not comment on how good, or poor, the run is and why. That's not my area of expertise, I just know how to catch fish. What I will say though is that I will still go down just as many times as I typically would. Cuz you know what? You can't catch a steelhead... if you don't go steelheading!