UTERSteelhead fishing in Washington freshwater
In Washington freshwater, steelhead peak January–April and July–October and are around year-round, spawning in April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Winter steelhead — Olympic Peninsula rivers, the Skagit and the Cowlitz.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Steelhead in Washington freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryPeakWinter steelhead — Olympic Peninsula rivers, the Skagit and the Cowlitz.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeak
- AprilSpawning
- MayLeaving
- JuneArriving
- JulyPeakSummer runs in the Columbia tributaries.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeakGrande Ronde and Snake summer fish.
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberAround
- DecemberArriving
Where to fish steelhead near Columbia River, Hanford Reach, Lake Chelan
The Columbia's walleye, smallmouth, shad, salmon and sturgeon, Puget Sound steelhead rivers, Lake Chelan's lakers and kokanee, and eastern Washington's lowland lakes.
What to use for steelhead
- Salmon eggs (roe)A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters.
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Ghost shrimpThreaded on a #4 to 1/0 baitholder hook on a Carolina rig in the surf or the bay — the surfperch, corbina and sturgeon bait.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 38–62°F water, best at 44–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch steelhead in Washington freshwater?
Peak season is January–April and July–October, with fish spawning in April (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Steelhead are here year-round. January: Winter steelhead — Olympic Peninsula rivers, the Skagit and the Cowlitz.
Where do steelhead hold in Washington freshwater?
Look on river, creek / stream, lake — around Columbia River, Hanford Reach, Lake Chelan, Skagit River, Banks Lake, Lake Roosevelt.
What is the best bait for steelhead in Washington freshwater?
Live bait: salmon eggs (roe), nightcrawlers, ghost shrimp. Salmon eggs (roe): A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for steelhead in Washington freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/fishing.
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