UTERSteelhead fishing in Washington Coast and Puget Sound
In Washington Coast and Puget Sound, steelhead peak December–March and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Olympic Peninsula winter steelhead — the Hoh, Queets, Bogachiel, Quillayute; check emergency closures on wild fish.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Steelhead in Washington Coast and Puget Sound, month by month
- JanuaryPeakOlympic Peninsula winter steelhead — the Hoh, Queets, Bogachiel, Quillayute; check emergency closures on wild fish.
- FebruaryPeakPeak for the big natives on the coast rivers.
- MarchPeakWild-fish season on the OP; many systems are catch-and-release.
- AprilLeavingLast winter fish.
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberArriving
- DecemberPeakHatchery winter fish arrive in the coast and Columbia tributary lower rivers.
Where to fish steelhead near Ilwaco, Westport, La Push
An exposed outer coast (Westport, La Push, Neah Bay), the Columbia mouth and Willapa Bay at the south end, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound and Hood Canal — deep, cold fjords with points, kelp and steep shelves.
Fish Scouter charts 82 lake spots in the Washington Coast & Puget Sound map area — the kinds steelhead hold on.
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 Coast and Puget Sound?
Peak season is December–March. Steelhead are here year-round. January: Olympic Peninsula winter steelhead — the Hoh, Queets, Bogachiel, Quillayute; check emergency closures on wild fish.
Where do steelhead hold in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Look on river, pass / inlet, channel edge, beach / surf — around Ilwaco, Westport, La Push, Neah Bay, Sekiu, Seattle.
What is the best bait for steelhead in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
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 Coast and Puget Sound?
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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