...Enough Okanogan Steelhead to Shake a Stick at

Town Water
The Okanogan River Steelhead opener was a sunsplashed success. Lotsa steelhead reported at the mouth, and a few swam through town, too. Photos I’ve seen show our hatchery fish dominating the numbers right now. However, from my personal experience on this gorgeous day (0 for 2), I could neither confirm nor deny any facts.

I fished the water around town with a two handed rod and a waking steelhead muddler. No takers on the surface bug, although the water was in the low 50s.  Once I switched to a blue/black tube fly swung along the bottom, I started getting grabs.

Staying out of the Slime
I’m guessing the historic low water and high temps were responsible for all the aquatic veg. on the bottom. Normally, that is long gone by the time the Okie is open for steelhead, but not yesterday. If you are swinging low or nymphing you might try and keep off the bottom-or risk constantly checking your fly for rocksnot. Give yourself a downstream mend or two, lighten up on the sinktip (or your bug), or find different water. I noticed that the green slime was kinda patchy, so keep looking.

Traditional steelhead wet flies (such as the Blue size 5 Train Wreck in the jaw of that Okanogan chromer above) are a surprisingly great choice in our low and clear opener conditions...

Two-handers at Home
While not the most famous stream (thank heavens!), the Okanogan proved to be a two-hander's dream on the opener. Almost every spot I fished was great swinging water. Not only is the size and current about right, but also there aren’t hordes of other fisherman keeping you from stepping down runs at your leisure.

There are fish around and water temps should keep them bitey throughout the month of October. Next time you’re stringing up your two-hander, stop by the Omak North 40 Fly Shop, pick up a local fly or two, and head out on our favorite steelhead stream!

(Just don’t bring too many friends...especially those with callused bait-casting thumbs)

-Steph