Hi folks,

My wife and I bought a 19 ft Alumaweld Striker this past summer and are excited that we won't be stuck on the bank any more :D. I've done some fishing from a boat with friends at Drano and McNary before, but that is pretty much the extent of what I know and where to go. I'll probably be chasing steelhead this winter at McNary, but am looking for other options if anyone has advice.

I live in Grandview and teach math in Sunnyside, so John Day and Drano are a bit of a long drive for just one day (have a son (3) and a daughter (1) at home so it's hard to be gone too long). At any rate, I am really looking for some advice on where to go to find some steelhead and am really interested in learning how and where to fish the Hanford Reach for salmon/steelhead. I've read a lot of member posts about the Reach, but have never been on it in a boat... I appreciate any info you guys have and look forward to seeing you on the water sometime in the near future. Thanks!

A little more info on the boat... 19 ft 2003 Striker, 225 inboard jet, 2 manual downriggers, 9.9 merc kicker, cover, heater, and some other nic-nacs...

Sounds like a nice boat. Congrats

Congratulations! Sounds like a great rig. Let me know any questions you have about the Reach, that's my favorite stomping grounds. Some of my older posts have some general information about fishing there.
Good luck!

That boat will go just about anywhere. I have a 17' Stryker OB -- same year and color, and now that my kids are a bit bigger I sometimes wish I had 2 more feet worth of boat so I'm a bit envious. Since I live in N Richland I will often launch 1/2 mile from my house at Leslie Groves park and motor up to Ringold -- plenty of fish to be had there. I think the reach is still open for steelhead between Vernita and Priest Rapids dam -- that would be pretty close to home for you.

Enjoy the new boat!