dev88t and E-Mann,

It would be fun to hook up with you guys and toss a few flies in the water sometime during January or February on the Touchet River near Dayton. I have had some luck catching late season steelies up there. It's always fun using a 6 pound fly rod for this task

I will post more information when it gets closer if anyone is interested in fishing this area.

That sounds good to me. I'm new to steelhead fishing, and would love to spend some time on the water learning with someone who knows what the heck is going on. I also have not done a lot of flyfishing, and never for steelhead. What kinds of flies should I start looking for? What line type and leaders do I need?

Dev88T

I'd like that too. I don't have any fly gear--been wanting to take the leap but I don't think it'll happen by the Jan/Feb timeframe. Perhaps you can bring an extra fly set-up that I could try? I've been fly fishing a few times, but it's been nearly a decade ago now. But I know steelhead and I can read the water (although I imagine a fly fisher looks for slightly different holding water) so maybe with a little luck, who knows... I'll have a couple of spin set-ups with a variety of spinners. Anyone is welcome to try my game too.

The river is touch and go that time of year--frozen solid one week and chocolate brown the next. We'll have to play it by ear, but I suppose your targeting the first few good weeks after the general "thaw." I'll keep a few weekends open 'round then.

Looking forward to meeting some fellow Fishingnw members!

'till then, good luck on the water.

I have two fly rods. It shouldn't be a problem. I'd like to extend the offer to any fishingnw.com member or visitors. We will post details on the trip once it gets closer. There river also holds some great trout and is usually open for some species.

I have two 6 wt fly rods as well, but one of my reels has sinking tip on it. What sort of setup do we need glock? Maybe I will be able to put two of them together as well in case several people would like to try it. Emann if you dont mind divulging the info on the size of spinning rod and line test I might be able to get a couple of those rigged up as well. I am heading into sportsmans today and will be looking into some more steelheading tackle! The only problem is my wife is coming with me, and she acts like me when I am in the mall with her. Do you really need that??? LOL

That's why you drop the wife off at the nearby mall..

The sink tip may not be that bad of an idea depending on how quick the water is flowing. I remember last year I was fishing shortly after the runoff cleared up. It was deep and swift. I was running two rods. On had the sink tip, the other I used micro weights and beeded type flies to keep the fly down in the water.

I ended up putting a sinking line on the end of my rod last year. I think I even posted some articles on it. I will do some digging and see what I can remember from it.

At a minumum, i would say you will need something to get the pattern down into the water.

Here is an old thread with some general information. CLICK HERE

I might be up for this also, Excuse my ignorance but where is this river and where is Dayton ? I also have a few spare flyrods between 5-wt and 10-wt that I can loan

GWH,

The Touchet River is very long. We could fish the stretch between Waitsburg and Dayton if we wanted. Dayton is located in Eastern Washingon on Highway 12. It would only be an additional 30 minutes via backroads to fish the Tucannon River under Cummins Bridge.

I was looking at my log from last year and it appears that i started fishing this area in February.