Despite fires and a holiday weekend on Monday September 4th I set out to the Tucannon between the HWY 12 bridge and Marengo. The fishing action was unbeleivable.

In about 10 hours of fishing 5:30am to 3:30pm I caught nearly 30 fish many of which were in the 12-13 inch range. I have been fishing this river for nearly 10 years now and I can honestly say the fishery has never seemed healtier. My big catch of the day was a 19 inch resident steelhead, wild at that! I actually hooked into what appeared to me as a juvenile chinook. about 12 inches, much darker in color and a black mouth. That was a first.

fishing the undercut banks. vegetation overhangs and the deeper shaded holes yeilds the best action by far.

I did manage to hook into something that my gear could not handle and never got a chance to see it. Deep hole, soft bit, somewhat fast run into a log jam and gone! I can only wonder.

What a great fishery!!!!

Scott

Probably an early steelhead that took you for the ride. Were you fly fishing or throwing hardware, or something else? I've fished that stretch a few times around this time of year in hopes of finding an early steelhead, and while I've never caught one (seen a few but they're though to get to bite this time of year), I'm never disappointed in the trout fishing.

I was carrying 2 poles with me, my fly and spin/bait setup. I spent most of the day bait fishing the undercut banks and deep holes.

I did catch the large fish of the day with a wet in a smooth fast deep section that was just beyond a deep hole.


Scott

I can't wait to make trips down there for steelhead again! I love the tucannon. Good fishing and a great place to find some much needed solitude! But first I must catch myself some salmon on the Yak. I went out last monday on the Yak to have a look around, and there are some fish in the river. Saw a fair amount of salmon rolling in the evening which suprised for this time of year. Seems to be more in there now than last year at this time. It should only get better with the rising fish counts up the columbia!

Dev88T

dev88t,

You are making me jealous. I cannot wait to get down ther myself. I truly got hooked on the Tuccannon after fishing it with you last year. I will be making quite a few trips that direction this year.

Keep up the awesome reports they are so valuable to us eastsiders.

RAE

I would agree that the Tucannon has become my favorite river in the state. Its a pleasant drive from the Tri-Cities and you are much more isolated than the Touchet. Though it has been hard for me to adjust to the giant wind mills.

Back when the two rivers flooded 97? I thought the fishery was done for quite some time, but they have recovered very well and I think that the end of catchable trout plants in the streams has lowered fishing pressure.

I used to fish the Touchet in the early summer and switch to the Tucannon in the late summer/early fall and its still much the same. Water flows have been better the last few years and I cannot express how much I love south east washington.

I am planning on going after Steelhead this year, much more than ever. I will say that this fall will be very educational for me!

I will admit that I miss the Browns on the Touchet.