SUMMER STEELHEAD FLY FISHING As an angler of all fishes my true love are steelhead, everything about them fits my persona and lifestyle follows suit. In the 80’s they were common place on the rivers of the Puget Sound namely the Green river flowing through Auburn and we fished in the Gorge. Although, according to WDFW Biologists they was never a wild run in the green, it sure seemed like a riverine habitat that would of supported them. Now with the hatchery systems falling from grace even non-wild rivers go unplanted to a large degree. We commonly fished the run all summer with the cooler times being best as water temps rose above 60 during heat waves. Many of my days would be played out hiking the George and fishing skaters/wakers and dry lines in tail outs then riffles and then any shade as the day progressed. In those days location was key, and secrecy a must. I admit having some coveted private access into the Gorge was helpful. Those runs as with many Puget Sound summer runs will only return to fishable levels with the resurgence of hatchery plants. Programs that have been deemed the devil by some special interest groups. Its been since the early 90’s that I have pursued the summer run steelhead in actual summer. I have whittled the season down to concentrate in the fall when the Columbia river tribs would be open and fishable numbers existed. Last summer I started fishing a few times a month on the Cowlitz, and again this year quite a bit more. The resurgence of fresh run summer steelhead is addicting and the hard fighting fish are running strong in most of the Columbia tribs and even in the northern Puget Sound tribs are seeing some return of hatchery and wild steelhead. I have dropped the trout rods and picked up the 6wt spey far more this season and with great results. The cooler summer weather and better snow pack has the Klickitat river fishing much more often and the good run is coinciding with that nicely. Its a perfect opportunity to fish dries, skaters, wakers , trout flies, dead drifting or nymphing. Experience the steelhead of summer with out those pesky chinook spewing eggs all around causing tunnel vision of our beloved steelhead. I love changes especially for the better and hope you will too, get out and get yours when you can. Thanks for subscribing,, Jeff Brazda Contact:  Jeff@Brazdasflyfishing.com Cell 253-307-3210 Follow on FB