Washington State Steelhead. The Methow River. Olympic Peninsula. Klickikat River Steelhead. Washington State Fly Fishing Guide. Guided Steelhead fishing. Steelhead.

Fortunately for those living in the state of Washington, the cold river waters in the region are perfect for wild steelhead. Catching winter steelhead on the fly is a goal set by many a flyfisher. Once accomplished it becomes an addiction. The hard won achievement can only be equaled with bigger and brighter fish. I it is a continued set of accomplishments that has brought many a angler to the edge of humility. The key to consistent success in steelhead fishing is learning how to fish the water that is holding the fish at that given time. By using swinging techniques where applicable, and nymphing techniques inbetween, Jeff Brazda is confident of daily success.

January through April
Fly Fishing Olympic Peninsula River's Wild Native steelhead

Most fishing is done from a raft or drift boat, used as transportation and to fly fish from while on the move. Day trips from the boat are the best way to see & experience all that this beautiful area has to offer the angler. All trips will include, as a minimum, all flies and a box lunch. Additional equipment can be provided with prior request . IE: fly rods, reels, Spey rods, lines etc.

Washington State Fly Fishing Steelhead

Summer/Fall Steelhead Fly Fishing on the Methow River

The Methow valley is one of ancestral value for me. Both grandparents on my fathers side, were born and raised in the valley, thier grandparents were pioneers of the local region settling in Winthrop and Twisp around the turn of the century. My great-great-grandmother came over on the Oregon trail as a little girl and lived in a log house, heated and cooked over a wood stove into her 90's, and lived until she was 104 years old. My father was born in Twisp in 1945. The seed of outdoor life was definitely planted on the Methow.

My very first introduction to fishing rivers was upon the Methow. Needless to say, I am very pleased that steelhead fishing has been opened up once again there. The very first steelhead I caught on a dry fly came to a large caddis some 18 years ago on the Met above Twisp.

The fishing in the valley is but a hint of a time before dams. Whatever they are doing with the Columbia damns now is working, (draw downs in the spring to flush the smolt is my thought). With huge Chinook spawning throughout the system, large native cutthroat on the prowl, steelhead exist in every likely spot, and huge bull trout lurking, the Methow is returning to the fishery I remember as a young boy. I am sure my grandfather is looking on with a huge smile.

The steelhead of the main stem originally were of the 15lb average, with various smaller subspecies utilizing upper reaches and tributaries. Now with hatchery influence, most of these fish are of the 4-8lb range, the larger native fish are all but extinct.

These returning hatchery fish are the target, with a few wild natives thrown in. The fishery opens with a bang, as soon as announced by WDFW, sometime in October. The first few weeks can be a bonanza on the dry fly, if you have located the bulk of the run. The key is locating the fish, some years they may be in the lower stretches, holed up like a cattle rustling gang, hiding out. Other seasons they are stretched all the way to the boundary. Around November the weather will get cooler the salmon will finish spawning and the steelhead are suddenly alone. Perfect time to swing with a light spey rod and tips, with nothing to bother them, they become curious biters, not so many freight train grabs, sometimes its hardly noticeable, just an interruption in the swing.

Experience will enable detection. The Methow River should be experienced by every die-hard fly fisher, not too many rivers offer steelhead, with frequently caught incidental cutthroat, and bull trout of substantial size.

Fall Steelhead on the Klickitat River

Every year Washington State's Klickitat River is well known for its great run of fall steelhead, and this years action has been very good. Just ask major leaguer and five time All Star Mike Sweeney of the Kansas City Royals. Mike got in on the action the day after the 2006 baseball season ended, and had a great time fishing on the Klickitat for a few days with the Braz! Please take the time to visit Mike Sweeney's great web site!

Brazda's fly fishing guided service is now taking bookings for this outstanding steelhead river. We do recommend that you book early, as our hunch is that the early part of the fall 2007 steelhead season is going to be really good.

Fly Fishing Report 4-6-08

Sorry for the lack of reports - my web guy has been on a much needed vacation and R/R out of the country, and site work is way more technical than a double spey with a tuck reach cast. So I will try to catch up!

Honnen, Jack, Mack and Can-o-nasty all came over for a few days and had some great angling just coming off the only blow out of the year. Combining swing fish with indobob on the run we managed good numbers for two of there three days. Can-o-nasty came through with the beauty contest winner and Mack walked off with the pure brute size category.

Sam and Mary came over from New York for a week of fishing and I had the pleasure of fishing with the two to of them for a couple days. Mary caught her first steelhead and Sam, well she catches them all the time a real east coast fishaholic.

Had a week of swing only guys right in the middle of shitty weather (snow storms and sleet mixed in every hour) Bob Cherry landed a couple dandies, where’s the pic’s Bob?

We have been in somewhat of a drought with late season snow and freezing temps. Now that is all coming to an end and the regular fishing should resume. We have been struggling a little with fewer numbers (3-29 thru 4-4) due to the conditions I am sure.

Last week with the Hoh river closure we stayed down there and banged out a few fish per day. It would seem the commercial guys took there toll this season on the Hoh and caused the early closure, that will change in the future. As consumers we have a choice not purchase wild steelhead from the markets, restaurant and casino’s. Any wild caught or wild steelhead you see on the market comes from the Pacific Northwest Rivers, also the only place that commercial netting is done. Unsustainable harvest is happening with great regularity and needs to stop if we are to maintain wild runs of steelhead and salmon in our rivers. OK, off the soapbox for now.

Mike and I fished together on a rare day off and I managed to swing up one of the nicest steelhead I have ever caught, a two tone bright hen of over 20 lbs. That Crazy Mike is a good luck charm for me.

I hear the rain pounding on the roof and I know the deck is being shuffled right now, tomorrow will be all new, gotta love the changes!

Fly Fishing Report 2-22-08

Donny first landed steelhead was a 22lb buck with a beautiful blush color and a bad temper. He will never be the same person after leaving the great Olympic Peninsula for home and a workaholic lifestyle, great having you Donny.

Ken, in normal fashion landed a 24lb buck and this 20 lb hen as well as a few others. Not to mention the twenty minute and ¼ mile rapid strewn battle with a huge 40 plus inch bright buck a mile before the big hen. The week was not filled with action on the fish front but quality was certainly above what you can get anywhere else in America. For fish of 12 -25lbs the OP has it just don’t expect quantity in numbers.

Fly Fishing Report 2-19-08

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Fly Fishing Report 2-12-08

The Olympic Peninsula is back on for this season. Fishing the Sol-Duc in as high of water as I ever fish it produces some great action. Although not everyone is catching fish out here I have been lucking into some big daddy’s that are stretching the line and testing knots. I fished with Jason Decker and Todd Baxter yesterday and today, at the start of yesterday Todd was sure steelhead only existed in dreams along with Sasquatch and UFO’s.

Well we soon found 'ol Bigfoot lurking under those green flows of steelhead haven. Big and nasty flies where the taste of the day, even got the boys into some spey fishing only to be in a practice stage but did our best to plant the seed.

After the first day of fall off ittis for both anglers Decker pulls of a 4 for 4 ass kicker on the steelies with 3 chromers and near twenty semi colored buck. Baxter found them steelies a little less cooperative and pretty much got spanked by some viscous battlers.

Fly Fishing Report 2-2-08

I decided that a group trip to the top was in order for day two. With nearly a foot of snow on the upper Hoh road and no plows in sight it was a little remote and wild feeling. This was to be our day, Jimmy and me in his boat and Rex, Wayne and Crazy Mike in Mike’s boat. Jimmy set the rules at; switch off the sticks on every fish. Well neither of us had any length of time with the sticks in hand, I had a small steely by the park boundary and Jimmy followed with a Bull and a shay whitey, now on the sticks (rules are rules). Jimmy had about five minutes on the sticks and I jumped one off. Since it was my turn to row I opted to take a lap, one cast one stroke and Jimmy had the fish of the day a 12-13 lb. chrome hen, after a shot or two we released it. A hundred yards down river I landed a nice 12 lb hatchery fish and got passed by Mike they had a fish already too.

The day continued very similar, with short breaks in the action. The fishing got a little competitive at times when the rower at any given instant, made sure that the fisher was geographically challenged and I swore some down rowing into hooked steelies was part of that game. At day’s end we were tied at five steelhead a piece and Mike s crew had found a few as well including the first actual 20 lb steelhead landed of the season. Most of our fish jumped off as they where inherently large and feisty or maybe that little bit of rowers help?

With rain snow mixed and a drive home planned for the day we jumped in the Duc for a quick check out the river run. Once again not a soul on the river. As usual I took up the center seat and as usual Rex "high power" Maurer hooked another 20 lb. steelhead in the first stop we made. A nearly epic battle with rapids below and a boulder field above the giant metal head found a stick and proceeded to tow it around too, it soon found a spot between rocks that the stick could not follow and broke free. Repositioned on the slot and two casts Mike hooked and landed a nice hen about 13lbs. One more cast and one more hook up and the slot was clean. A two hour float and rising water down to the take out and back home. Not bad for a quick jaunt.

Fly Fishing Report 1-23-08

March has come early on the Olympic Peninsula. All rivers have been producing good catches of chrome beauties and some of the jumbo size we all dream of. Rocky here had two great days in a row fishing the indo bob with some new steely bugs ripe for the season. I introduced him to spey casting and he was instantly getting in some good swings, good enough to get a grab on the hang down. Just what a fish addict needs another way to fish. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and the fish runs continue, at this pace we will have an exceptional season.

Back in the Puget Sound region yesterday in 34 degree water was less than great catching, did manage a jack in my favorite swing hole that attacked well above his size.

Warmer weather will turn these fish back on. Be back on the Peninsula by the week end.

Fly Fishing Report 1-12-08

Both swinging and nymphing techniques are working well. This last week before the melt off I had three good days for a total of 16 fish hooked and 6 landed, not to good of percentages but that is how the fly is sometimes. This nice native of twelve pounds is typical of our success. Swinging the double fly with a big bright spey and a small blue bugger seems to be the hot ticket. Rex here had more than his share this week while fishing a 6126 and some t-14. Naturally the indo-bob is kicking ass and finding the lions share. Love the hat Rex!

Fly Fishing Report 4-18-07

This spring steelhead fishing in 2007has been the best I have encountered since the 80’s. Fresh fish were readily available in the Hoh river right to the end. Rumors of a new state winter steelhead record have been spreading, I personally have not seen a photo of the steelhead but there where plenty of huge fish around. The Bogachiel River has been an absolute dream to fish. Many fresh chrome Steelhead in nearly every stretch of river. Spring weather has been favorable and should continue. We have a couple of spring dates open in 2008; the season will close on April 31.

Olympic Peninsula Steelhead Report: 4-8-07

Fishing on the Hoh river this last two weeks has been as good as I ever have seen it. The pressure has been high but the fishing for us has been stellar. We have been getting fish on the swing as well as nymphing of course with a lot of fish over 15 pounds and a few 20 plus to the beach. We now have a wet front moving in and waters may be out on the Hoh for a few days but the other rivers have been good as well. My wife and good friend Dave came over for the week end and had some fabulous fishing on the Duc and Calawa Rivers. I am finishing up my steelhead season with many good days as if the run may never stop. Hopefully those Springer's will arrive soon and the gear boats will be better occupied.

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Olympic Peninsula Steelhead River Report: 3/9/07

We are currently bracing for high water. The weather man says we will get a lot of rain and rising snow level, not good for steelheading. Last week brought moderate high flows and moderate fishing with a couple of good days mixed in. The Bogi was the river of the week with multiple fish days and a few big ones thrown in prior to becoming blown-out.

The Hoh was tough on Monday and Tuesday although I know the fish are there just not biting to their potential. We had a very good day on the Sol-Duc Wednesday - going 6 for 6.

March is coming in like a LION.

Olympic Peninsula Steelhead River Report: 3/5/07

THE HOH IS FINALLY BACK IN and is living up to its name, giving OUT some love.

Swinging has been getting the bid dogs and nymphing has been putting up some numbers. The swing game is especially good for the conditions of 37-40deg H20. We have been swinging fish on every thing from small 2 in. maribou to 9 in. string leaches, naturally the fly will fit your fish.

We have some great reports from the Bogachiel River as well with plenty of fish in the lower end which swings quite well. The Sol-Duc continues to catch when working around the netting schedule. Looks as if our weather will be cooperating for another week or so.

Olympic Peninsula Steelhead River Report: 2/24/07

We have ourselves a wet spell that has our rivers riding the fence of fishablity. Moderate high flows with daily deluges that dirty up and raise the river ever so slightly then drop and clear a little the same day. Or melt the snow that just dumped that morning and offer 37 deg water and high flows. Now we must take this all with the consideration that we are fly fishing. Pluggers and gear fishermen can cope with the conditions a little better. Other than the water temps, conditions for swinging the fly are great on certain runs. The nymphing has been a little tougher on the fisherman with added holding and running lanes of higher water. Even so our fishing has been good considering, we all managed to find fish on a daily basis, sometimes it was two a day and other days we had 6 or 7.

The forecast is for more of the same, ah what do they really know. We will be on the wait and see mode for the next week at least. Great opportunity to catch the big dogs at your feet or on the hang down.

Olympic Peninsula Steelhead River Report: 2/17/07

Greg Smith with a OP Steelhead.

On the 14th the conditions were perfect, rivers in shape, no other pressure to speak of and yes the fish showed. The Hoh River was the choice of the day and on the drop. Fishing above 101 was as good as it gets. Fishing the indobob in all the appropriate slots and log jams had the best results. Swinging the fly was also successful in the good swing water.

Back over on the Sol-Duc things were much the same, good reports of large sized steelhead. Unfortunately the rains fell the following day and the rivers are presently too high to fish. We have a wet period coming that hopefully won’t last to long.

The latest on the tribal fishing is good also, the Quillayute’s have reduced there time from 5.5 days a week to 3.5 days and we seen the immediate improvement. The Hoh tribe is still at 2.5 as they have been.

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Olympic Peninsula Steelhead River Report: 2/11/2007

Justin Nelson's First Steelhead (and certainly not his last!)

Nearly all the rivers on the Olympic Peninsula are fishing good to great depending on your day. The last ten days I fished the Queets, Hoh, Sol-Duc, and Bogachiel this last ten days and caught fish in all rivers. The Quilliute is getting hammered by the tribe this season but is kicking out fish on their days off. (more on this subject later)

Been hooking a fish or two daily on the swing but the real numbers are on the nymphing set up. Judging from the beginning of the wild season we should have a year of big fish with the numbers peaking as the season progresses and the tribe drops a few days off their weekly schedule.

The Hoh has some very good water in the lower end this year and will produce some big fish on the swing if we get some dry spells to lower the flows. The Sol-Duc has already produced many 20lb.+ fish this season and should continue to do so till April.

We are fishing daily now so reports will be increasing, we do have some prime time dates available and we can answer cell calls nightly but e-mail is a little slow.

Check out the photo page as well.

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Olympic Peninsula Steelhead River Report : 1/20/2007

With the recent high water we must prepare for changed river channels and log jams. The log in the photo above is stuck on the Lynedecker bridge on the Sol-Duc River. This is just one of the obvious changes to the Duc this season. I floated most of the upper end checking on my favorite steelhead rocks to see if any were home. I found a few fish in the Duc early in the week but by Friday they had made it safely to the closed zone. With the tribe fishing excessively hard this week and next I am thankful for the fish I did get to play.

The Hoh river has changed dramatically since December and refused to clear up for more than an evening. I managed one good grab on a swung fly only to botch it up with an inpatient pull back that snatched the fly from an impending circus ride hosted by Mr. Steel himself. Ten minutes later I nearly stepped on what looked like a silver Russian sub escaping imminent disaster. There are fish in the Hoh we need a little better clarity.

Joe Willour with steelhead.

Guide buddy Joe Willour came out and fished with me for a few days during the seasonal shakedown cruise. Joe is an exceptional angler with a master's degree in trout fishing. We will see more of Joe this season. He scheduled to do a little guiding in February. You may have seen him before on the site, he guided with me on the Mike Sweeny trip last fall. This fish came on one of the Floats into the Sol- Duc below Sapho. The reports from the bait fishing guides are for some large fish over 20lbs this season, this is not one of them!

I will be back on the Olympic Peninsula by Tuesday.

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Goose Hunting Report : 1/10/2007

Finally I get to go enjoy the outdoor sports of the season - I have been nose to the grindstone for two months. My wife Lisa and I have sold our house and will be building in Ellensburg by spring and moving in by fall. Moving is a lot of work, as you all probably know. We even took the kitchen sink literally.

My first outing of the new year is a Goose hunting trip with good friend and Goose Guide Rex Maurer # 206-390-3975. Craig Tomlinson and Rex have the best fields in eastern Washington . This last week-end we hunted in pits with top slides and the layout type blinds. The pit's hold 4 to 6 guys and are very concealed. If you have ever hunted Geese, pits are a luxury and these pits are in the best fields of corn just off Moses Lake. If there are geese anywhere in the area they are here. The flocks showed en mass we had tons of IN YO FACE ACTION!

Day two of our outing we decided to use the layout blinds. The field we hunted had a good brushy pivot and we did our best to hide by it. With the wind blowing about 30mph the flocks entered the field somewhat low and would zig zag slowly 20 yd off the ground just above the decoys. Some strategic calling brought them to us and that was it. These decoys that Rex uses are fantastic they wobble and wiggle in the breeze keeping the birds looking for there landing and we were laying right in it, At times we just watched as 20 then 40 geese stacked up just above us, quote " real Kurt Gowdy type stuff" Rex Maurer.

You can reach these guides by calling 206-390-3975 ask for Rex, the season continues till January 28 and is open every day the last week.

Steelhead fishing will resume as the rivers drop in shape possibley 1-10-07.

I am stoked to go. All my Forks buddies have done well between the floods on hatchery fish.

Steelhead Report: 12/05/2006

Fishery: Bogachiel and Hoh River, Olympic Peninsula, WA

I fished the Bogachiel at the hatchery for the first time in many years. It was kind of like an accident on the freeway - I just had to look. I literally just watched for a few hours and then floated on. We found fish in all the fast water slots and in some tail outs. They must have been scooting fast, I actually saw fish moving by when I was standing in the river or floating in shallows. It is just so tough for me to fish in a crowd. Once away and hidden, Marty and Rick hooked some nice fish. They are running 6-11 lbs and feisty.

The next day Jim Kerr and I floated the upper Hoh. It was obvious we were the first to do so since the floods. Note the above photo, the boat launch at the Park is cut off. Youhave to drop off a small cliff between and over logs. We swung four great looking spots only to find Bull trout of 22 inches or larger. No steelhead this day but very good looking this year, more good swing water than last season. Steelhead should be there by next week, and so will I.

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Winter Run Steelhead in Washington State on the Fly Olympic Peninsula Winter Steelhead

January through April
Fly Fishing Olympic Peninsula River's Wild Native steelhead

Washington State Fly Fishing Steelhead

Summer/Fall Steelhead Fly Fishing on the Methow River

Fall Steelhead on the Klickitat River

Fly Fishing Report 4-6-08

Fly Fishing Report 2-22-08

Fly Fishing Report 2-19-08

Fly Fishing Report 2-12-08

Fly Fishing Report 2-2-08

Fly Fishing Report 1-23-08

Fly Fishing Report 1-12-08