The above pics are from this weeks guide trips

A river fisherman is never happy…, rivers are to high…, too low…,  etc,  etc.  Right now every river in Washington is at the least…, fish-able.  Some are low and some are in perfect condition. Which means its time to get out there and take advantage of the low water and your opportunity to fish. 

 Now that February is upon us, expect the start of  BIG native Steelhead to enter into our river systems.   Up size your baits a bit, stronger line and leader, fish cover, and deeper heavier currents for these brutes.  They have a little bit of a different ticker in comparison to their hatchery brat cousins. 

I have been out fishing quite a bit of late and the Steelhead just keep on coming.  This week we averaged 3 hook ups a trip.  Surprisingly…, all of the fish were bright, late, hatchery fish, except one really nice Native.   February and March are historically the prime time Native Steelhead months.  Now is the time to get a hold of me for your best chance at a fish of a life time and the last time I checked the calendar…, it read February!!  :-) 

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bdfishon.com

Ps.  Check out Jerome Jefferson at “By the River” Fish and Tackle in Fall City, WA

I can’t believe January is already half way done…, how the time flys by!  Its almost NATIVE season!!!!!  On the fishing front… Steelhead continue to trickle into our west side rivers.  We are starting to get into that “No Man’s Land” time of the winter steelhead season now.  The early run hatchery fish are starting to wain and the first Native Steelies are showing themselves.  The fish are still there just don’t EXPECT to go out and catch double digits at press time. 

I have been out on the water this week and we are still putting hatchery winter runs in the box.  Side drifting is the method and good bait is the key.   I am going to start focusing more and more on the Trophy Native fish.  If you want the chance at a fish of a life time February-April is the time for Western, Wa Steelhead.  Get a hold of me and lets get you a date on the river before its too late.   

Enjoy the pics below from this weeks guide trips

 Fetha Styx is coming out with a Mid Price range (around $175 a stick) set of rods and I…, along with my clients have been out testing them for the past month, or so.  I can’t wait to see the overall public opinion for the Northwest Premier Guide Series.  The folks I’ve had the pleasure to fish with, really enjoyed their light weight, sensitivity and ability to add a great fight to the fish.  These rods are simply fantastic for the price, warranty, and the Fetha Styx name (Remember they are built here, locally in Redmond, WA).  If your a side drifter, the 961 and 962 versions are the cats meow!!  Hopefully they will be available sometime around the end of April.

Get off the couch…, give me a call…, quit wish’n and lets go fish’n!!!! 

Ps   Check out Hawg Quest, Todd Daniels is the guide on the current episode.  Nice work on a good show todd!

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bdfishon.com

425-281-8772

Happy New Year to one and all!  I have been fishing for winter steelhead all over the State for the past two weeks.  From freezing temps, to rain, to wind, to rising temps, and snow level  fluctuations…, a fisherman needs to be versatile to be successful day in and day out.  Pay attention to river fluctuations, in the end it will pay dividends.  A moving river means moving fish.  With that stated, we have been very successful through all December’s river fluctuations.  If you want to catch a winter steelhead give me a call and we will go from there.  We are on them right now! 

 After this next storm passes and the rivers start to drop…, I fully expect there to be another nice surge of hatchery steelhead to be had for the barbeque and the start of early winter run natives to play with.  It is not too early to start booking for prime native winter steelhead and late run hatchery steelhead.  Let’s go fishing!

I have been on the Cowlitz and Chehalis systems and then moving back and forth to the Snohomish system.  Side drifting bait has been my preferred method of choice.  After looking back on my December fishing log we averaged over 3 steelhead a day in the boat, with the best days being in the double digits…, not too bad  

Below are some pics from this week.  Thanks again to everyone whom I fished with in 2009 what a great year of fishing and catching it was!!! 

Tip of the week: DO NOT marry a particular hole, or river.  Be willing to move depending on the river conditions.

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bdfishon.com

425-281-8772

Ps  Gift Certificates are available

Its been down right frigid out on the rivers…, but there is nothing like a little winter steel to warm a fellow right up!  The winter run steelhead season is in full swing.  The Bogy/Calawah hatchery brats are there for the taking.  The Chehalis system is kicking out late run coho and fresh winter steelhead.  The Sky and Snoqualmie river have picked up in recent days with the “warmer” weather.  The Cowlitz and Lewis are getting a shot of Steelies, as well.  Also, lots of other “NO Name” rivers are kicking out fish.

With the upcoming rains expect a big surge of Steelhead to all the hatchery sections of our Western, WA and  Coastal, WA Rivers.  The tributaries off the main stem rivers should also see a push of fresh, chrome fish.  Basically now is the time to go fish your favorite spots for winter steel.   The fish are in the river right now…, go catch them.

If your one of those guys who is fishing the shore and your looking to score a few more fish and learn more of the river system…, give me a call and lets go catching.  I have been doing very well of late with limits being the norm.  Get your favorite 3-4 close friends, or family members and lets do it.  Fish-ON!…, that is.  Merry Christmas to all.  Quit wish’n and let’s go fishing.

Below are a few pics from this weeks trips

Merry Christmas and Tight lines,

Bonner Daniels

bdfishon.com

Ps    ****Check the website for our X-mas gift certificate special****

Mother Nature sure has made the river fisherman’s life tough of late with flucuating water levels.  In for half a day and out for another. Chums are definitely here…, also with all this cold weather and higher water, brings signs of Winter Steelhead back into our local Puget Sound Rivers.   We even landed a few winter runs this week on the Snohomish system.  I sure hope these first fish are a sign of good things to come!    Whom ever does the fish return predictions has this winter run predicated to be very good!  I am already almost fully booked up for the month of December.  Get a date before its to late.

OH…,and I got tired of the weather around here messing up the river clarity, so a few of us packed up and headed east for a shot at the record return of steelhead over lower granite dam.  To say the least…, the fishing was off the HOOK!  We managed to hook a fish every thirty minutes and it was my first time over there  in my own boat.  Not to bad. 

Enjoy the pics from last week

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bonnerfishon.com

425-281-8772

Ps  !!!!Save the Snoqualmie River Summer Run Steelhead, Write your congressman!!!!

Here we go again…, with mother nature and her rain’s.  The rivers are up one day and down the next…, at least the free flowing rivers anyways.  Cowlitz river will be the place to be this weekend if your itching to go fishing.  I fully expect the rivers to blow out this weekend, but we will see. 

With all this water comes the fish!  Remember high water…, fish high in the river system.  The Silvers are on the move.  As you can see from the below pictures…, lots of  happy faces and some damp, happy faces.  When the going gets tough…, the tough get going ( Rain gear makes me tough).  Coho are here and if you would like to catch one before the season ends give me a call ASAP.  Looking at the calendar …, Winter Steelhead season is almost upon us…, don’t be late to get a prime date!     

Enjoy the pics

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bonnerfishon.com

425-281-8772

Ps   **** Save Tokul Creek’s Summer Run Steelhead Plants ****  Write Your Congressman ****

The Snohomish system continues to keep on, keeping on.  The Coho are  here and with this upcoming rain the Humpzillas’ should get a good flushing out…, hopefully.  The water temperature has dropped dramatically down into the low 50′s.  Casting spinners and plugs has been the preferred method for my boat.  The Game Wardens’ have been out ticketing snaggers and illegal flossing of late…, which is quite nice.  Now we can actually get these fish to bite.  If you are getting frustrated with the finicky Silver Salmon give me a call and I will show you a trick or two.  Patience is a virtue in this fishery, but those who put in their time…, WILL be rewarded.  Just look at the pictures below…, the results will speak for themselves.

A quick shout out to the crew at Wooldridge Boats…, thanks a bunch for the boat work in such short notice (electrical problem, dropped off boat, and was back out on the water that same day)!  Wooldridge Boat Company really and truly is a class act!   When it comes to K.F.C  (Keep, F—ing, Casting) Fetha Styx Rods are unbeatable !  Try the 963 or 962 model, 9′ 1/2″, spinning rod, with a 2500 series reel for casting plugs and spinners to Salmon/Steelhead.  I will bet.., you will be very pleased with your investment

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

bonnerfishon.com

Ps. **Save The Snoqualmie River Summer Steelhead!**

***Write your congressman!!***

Well…, this week I decided to let the pictures below speak for themselves for the weeks fishing report.  Fishing and catching is absolutely fantastic at the moment…, all over WA State.

As for the future….,  I can not wait for the next BIG rain/river rise to come…, as I fully expect the Coho to come right along with it.  Rain will only help thin out the massive Pink Salmon invasion, as well.  If you are looking to fish for Silver/Coho Salmon locally on the Snohomish River System…, NOW is the time to book.  Todd and I are filling our Prime calender dates fast.  With all the Salmon being caught in the ocean this year, the river forecast looks very promising…, DON’T miss out on river caught, big, bright, chrome,  Silver Salmon right in your backyard Seattleites!   

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

Fishonguideservices.com

Ps.       ***SAVE  The Tokul Creek Fish Hatchery’s Summer Run Steelhead!***

                                           Write Your Congressman!

I have been able to hit the rivers almost everyday the last few weeks and the fish are here and they just keep on coming into the Snohomish system with every high tide.  Limits are the drill and happy faces are the norm.  Give me a call to get in on the HOT action on bright pink salmon before the fish turn into their imfamous calling…, “Humpzilla’s” and go into spawn mode.

We just took a signficant river rise, but the rivers are already fishable.  Lake Sammamish finally has kicked into gear and Todd Daniels is “The Man” for those King Salmon.  Call him A.S.A.P. before these fish are up the creek and into the hatchery for everyone to see during  the Salmon Days festivities.  Also…, I personally saw a Silver Salmon get caught today on the lower Snohomish. 

A little FYI…, The Everett Coho derby is Sept. 19-20 and there should be more Silvers in the rivers by then…, I hope!!  If you catch any Silver Salmon make sure and weigh it.  I had buddies get some pretty sweet prizes last year for their “little” 5-8lb chromers. 

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

Fishonguideservices.com

Ps       Save The Tokul Creek Fish Hatchery Summer Run Steelhead, they are being fazed out !!!

Since the August 16th river opener for Pink Salmon I have been on the water almost every day.  The fishing started a little on the slow side, but things have definitely kicked right into high gear!  The Skagit and SnohomishSystem are both giving up more than their fair share of bright Pink Salmon…, right now.  Limits are the norm for those who can just keep their lines wet. 

The drill is slow, deeper water adjacent to fast water seems.  The tackle includes anything Pink, dick nites, jigs, floats, divers, and anything else you can present to the fish…, LOW and SLOW.   On a courtesy note…, when fishing for Pinks anchoring up  is very common and the fish really stack up in certain areas.  If someone is in “your hole” just politely ask if you may join in on the fun and more often than not the response will be…, “NO problem”.  A little communication will go a long way! 

If you would like to book a trip lets go now before the fish turn into humpzilla’s.  Book for 4 and pay for 3, is the deal I am currently running for the rest of the Pink Salmon run.  If you would like to catch a King Salmon with out getting sea-sick and driving for hours on end, give Todd Daniels a call.  He is on the King’s right now, fishing locally on Lake Sammamish.  Check out Hawg Quest in the next few weeks and look for the Lake Sammamish King’s and Snohomish River system Pink Salmon episode to get a look at what all the hype is about.  See you on the Water!

Sincerely,

Bonner Daniels

Fishonguideservices.com

Ps   Thank you very much to all whom are reading these blogs and I want to give a special thanks to my Sponsers Bill Boyce, Jim Mercier and Gina at Fetha Styx along with Glen and Grant Wooldridge at Wooldridge boats!  Also Hawg Quest rules!