OCTOBER
Rainbow Trout, Rufus Woods
Washington State's biggest rainbow, a 29.6-pounder, came from Lake Rufus Woods in Okanogan County in 2002. This 51-mile-long lake is backed up by Chief Joseph Dam on the Columbia and has become more popular as a trout destination since booting out a couple of state records in a row. When the water surface temp drops below 60 degrees, the fishing gets good and continues till January or February.

One favorite technique is to run cured roe beneath a float, salmon fishing-style. Another productive technique is to zigzag troll or cast large minnow imitations, swimbaits, and twitch baits. Cast spinners for 2- to 3-pound rainbows near the shore.

For a guided trip, call Anton Jones at (866) 360-1523, or visit the Web site at www.darrellanddads.com.

Other Choices
As the water cools, Oregon's Crooked River heats up for rainbows.

Spot and stalk big brown trout on the Owyhee. They'll take a dry fly.

NOVEMBER
Salmon, Skykomish River

Chums average between 5 and 15 pounds in the Skykomish, though a few have been known to tip the scales at more than 20.

When you time the run right, chums are not all that hard to catch. Go small and chartreuse. The larger baits that work well for chinook and silvers do not do as well for chums. When using drift gear, start with a chartreuse Corky and a little tuft of chartreuse yarn knotted to your egg loop knot. When chartreuse isn't working, try red, orange, pink or white. Use stout gear because these fish can pull. Many anglers prefer to use 12- to 15-pound-test line and a rod with plenty of backbone.

Other Choices
By November, the lower Deschutes River is full of summer steelhead. Cast spinners or throw a swinging fly.

Be on the Trask River for fall chinook after the first big flush of rain hits and the water starts to drop.

DECEMBER
Steelhead, Peninsula Rivers
Olympic Peninsula rivers offer legendary fishing from late November through April for strong runs of hatchery and wild fish. Olympic Peninsula rivers are short and steep, averaging 30 to 40 miles in length, and run straight into the ocean.

The hatchery run peaks this month. Fish the Sol Duc, Calawah, Hoh, Bogachiel and Queets.

You will have the best fishing when the water is emerald green with 3 to 5 feet of visibility. Some anglers cast flies or spinners or drift a jig and float. From a drift boat, try side-drifting with cured roe.

For up-to-date river flows, visit http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt. For a guided trip, call Jim Mansfield at (360) 374-9018, or visit www.jim-mansfield.com.

Other Choices
The Wilson River peaks later, but it is the river to hit if you want to tangle with a chromer in December.

Stable flows and consistent temps make the Fall River fishable all year, but in the winter, you get some of the best water to yourself.