"I generally look for steelhead anywhere the water surface is becoming glassy, whether it's a pocket behind a boulder, an eddy along the shore or a well-defined pool. The glassy appearance indicates a slowing of water velocity; and since steelhead are not feeding, they tend to seek these sheltered waters to conserve energy."

The steelhead on the other rivers might like shade, but the Grande Ronde seems to require different things for these long-distance swimmers. Mac finds that the steelhead here are late sleepers and go to bed early, leaving the prime fishing between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. The rules are never hard and completely foolproof when dealing with nature, but generally, there is no reason to get up with the chickens unless you have to travel many miles to arrive at your favorite hole. Of course, with the lower Grande Ronde, even the locals have to travel quite a distance to reach these fine waters.

In March 1999, the National Marine Fisheries Service developed the biological opinion, or BIOP plan, on artificial propagation in the Grande Ronde River Basin. Under that plan, the ODFW started a broodstock development project to select fish that have traveled rapidly up the Columbia River and into the Grande Ronde system.

Because the ODFW needed an efficient way to catch up to 200 early returning fall-run steelhead for the Wallowa brood stock program, fisheries managers asked local fishermen to volunteer. In time for the 2004 season, 33 of them contributed more than 1,200 hours and nearly 10,000 miles of travel. The help of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) was also important in this project.

The decision was to collect the brood stock in October to coincide with the prime time for the fish run, good weather, and fishing conditions. Logistically it also worked great, since this fishing window falls between the local hunting seasons. This timing keeps volunteers from having to choose between helping or going hunting. If you're interested in helping with this program, contact Bill Knox or Brad Smith at the ODFW office in Enterprise.

FISHING HOLES
Whether you decide to help, here are more of the fishing holes you'll find as you travel downstream.

Hatchery Hole -- Fishermen will find this to be a good hole for bobbers and jigs, spinners and, depending on water level and temperature, fly and drift-boat fishing methods.

Slide Hole -- This hole is good for all the different types of gear. With the low-water levels of recent years, it has been easier for flyfishermen to get to the depths needed to lure steelhead from their safe harbors. If the water flow is good, be prepared to try all your depth-rigging methods.

Kessecker Hole -- If you fish with a bobber-and-jig or other type of gear, the upper section is probably your best bet. As you move downstream, the water thins and gets a bit faster -- perfect for fly and drift fishermen.

Troy Bridge Hole -- As with every hole, some gear works better than others at different times of the year. This hole gets many different types of riggings thrown into its depths. Its location near the Shilo Inn Café in Troy is a benefit, as is its being near the RV park on the bank of the river at the lower edge of town.