There’s those lucky “in-betweeners,” as I wrote about in a recent issue of STS. The times when salmon and steelhead occupy the same river system, at the same time.

The typical “target” species could really be a variety where I live. In South-west Washington I’ve lots of options, from the tidewater of the Columbia River, to the tributaries that flow into it. With that watershed to play with, it’s hard to go anywhere else.

At the same time, though fall can be very productive, it can also be tough to dial in the timing on the fish. Not that you can’t find them, on the contrary, fall salmon are typically the easiest to find as they will usually make themselves known.

Jumping out of the water doesn’t mean biting though. That’s where things get tough.