What a timely topic, at least for me.  I live close to the Russian as well, and will be making my first try at steelheading this year. I have been poking around for the same information you are seeking.   Here is what I found: Hook Sizes 6-10 - Comets, Gold Comets, Silver Comets, and Flame Boss. I snagged this list of flies off of a steelhead clinic flier posted on the Western Sport Shop website.  You can find a detailed list of materials required for each fly at the Orvis website. 

 

There are some limited public access areas near Rio Nido, Guerneville, Monte Rio, and Healdsburg. Check the King's Sporting Goods web page for maps and information. With limited access, I assume fishing is much like Putah...crowded. I have been told lower on the river towards Jenner and Duncans Mill you need a drift boat or other vessel to get to good water, same with areas near Healdsburg. There are a few locations such as Johnson's Beach, Casini Ranch, and few others I can't recall that allow fishing access for a fee.

I plan to try to stay away from the Guernville area due to the rather unfortunate level of litter and crazies wandering around the area. I may try going old school style and knock on the farmer's door to see if I can get access to private water along River Road near Forestville. It never hurts to ask.

-- Edited by SCM at 17:09, 2007-09-25

I am not sure there are any fish coming up yet. I recall there is a sand bar at the mouth that needs to be blown out to let the fish come in. I have been keeping my eye on the King's Sporting Shop forum to see if there are any reports of fish. I have met Carlo a few times. He is definitely a source of good info. and tips. I checked out some his photos from the Russian. He has caught some pretty impressive fish.

I used to work at Northwood Golf Club in Monte Rio when I was attending SSU...so I can definitely attest to the tweakers and fringe people wandering the river area. They usually don't bother anyone, but I have seen a few twist-off and cause problems.

I never thought about a kayak on the Russian. I spin fished the river once, about 8-years ago heading in at Odd Fellows Park near Korbel. At that time, the river, after a week of clear weather following a pretty substantial rain, was pretty formidable.

Lets hope we get some rain, soon!

We may not need to wait for the rain. I was looking around the Sonoma County Water Agency website last night and saw where the sand bar at the mouth of the Russian is often opened by hand or heavy equipment for flood control and to allow fish to enter the estuary. Other good news is that discharges into the river from are being increased to improve the flows for the fish run and the summer dams are being removed at the end of the month.

All the guys I see in Healdsburg use some sort of sink tip and are mostly using a really slow swing method.  The hole behind my winery is frog water and they really stack up in there.  I have talked to lots of guys who have fished the Russian a long time and it's tough.  101 is right about blow outs.  One night of rain can hammer it for two whole weeks sometimes.  A decent year for many may be 15-20 fish?  It's a very big river to boot.  I definitely want to learn it though.

i dont know much about steelies yet but i know someone who is very very knowledgeable when it comes to it, ALLEN at american fly fishing on fair oaks blvd, i dont know the name of the fly but it looks like this guy

http://www.americanflyfishing.com/Flies/Caddis+Nymph/Flying+Circus+Caddis.html

just call ask for him, and ask him what fly is kickin ass for steelies and he will tel you what one or ones to use, same technic as putah, but heavier everything

give him a call

I can't add much to the topic but I do know all the coastal rivers get blown out really easy so defenitly check river conditions before taking a trip. I'd love to get into a steelie this year. I see a very cold winter day or two on some place like the trinity river this december or january, Thats when they'll really be in thick.

hey Cole i need to get set up with a shooting head and extra spool what grain are you using

Ehammer I too will be going at em with a 9 8 wt. I have a shooting line tipped with a 30 section of 300 grain shooting head RIO line. My shooting head is clear and looks to be pretty stealthy. We'll see what the rain does and if I need to go with another one I will. I am working on Flies this morning. Spent a bill on stuff at the shops yesterday. Just about filled a box with comets and boss' so I'm ready.   I also got out of there with about the same money spent on both lines at only 70 bucks so depends what you go with.

-- Edited by cole at 11:10, 2007-10-21

I just checked the King's Sport Shop website...the mouth of the Russian was breached this afternoon. Looks like the larger fish should be moving in this week, as well as the crowds!

Since there was some discussion of shooting head/sink tips, I thought I would add the water was slow, shallow, and very clear when I was out on Friday.  A sink tip might be not be the go to line for the time being, perhaps a floating line working a weighted fly would be a good call.  Any thoughts?

-- Edited by SCM at 21:48, 2007-10-22

i saw on the news this morning that they started letting water out of lake Mendo and the salmon are on there way up they even showed footage from the under water cammera

The sand bar reports are getting frustrating. I want to go out tomorrow, but if the mouth is closed it would be pointless. My flybox is looking pretty good too. So far I have tied up: orange Estaz eggs, gold and silver comets, black bosses, and some clouser minnows (heard that if it swims it will chase a clouser). I cheated a little and bought some Skynomish Sunrise's and gold and black stones. I tried tying some eggs from McFly foam, but what a pain..they came out like fuzzy marbles - way to big. Any one have a secret to getting properly sized eggs? Also, are there any other must have or recommended flies for the Russian?

Hey Cole,

Do you know if there is public access at the Wohler Road bridge? I was looking at the Russian on Google Earth and the Wohler Bridge looked like a good area to drop into the water. I was hoping to fish the Korbel hole, but I found that "No Parking" signs have been posted at Odd Fellows Park Road. So without parking, I have to look for another place to fish.

Thanks for the tip. I generally fish on Fridays so I hope to miss the crowds. Casting a shooting head/sink tip is definitely some work, espcially getting the line started out of the water. Even when you strip the line well into the shooting head it takes some strength to get the it in the air...I slapped my rod with the fly more than once my first day out. I was actually working sort of a side arm cast to keep the line/leader/fly away from my face. Another tough aspect of casting is controlling all of the stipped line. All in time and practice I guess.