Welcome to Steelhead University! The sole purpose of this site is to help you catch more steelhead. Steelhead are, and always have been, the most elusive and sought after gamefish in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to their elusive nature, they are perhaps the hardest fighting freshwater gamefish in North America. Catching these prized fish, however, even for the most experienced fisherman, has always been a challenge.

This site will provide useful information for both novice and experienced steelheaders on how, when, and where to catch these prized fish.

We'll have tech tips, product reviews, destination articles, and in season updates related to steelhead and salmon fisheries throughout the Pacific Northwest. You'll also find useful links to weather forecasts, river levels, maps of major river systems, and other useful information to help you plan your next trip to the river.

Steelhead University will be brought to you by some of the Northwest's top river anglers:

Terry Wiest has been salmon and steelhead fishing for over 30 years and has fished with some of the best. Terry has written articles in many fishing publications and has been featured in the book "Pro Tactics for Steelhead and Salmon". He has also been the featured speaker at many seminars and fishing clubs throughout the Northwest.  Best known for Steelheading using a Float and Jig, you'll find him on the banks, floating his pontoon, in a driftboat or sled with his fishing buddies, usually with a float rod in hand.

Full time guide Phil Stephens owns and operates Mystical Legends Guide Service.  He is one of the hardest working and most respected guides in the Northwest. In addition to showing his clients on the water how to fish, Phil has a great reputation for teaching others how to fish whether they're his clients or not. Phil is a well received speaker at various fishing clubs, always willing to share his knowledge with others.  Look for articles and reports from Phil...you'll learn a lot!

Full time guide Mike Zavadlov, who owns Mike Z's Guide Service is one of the most respected and successful guides on the Washington coast. Known for his great attitude and ability to get his clients on the fish, Mike is a great asset to Steelhead University. Mike is also our expert fly fisherman and centerpin angler which was much needed as both of these techniques become more popular.

In addition to hosting this website, these guys will be conducting informative clinics with some of the Northwest's top names in sportfishing, all for the sake of making you a better angler! 

In addition to steelhead fishing, this site and our clinics will also be focused on how to catch salmon once they enter the freshwater environment.  Catching salmon after they enter freshwater is just as detail-oriented as any steelhead presentation and many of the techniques used to catch steelhead are adaptable to catching salmon.

What makes Steelhead University special is that the information you find here is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We'll be adding articles, tech tips, maps, and other useful fishing knowledge on a regular basis.