Olympic Peninsula RiversOlympic Peninsula rivers fishing guides are
able to bring you Salmon and Steelhead and Sturgeon limits from
this Columbia River fishing hotspot. The action is non-stop for
Salmon, Coho, and Silver Salmon and Chinook Salmon throughout
the year in the Pacific Northwest but the absolute best fishing
is at Buoy10 and during the best times local fishing guides can
get limits in just a few hours.
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Anglers can kick off the season in competitive style by entering the Discovery Bay Salmon Derby, which takes place President’s Day Weekend near Sequim. This the longest-running derby in the state and features $10,000 in prizes, with a $5,000 first prize for the largest salmon. Details are available at www.discobaysalmonderby.com
The derby starts at daylight Feb. 14, which means participants will be "fishing blind," in Marine Area 6, said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist. "The derby’s the same day as the opener, so there’s no time for any pre-fishing. That just makes it more challenging."
For other
blackmouth fishing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Thiesfeld
suggests trolling the Coyote Bank, located about 13 miles north
of the Washington coast between Port Angeles and the Dungeness
Spit. "The strait produces some tasty blackmouth, but it’s a
good idea to keep your eye on the weather," Thiesfeld said.
Another derby will take place Feb. 28 through March 1 at Brinnon
in northern Hood Canal. Anglers can call the Geoduck Restaurant
at (360) 796-4430 for more information.
Thiesfeld reminds anglers that Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound) is now closed to salmon fishing and will reopen March 1.
Best Fishing Guides On The Olympic Peninsula Rivers
On the freshwater, success was mixed for river anglers enjoying pleasant weather over Superbowl weekend. Creel checks conducted during the Jan. 30 - Feb. 1 weekend showed 127 anglers on the lower Hoh River with seven wild steelhead (six released) and 12 hatchery fish. Catch rates were better for those fishing above the Oxbow Campground, where 61 anglers caught 17 wild steelhead (all released) and 14 hatchery fish. Thirty-two anglers on the Sol Duc came up with 15 wild steelhead (12 released) and three hatchery fish, but effort and catch rates were low on the Bogachiel, where 20 anglers caught three wild steelhead (one released).
"The weather’s been fair and the rivers are in good shape, but it’s stacking up to be a slow year," said Mike Gross WDFW fish biologist. "Hopefully, the fishing will pick up once we make the transition from hatchery to wild steelhead, but we just can’t tell yet."
The same holds true for Grays Harbor rivers, where weather and water conditions have been fair, but the results less than satisfactory, said Scott Barbour. "Anglers have been having some success on the upper Wynoochee above the mouth of Schaefer Creek, but it’s been tough going for the average angler," he said.
Anglers may retain one wild steelhead per year from one of 10 Olympic Peninsula rivers, which include the Bogachiel, Calawah, Clearwater, Dickey, Hoh, Hoko, Pysht, Quillayute, Quinault and Sol Duc. Elsewhere, all wild steelhead-identifiable by an intact adipose fin-must be released.
There is no annual limit for hatchery steelhead, although daily limits apply. For more information on rules and regulations, anglers should check the Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm ).
Date: March 13, 2009
Chehalis River Basin fishing closure
Action: A portion of the Chehalis River and its tributaries will be closed to ALL FISHING for the remainder of the winter season.
Effective dates: March 16, 2009 – April 30, 2009.
Species affected: Closed to fishing for ALL SPECIES upstream from Porter Bridge. Closed to fishing for ALL SPECIES — except white sturgeon — from the mouth of the river to Porter Bridge.
Location: Chehalis River (from mouth to high bridge on Weyerhaeuser 1000 line approximately 400 yards downstream of Roger Creek upstream including all forks and tributaries and the Chehalis River, South Fork from the mouth to Hwy bridge at Boistfort School) and its tributaries; Cloquallum Creek (from the mouth to Hwy. 8 Bridge to the 2nd bridge on Cloquallum Rd), Newaukum River (South, Middle and North Forks), Satsop River and East Fork (from the mouth to bridge at Schafer State Park), Skookumchuck River (from the mouth to 400’ below outlet of PP&L/WDFW steelhead rearing pond located at the base of Skookumchuck Dam), Wishkah River (from the mouth to 200’ below the weir at the Wishkah Rearing Ponds), and Wynoochee River (from the mouth to above mouth of Schafer Creek upstream).
Reasons for action: Early indications are that both hatchery and natural steelhead returning to the Chehalis River basin are well below pre-season projections. Available data indicate escapement goals will not be met. Many independent tributaries have not achieved their spawner escapement goals in recent years; the entire Chehalis River system has not met minimum conservation goals for the last two years. To minimize overall impact to the natural spawning population and to ensure hatchery egg-take needs are achieved, the sport fishery will be closed.
Other information: Quinault Indian Nation has also closed their commercial fishery in the lower Chehalis River for the remainder of the winter steelhead season.
Information Contact: Kirt Hughes or Barbara McClellan, Region 6 Montesano, (360) 249-4628
Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license. Check the current WDFW “Fishing in Washington” rules pamphlet or the Fishing section of the WDFW webpage at wdfw.wa.gov for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing regulations are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500; press 2 for recreational rules; call the Shellfish Rule Change hotline, (360) 796-3215, or toll free 1 (866) 880-5431.
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West Side Guide Service Newsletter West Side Guide Service welcomes our angling
friends from across the globe once again, for
another exciting year of fishing action centered on
the pristine rivers of the Olympic Peninsula,
Cowlitz, Lewis and the mighty Columbia river. We
really had a lot of fun during last seasons
Steelhead and Salmon adventures. This is my 33rd yr
of guiding Washington rivers, and am looking forward
to renewing old and new friendships on the river for
the up and coming season. Winter Steelhead fishing
is well under way. In the middle of November, the
rains began. This brought in fresh steelhead to the
Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah and Hoh rivers. As
usual, the Bogy is the hot spot on the peninsula.
Lots of limits of hatchery fish are taken daily.
This early season is prime time to take a fresh
steelhead home to the barbeque. As Christmas
approaches, big wild steelhead start heading up
stream. Our Snider Cr. Wild brood stock program is
also going full steam ahead during the months of
December and January. Volunteers are very welcome.
For those of you that have participated, thank you
for all your help on this program. |
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