|
|
Anglers look to rivers to chase wild metal
Washington fishing map feature
By Randall Peters
FORKS, Wash. — Olympic Peninsula Steelheaders have certainly seen their share of ugly weather and horrible river conditions this season. In December and January, high water kept most anglers off the rivers. Despite the frustration, sharpies know that the real Steelhead season is just getting started. February traditionally marks the return of large, native Steelhead to our coastal streams. Every year, fish weighing in over 30 pounds are landed. Here's a closer look at several of the best: Quillayute
Comprised of the Quillayute, Bogachiel, Calawah, Sol Duc and Dickey, the Q system is forecast to receive nearly 12,000 wild Steelhead this season, according to numbers from WDFW's statewide metalhead manager Bob Leland. The Quilly is the shortest of the bunch, but all those Steelhead must travel through its 4 or so miles to get upstream. Drifting by boat is relatively simple. The river isn't technical and it's short. At the top is Leyendecker Park, at the confluence of the Bogachiel and Sol Duc rivers. Follow Highway 110 (La Push Road) about 7 miles west from Forks til you reach Three Rivers Resort and Mora Road. Take a right there; the launch is located only a few hundred yards on your left. From the bank, fish right at Leyendecker or continue down Mora Road to Richwine Road and the well-marked Public Fishing access just before Mora Campground. Both provide ample wading opportunities. Plunkers have had good success in the lower river this season, including one fish into the mid-20s last month. Net schedule: 6 a.m. Mondays to 6 a.m. Thursdays Feb. 13-March 23. Catch code: 404. Bogachiel
Pete Nordstrom (right) fulfilled his last year with this 39-inch by
20-inch buck, estimated to weigh 20 pounds.
The Bogey is one of the state's top producers of nates, and it has several boat launches. There's a ramp at Bogachiel State Park just below the Highway 101 bridge. The boat launch at the Bogachiel Rearing Pond, located just above the confluence of the Calawah River, can be accessed from Forks via Bogachiel Way. Just below the confluence, productive drifts such as the Hatchery Drift, Tall Timbers, Crescent Run, the Icebox Hole and the drift just above the Goodman Mainline bridge are traditional producers. Bank access is limited on the Bogey, but you can fish near the confluence of the Calawah, by Tall Timbers, and near the Goodman Mainline located off Highway 110. To fish the lower river, use the Wilson launch which can be found by the well-marked sign off of Highway 110 (La Push Road) before you reach Mora Road. A good plunking hole exists less than a mile past Three Rivers Resort on Highway 110 under the bridge that crosses the Bogey. Wild fish count: WDFW had tallied 51 wild Steelhead kept or released on the Quillayute and Bogey through Jan. 22. Catch code: 398. Sol Duc This river produces monsters in February and March. The wild Steelhead retention section of the Sol Duc starts at the Sol Duc State Salmon Hatchery near Sappho, which has a good boat launch. Other launches include Maxfield Road and Whitcomb-Dimmel Road, both of which can be accessed from Highway 101 north of Forks. The Sol Duc offers limited bank access, so concentrate your efforts near the boat launch areas if you're on foot. Wild fish count: 36. Catch code: 406. Calawah The boat launch just below the Highway 101 bridge on the outskirts of Forks puts you on the wild Steelhead retention section of river. The river may look docile around the boat launch, but the lower river is technical. The Calawah has limited shore accessibility, but the lower sections can be reached on foot via Bogachiel Way near the rearing ponds. Fish count: 7. Catch code: 400.
Hoh Preseason forecasts for more than 3,000 wild Steelhead place this river in the "need to try" category. However, recent low returns of wild Steelhead have forced WDFW to change several dates on the Hoh calendar. While it will remain legal to retain one wild Steelhead throughout February, all wild fish must be released beginning March 1. Originally, retention of wild Steelhead was to remain in place until April 15 in the section of river from the mouth upstream to the DNR's Oxbow campground. Now, however, wild Steelhead must be released in that section of river and selective gear rules go into effect March 1-31. You're still permitted to harvest two hatchery fish in this section of river throughout the month of March, but must adhere to the selective gear rules as of March 1. The entire Hoh will close to fishing on April 1, not on April 15 as originally scheduled. Boat launches in the catch-and-keep areas of the Hoh include Oxbow campground, Allen's Bar and at Hoh Resort. All can be accessed from Highway 101. The launch at Cottonwood Campground can be accessed via Lower Hoh Road. Wild fish count: 19 (lower Hoh). Catch codes: Below Highway 101: 350; above: 348. Queets Preseason estimates of more than 6,000 wild Steelhead here make the Queets an enticing prospect for catch-and-release Steelheading. You won't find regulations for the river in the state fishing pamphlet, rather at the Olympic National Park's Web site (nps.gov/olym) or by calling (360-452-4501). Basically, fishing with bait, treble hooks, and barbed hooks is allowed on the mainstem of the Queets below the Streator Crossing boat launch until Feb. 28. While you must release wild Steelhead in this section of the river, you are allowed to keep two hatchery fish. March 1-April 15, only artificial lures with single barbed hooks are allowed and catch and release of all Steelhead is required. Above Streator Crossing, only artificial lures with single barbless hooks are allowed at all times. To access the Queets, follow Queets River Road off of Highway 101 south of Kalaloch. Put your boat in at either Hartzell Creek or at Streator Crossing. Net schedule: noon Sundays until noon Fridays Feb. 5-24; noon Sundays until noon Thursdays Feb. 26-30; and noon Sundays until noon Wednesdays April 2-26. Catch code: 394. Clearwater This large tributary of the Queets is open for the retention of wild Steelhead even though the Queets is not. Wild Steelhead may be retained until April 15 from the mouth to the Snahapish River. The Clearwater can be accessed from Highway 101 south of Kalaloch by turning onto Clearwater Road. There is a boat launch at Copper Mine Campground. Catch code: 392.
|
|
|
|