Terminal targetting: How to hit hatchery zones

Washington fishing map feature

By Randall Peters
Fishing and Hunting News

FORKS, Wash. — Late November in Washing-ton's all about three things: watching the Apple Cup, chowing down on turkey and getting after the first hatchery winter-run Steelhead.

From the Peninsula to Pugetropolis' suburban sprawl, some of the best spots will be "terminal zones": hatcheries, rearing pond outlets, smolt plants sites — wherever the fish were released from in spring 2005.

Yep, they'll be crowded, and yep, they'll have fish. Here are three of the hottest hot spots for steelies in late fall and early winter:

Anglers head for the Bogey near the end of November as fish begin returning to the Bogachiel Hatchery just southwest of Forks.

Generally speaking, one-salt fish will show up by mid- to late November, and the two- and three-salts will be arrive in early December.

The majority of this year's returning class are expected to weigh from 6 to 12 pounds, with rare fish into the mid-teens.

Hatchery Drift: Guide Randy Lato (360-374-2052) said the stretch immediately below the hatchery is ground zero.

"Steelhead will really stack up in there, so it's a popular spot, but it's real snaggy too," he said. "You want to avoid using drift gear here because you'll catch more rocks than fish." Try pink, orange, or red/yellow jigs tipped with shrimp under a bobber, said Lato. Eggs will also work. Get here via Bogachiel Way from Forks.

Bogey/Calawah confluence: Access both the lower Calawah River and Bogey on foot via the trail on the backside of the Bogachiel Rearing Ponds.

The Calawah, which receives a decent run of hatchery fish, is a great place for a float and jig. Daily limit on the Bogey and Calawah is three Steelhead.

Tall Timbers: Below the confluence, the water here is much more forgiving. Drift fish with eggs or shrimp, toss spinners and spoons or go with a float. Take La Push Road (Highway 110) from Highway 101 just east of Forks.

Travel two-thirds-mile past the Quillayute Road cutoff and take a left at the blue gate and follow the road to the river.

Goodman Mainline Road/Wilson Public Fishing Access: Good plunking and hardware water at these well-marked spots off of Highway 110.

According to personnel at the Tokul Creek Hatchery, mid-November is when hatchery brats begin to show. The bulk of the run can last until January, sometimes beyond that.

The hatchery expects a return of mainly two-salts this year, fish in the 7- and 8-pound class. Any three-salts that return will be larger than 12 pounds and can show up at anytime in the run.

To get to the Big Eddy/Tokul Creek access site (see below), follow Highway 202 south from Redmond past Fall City and take Fish Hatchery Road.

From the Snoqualmie side, take the first left north of the falls, 372nd Ave. Daily limit is also two Steelhead.

Big Eddy: This is where Steelhead stage in the Snoqualmie before entering Tokul Creek.

"It's a great place to use a float and jig," said John Hansen of Outdoor Emporium (206-624-6550). He recommends light-colored jigs early in the season. White, apricot, peach or pink are his favorite colors.

"The Eddy is a great place to make long casts and cover lots of water," he said.

Later in the season (December and January), he prefers to toss hardware like metallic No. 3 and 4 Vibrax spinners or spoons like a Gibbs or Little Cleo. The tailout of Big Eddy can be the best location.

Tokul Creek: "You're fishing some really shallow and swift water in the creek, so you have to fish behind rocks or any available slot that will hold fish," said Hansen.

"The drill there is to use a tiny tuft of yarn with a little scent on it and keep pounding the water. It can get pretty crowded in there, so stake a claim early and keep pounding the slots."

Be aware of rule changes on this creek. See p. 54 of the regs pamphlet for more.

Plum Landing: Run floats and jigs or drift fish with slinkies and nickel-size egg clusters or sand shrimp. Just below the riffle is the hot spot.

That boulder garden known as Reiter Ponds on the Skykomish east of Gold Bar should start seeing hatchery fish returning any day now.

"You can pretty much plan on seeing the first Steelhead of the season show up to Reiter by Thanksgiving weekend," said Jordan Doucet of Three Rivers Marine and Tackle (425-425-1575).

To get to the ponds, follow Highway 2 east from Monroe and take a left on Reiter Road just past Gold Bar. Daily limit is two Steelhead. Best locations

Reiter: This is where the majority of fish are taken, and the primo spots are the rocks at the outflow from the rearing ponds and the tailout of the drift.

"The tailout below the hatchery can be a really great spot and guys can fish it from both sides," said Doucet.

Park at the ponds to access the north bank or on Highway 2 a ½-mile past Zeke's (look for all the rigs) and take the trail down to the river to access the south bank.

Bobber-and-jig it from the south side (get there via an anglers' trail) or try floats or drift gear from the north. (Walk the old railroad grade downstream from the parking lot at the ponds or, if the gravel-pit operaters are feeling kindly, access it through their lands.)

He recommends one-eighths to ¼ -ounce jigs under a bobber or drifting nickel or dime-size egg clusters.

"A small piece of tiger prawn that's toughened up in the microwave can be a good bait too," he said.

Little Cleos or No. 3 or 4 blue-, purple-, pink- or flame-colored Vibrax spinners with a silver or copper blade can be effective.

Doucet suggests using slightly larger and darker (black, purple) jigs and Corkies when the water is up.

Egg clusters should be quarter to nickel-size. Add shrimp scent or anise oil in high water.