12/16/2020

Well, here we are, mid December and boat launches on the Satsop, the Chehalis, and the Wynoochee, when I check, are almost empty.

Tuesday drive around, showed 1 jet boat rig at Fuller, no rigs at Satsop launches, highway or West Fork, and 1 drift boat waiting to take out on the Wynoochee at Black Ck.

WDFW goal to protect wild steelhead is having an affect on these rivers, "even though historically wild fish enter these river much later in the fishing season".

What most of the "still wet behind the years" WDFW personnel don't know is that the Wynoochee and the Satsop were late returning native steelhead. I moved to Grays Harbor in 1968, the steelhead season was until 4/30.....spring vacation time I could fish anywhere on these 2 rivers and catch/release many chrome bright steelhead over 20 pounds.....probably hooked and broke off fish, many pounds larger. The more amazing thing, many times not see another fisherman.

In the 60's, 70's, and even the 80's there were NO NETS in the Chehalis river after the hatchery run salmon season was done, not that the QIN couldn't net, they just didn't.





Edited by DrifterWA (12/16/20 01:11 PM)
_________________________
"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"

"I thought growing older, would take longer"