As a trout angler who occasionally fishes for salmon, it bugs me to see complete river closures, ostensibly to protect Chinook salmon. It happens to the Humptulips, then the Skagit this year, and now the Satsop. A lot of us like to chase sea run cutthroat with 5 and 6 weight fly rods that couldn't harm a Chinook if we tried. And we don't try! Rather than enforce fishing regulations, the Washington Department of salmon just prefers complete river closures these days.

But the Chehalis did open for coho fishing yesterday, so a friend and I gave it a go. I've mostly fished in the Harbor in the past decade or so. I'd kinda' forgotten how nice it is to boat and fish in some tamer water. We boated a couple and called it good.

I agree, Salmo. They could easily craft regulations that protect salmon and allow trout fishing. Used to be that "opportunity" was the mantra. Now, they see to have given up and just open or close.

With the Chehalis tribs being very low and no rain forecast for the rest of the month I was wondering if tribs (Nooch, Satsop, etc) will open ov Oct. 1? Anybody heard anything?

https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/rfc/

Other than Doty the basin flows are forecast below average but not record lows which is good. Now the bad the long range forecast has rain off and on through Oct. but not enough to jump flows up. The weather looks to following be following AH's old rule..... no real rain until the first week of Nov. Nov. is going to be wet for sure but then we have this, the large number of Coho moving up early is good as NT nets are in the last week Sept two days then the QIN and NT combine 4 to 5 days netting a week through Oct.

To your question who knows! If the fish come in and move above the Rec boundry lines probally not. If they fill the river and park so you have red fish ass deep maybe. The fish did that in early 80's and again early 90's.

This is not true.

I guess I could be wrong but the old rule was Chinook South Coho North but is not exclusive. Just which place to target for what fish. Lots of folks fish the South for Coho and C&R for Chinook this is not a new thing. That is why tribal fishers are not allowed in South channel.

Ah we are back. Little update fishing tidewater has been good bad really good depends on the day person. Have seen several jumpers today watching the river so it looks like the weather has had a positive impact. Time to get at it guys!

Only had one or two jumpers here so far, but some folks I know have been doing fairly well further North in Budd. A few late Chinook and more coho.

Well I know one guy had fun! Watched him hook a rather good size Chinook and that fish took him up and down the river in front of the house! What impressed me was when he got it to the boat he simply cut the leader and let his spinner go with the fish. That is how you fish tidewater to keep Chinook mortality down... do not handle the fish at all just cut the leader the barbless hook will fall out. Whoever you are guy thumbs up!

9/27/2026




Wynoochee has not been closed, that I'm aware of.....

Humptulips, Satsop, will be open for sure 10/01, I'm assuming Wishkah will be open also. Also the Chehalis above Fuller Bridge will be open.

NT net fisher's will get 2 days before 10/01, but will have to release wild chinook...