Funny I had to learn of this on an Oregon fishing board:

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=454670


This oughta' stir the hornet's nest.

if people would stop littering and stealing stuff, things like this wouldnt happen... alot of places are gonna get gated off and closed entirely if people dont get their god damn acts together... stupid...

I saw that today, stir the hornets nest is right. Look at what folks have lost in public access just this year alone. Vail tree farm for hunting, Pe Ell area for hunting, now this. Wouldnt you think WDFW could be a little proactive and secure/purchase an easement for this??? I am going to hope for the best on this one, but not be surprised when it goes to launch by permit only.

i bet its going to be launch by permit..

They might if they had any money. 4+ years of across-the-board legislative cuts will do that to a dept.

My big question is when will the closure be permanent? (speculation at this point)





You said it nicer than I would have but I agree completely. Really getting burned out on this trend......especially on this river.

That's not the only gate going up. There's one set to go up at the forks launch on the upper Hump. Major bummer! I'll be one less boat out that way. I don't make it down there enough to make the $ worth it.

Dont feel to bad Drewy, its not the only Gray's Harbor river that's possibly losing some DB access in the next year or so... Steelheading is becoming more and more a pipe dream, how do you want to catch your last one?

Oh I'll take mine on a spoon or on the pin rod of course.

that gate's been there for a long time, in fact it's one of the few green dotted rayonier roads left in grays harbor. it does get locked from time to time, due to the local party crowd turning it into a complete dump. it was closed from around april to mid august last year, i took a drive in within a week of it opening and it was totally trashed already.

the 7304(i think, it goes straight where the 7400 road makes a hard right and goes down to the bridge) was a nice access when it used to be open. it was in 2011 IIRC, but it had been a long time since i'd seen the gate open and it wasn't the past 2 years.

i've always thought it was strange how grays harbor has so many rivers, so few people, and so much posted land.

" i've always thought it was strange how grays harbor has so many rivers, so few people, and so much posted land."


Worked for the W for 38 years and the answer is ....... vandalism, trash dumping by the pick up load, and safety. Bear Gulch near Hoquiam was a poster child. Another was the Melborne A line near the highway and the CB markers were upper or lower dump. The simplest solution was to gate off and as Weyco has sold off holdings the new owners do not have any desire to put up with the problems the public access bring. If you have a side working a temporary gate well away from the landing on open roads or hell you will have nothing left in a week.

As for safety try getting a loaded truck stopped as you come around a corner and meet your local black berry picker looking over the side for a picking spot totally unaware they have loaded truck coming at them. Even more fun is kids and dirt bikes ripping up the road.

.........Meanwhile, us honest guys who just want some simple access take it in the a**.........again.

Going to do a little investigating and will post what I learn, if anything.

Don't worry guys, Donkey creek road is in the works of being gated aswell.

This is not a rumor. Its 150% fact

i thought donkey creek was a USFS road? if so, what's the reason for putting up a gate?

might be time to invest in a dirt bike that can get around gates, i guess we're getting to the point where you'll have to be an outlaw to go fishing.

Eric and others:

I could see a problem with WDFW and keeping access sites open, back in the early 80's.....there is a area on the Humptulips that is/was called Goughnors Bar.......between the hatchery and Reynvaan's. The land owners wanted to sell the access to the gravel bar.....WDFW didn't want to "take the lead" so WDFW, Dan Guy, approached GH Chapter of TU. I was treasurer, at that time, and wrote a check for $2000.00 as a sign of good faith........negoiations went bad, so the deal was never made.

If WDFW would have gotten out of the office, I think 99 years leases could have been done at the following areas: Wynoochee River-- Carter Creek, Sheafer Creek, Middle Bar, Water in-take, Valentine's, Wilkey Hole, Gravel pit area(both sides), Twin Bridges, and now the lower tide water area.

Humptulips and the Satsop, have just as many sites/access points, that 99 year leases could have been completed and protected the public.

It's not like $$$$$$$$ wasn't available, just that public access leases, was not a major concern............now it is, for the fishing public, and it's probably to late.

More people wanta fish, same amount of river miles.......just access points are becoming fewer.......combat fishing 101 will be alive and well in Region 6. Bumper boats will be the game!!!!!!

Fixed that for ya Bill.


Honestly, I don't know what will come of this 7400 gate. All I know is gates go up for a reason and usually get closed when I need the access the most. I completely understand timber companies frustration with the slobs out there that ruin it for everyone. I would just hope there can be some compromise, at least at this one gate on this one road, to keep this access open to fishermen. Otherwise, it'll be a big blow to upper river access.

Wdfw just wants everyone to to stop being pussies and start launching at the fish trap and go through they canyon and get it on a go pro.

Rumor also is that the 7400 launch is getting rebuilt I identical to white bridge.

Eric and others:


Not always the timber companies.......Carter Ck., middle bar, 3 humps, "Bob's" got shut off because of stuff left on the bars, noise, or giving land owners a bad time.

June 1 is fast approaching, oh woe is me......$4.00+ dollars a gallon, doesn't slow people down......