skokomish

While perusing the current fishing regulations the other day during a period of seated heavy meditation, I noticed that the s. fork Skokomish river appears to be open for catch and release, selective gear rules fishing June 1 - Oct 31 from the mouth to LeBar creek. A couple of questions:

1) Am I interpreting this correctly?

2) Has anyone fished it recently and if so, how was it?

I pose these questions only because I thought it was closed to all recreational fishing below the hwy due to the ongoing legal battle with the Skokomish tribe claiming the river to be tribal property. I would be interested to know if anyone has gotten any flack from tribal or state influences while trying to legally fish on the river.

I may give it a go soon just to see.

Thanks for any replies.

I believe "mouth" refers to the confluence of the forks. Notice the same language in the North Fork regulations.


For sure there are chinook in the lower river. I saw one sockeye as well.

Fishing is closed in this area.

Have spent a good amount of time hiking around the south fork.
I've seen very few salmon carcasses, especially the higher up you go.
Good place to catch some solitude, not so much as far as catching salmon goes.
Just my opinion. Have fun if you go.
SF

The Skokomish River begins at the confluence of the North and South Forks. That would be the Skok proper and the regs listed for Skokomish would apply. The N and S forks "end" at the point of confluence. So, having the S Fk open does nothing to the on Rez section.

By the way, there were sockeye in the Skok watershed before the current hatchery/restoration program started. Two types. There were kokanee from Cushman that smolted and then came back. There are also native riverine sockeye that spawn and rear in the mainstems.

Drove by and looked at it on my way to hoodsport, can confirm, it is loaded with fish....so sad.

Go up the south fork with a lite fly rod.

Thanks all for the replies.

I get it now. The Skokomish river is only the "Skokomish" river downstream of where the N and S forks enter the mainstem. So the old regs must have listed 3 separate waterways which all counted as Skokomish.

I wonder how many folks read the regs like I did and have/will unintentionally fish the mainstem illegally?