Grays Harbor & the Chehalis river

[Caveman Jim]

The salmon season has opened on the 16th of Sept.!!!!
Who is planning to fish it? I have an open seat or two most days!!!
This is my home fishery and hope it is as good as the Columbia was this year (within reason).
Text Jim at 360-470-two475.

Read More

 

[coastal steelheader]

Wonderful....


September 20, 2013
Contact: Ron Warren, (360) 249-1201
Grays Harbor anglers required to release chinook Sept. 22;
fishery to close for nearly a week Sept. 23

OLYMPIA - To help ensure spawning goals and management objectives are met for wild chinook salmon, anglers will be required to release all chinook beginning Sept. 22 in Grays Harbor Area 2-2 (east of the buoy 13 line) where the fishery will close for nearly a week the following day (Sept. 23).
The salmon fishery will reopen Sept. 29 with a daily limit of three salmon, but anglers will be required to release all chinook.
Ron Warren, regional fish program manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said the changes were necessary to help meet spawning goals for wild chinook salmon returning to the Grays Harbor basin.
"Angler effort and catch have been much higher than we anticipated since the fishery opened Sept. 16," Warren said. "With those increases, it was necessary that we take these steps to ensure enough wild chinook salmon make it back to the spawning grounds."
Warren reminds anglers that Grays Harbor Area 2-2 (west of the buoy 13 line) is already closed to salmon fishing.

For more information, check the emergency rule change at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=1363 .

 

[coastal steelheader]

Btw - so far this year I'm 0-3 on the Chehalis. Hooked three silvers, lost both tossing spinners. Usually there are fish all over the lower river by now, but this year it seems they are late.

Fished the Copalis twice - fish jumping everywhere, but only saw three caught. The river is the ultimate head shaker.

Fished the Hump twice - saw two caught, no hookups myself, but the fish are there if you put in the work for them.

 

[Caveman Jim]

Yes, this year was to be "THE ONE" like the Columbia river, but with low water levels before 9-27 (the rains) the fish were in but they were non biters. After the rains stop & the river starts dropping into shape that is the time to be fishin. Will be watchin the river levels & do some scoutin around.
As far as Region 6 and Ron Warren are concerned they always use the same broken model & paper fish to decide with the netters on how many fish the sporties get each year!!!
It is a disgrace that the taxpayers who fish & hunt in this state get screwed each year with less opportunity to pursue their happiness.

 

[Caveman Jim]

I used to fish the Hump years ago & drove in thru the sippy holes to the gravel bar across from the hatchery at Stephens creek.

 

[coastal steelheader]

I used to fish the Hump years ago & drove in thru the sippy holes to the gravel bar across from the hatchery at Stephens creek.

That was a fun road, haven't been down it in years. I think the only worse place to get into is the boat launch at Camp Bethel.

 

[coastal steelheader]

Speaking of Camp Bethel - Chums everywhere!
I saw a few kings and silvers landed but you had to fight your way through the chums to get them