Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Report
Updated February 29 2024Big drop coming, get ready!!
Winter Steelhead season is in full swing. There are fish in every river and fishing has been great. It’s a little crowded out on the rivers, but with a little patience and creativity you can find success.
This latest high water and following cold snap should have fresh fish all through the systems.
We are very thankful to have the opportunity to pursue these incredible fish. In this age of river closures and limited opportunity, we are lucky to have one of the last strongholds of Wild Steelhead right in our back yard. Now more than ever it’s important that we handle them with care.
There’s been a lot of talk recently about the effects of catch and release on Steelhead. While it’s very difficult to prove exactly what those effects are, here are some tips for sustainable Wild Steelhead catch and release:
- Fish barbless hooks – this is an easy one, it’s the law. It makes it much easier to get the hook out of your ear.
- No Bait – another easy one, also the law. One of many awesome things about Steelhead is how willing they are to bite a huge variety of lures and flies. You don’t need bait
- Use enough rod/line to land the fish quickly – The longer the fight, the more exhausted the fish gets, the less likely it is to spawn successfuly. Fish 12 pound test line minimum, we typically fish 15 or 20
- Keep them in the water – they need to breathe to recover from the fight, and they need water to breathe. Plus the pictures look way better when the fish is in the water.
- Use a knotless rubberized net – it helps protect the fish’s slime layer, a key component of their immune system
- Take the gloves off and wet your hands before touching the fish – dry hands, fabric gloves and even those silly net gloves strip the protective slime layer off fish which reduces their chances of surviving and spawning successfully.
Following these will help make sure that Steelhead you caught and released not only swims away, but also makes it to spawn the next generation. So your kids and their kids can continue to enjoy these amazing creatures.
As always, feel free to give us a call at (360)417-0937 if you have any questions.
Please help us preserve our native runs fo fish by releasing wild trout and salmon. These fish are unique and special.
If you’d like to harvest fish, there are still plenty of hatchery opportunities in Washington. Click here to find a hatchery river near you(opens in a new window)
The immense variety of fisheries in Washington state unfortunately leads to some confusing regulations at times, especially with in-season regulation changes. Thankfully WDFW has addressed these complaints by creating the Fish Washington App. This is an extremely handy tool we use every day, it shows a map of fishable waters in the state and the current regulations respective to those waters. Allowing you to plan your outings, and also find new water to fish. Best of all it is completely free! More details at WDFW Fish Washington App Page.
SOL DUC
The Sol Duc River is Open from the bridge above Klahowya Campground downstream to the mouth
Special regulations:
Fishing from a floating device is only allowed below the concrete pump station at Sol Duc Hatchery
The Duc is high and dropping, and fish were being caught in every stretch before this highwater. It should resume once it clears up a bit in a few days.
QUILLAYUTE
The Quillayute river is open!
Quillayute will be too dirty for the next few days, due to the color coming in from the bogachiel.
There’s always something swimming up the Quillayute, some days lots others not so many. This time of year there’s usually lots! But when they do, they are all fresh from the ocean. The key is to be patient and keep casting. Fly choice doesn’t matter much, but definitely go on the smaller side if it’s very clear.
BOGACHIEL / CALAWAH
Bogachiel:
Special regulations:
Fishing from a floating device is only allowed downstream of the mouth of Mill Creek (located approximately ¾ mi. above the Bogachiel Hatchery)
The Bogi is running doodoo brown right now, will take a couple days to come in.
Calawah:
Special regulations:
Fishing from a floating device is only allowed downstream of Highway 101 Bridge
The Calawah is still high, but clearing fast.
HOH
Hoh River Fly Fishing Report – Open!
Special regulations:
From Morgans Crossing boat launch to the DNR Oxbow Campground boat launch: Fishing from a floating device is allowed ONLY on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.
From DNR Oxbow Campground boat launch to the mouth: Fishing from a floating device is allowed ONLY on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
The Hoh is very high and dirty right now. The Steelhead are there, if you know what you’re doing you can catch one today. If you don’t, give us a call and book a guide trip! (360) 417-0937
QUEETS
The Queets River is closed
Unfortunately the Queets river is suffering the effects of poor management, and will be closed again this winter.
QUINAULT
The Quinault River is closed
Just like the Queets, the Quinault river is also suffering from the effects of decades of poor management and will be closed this winter.
ELWHA
Still closed to all fishing but the river is finally FREE!
There has been remarkable recovery in both Salmon and Steelhead, but a few species are still struggling so the river remains closed.
The Elwha river is home to all five species of Pacific Salmon: King, Coho, Chum, Sockeye and Pink. As well as both winter and summer steelhead, along with a robust population of resident rainbow trout, and last but not least some very large bull trout.
DUNGENESS
Dungeness River report – The Dungeness is closed until October 16th.
The Dungy had an even better return this year than last, hopefuly this streak keeps going to the point we get a spring season again.
LAKE CRESCENT
Lake Crescent is now closed for the season and will re-open on June 1st 2024
LOWLAND LAKES
Lowland Lakes: Open*
Some lakes are closed now, but there are many year-round lakes in the area. Check the regs or give us a call!
It hasn’t gotten too cold yet this winter and water temps are still in the “very happy trout” range, and lake fishing has great lately. Not many folks out on the lakes this time of year so there’s a good chance you’ll have them to yourself.
Most lakes can easily be accessed with a float tube, and some don’t have boat launches so chances are you’ll have it all to yourself.
Give us a call if you don’t know where to go 3604170937 p.s. a good place to start looking for lakes to fish
ALPINE LAKES
Alpine Lakes – Closed
Alpine Lakes are now closed until the spring, you wouldn’t want to go up there right now anyway. It’s cold up there, like really cold.
Most Alpine Lakes in the Olympics have naturally reproducing populations of stocked Brook Trout.
These fish are plentiful and you are encouraged to harvest them. Dry flies, nymphs and small streamers all work. These fish are very hungry and opportunistic.
SALTWATER BEACHES
Cutthroat fishing in the salt, pink and chum fry are starting to show on the beaches according to some of our local SRC aficionados.