We are a conservation minded outfitter providing year-round guided fly fishing trips on the Olympic Peninsula for steelhead, salmon, trout & we take anglers of all skill levels from beginner to seasoned veteran.

WHAT WE DO

We specialize in both spey and single-handed casting. Swinging flies for Steelhead in the winter/spring, and fly fishing for trout and salmon in the Summer/Fall. We offer full day float trips and half/full day walk & wade trips(summer/fall only). We understand that anglers are unique, and their guided trip should be too, don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to plan a custom trip. More than anything, we want you to enjoy your day on the water and learn about our unique area.

In an effort to preserve our fishery for the future, all wild fish are strictly catch and release. Hatchery fish may be harvested according to season/bag limits.

GUIDED SEASONS

We fish and guide on a few select rivers all year round, targeting species according to what’s running in the river at the time. Here are the species we target and months they are present.  For more in-depth info on these unique species click on the SPECIES tab below.     Species we target and Months they are in the river:

  • Trout – Cutthroat & Rainbow – May-October
  • Summer Steelhead – June-October
  • Coho Salmon – July-November
  • Chinook Salmon – September-November
  • Winter Steelhead (Swing only) – November-April

 

SPECIES INFO
Trout – May-October:

Streamer eating Sea-run Cutt

  • Sea-Run Cutthroat Trout: Sea-Run Cutt’s spend most of their time in the ocean, and migrate into fresh water to feed and or to spawn. They enter the rivers at all times of the year but primarily in summer through fall when waters are warmer and at much lower flows. These Sea-Runs are incredibly feisty, love both hitting big dries on the surface, and large steamer patterns underneath. Pound for pound are great fighters. Average size 10 to 15 inches with the largest (most infrequent) near 20 inches.

Resident Cutthroat give anglers opportunity all season and can be found high and low at any time of the summer season.

  • Resident Cutthroat Trout: Resident Cutts spend most or all of their life in the river. They range in size from 5 to 15 inches and may be a little more selective in their feeding habits but one true fact about trout on the OP, they love big surface imitations!

Most of our OP rainbow trout have fast metabolisms and move out to the ocean to feed, thus becoming a “Steelhead” (a sea-run rainbow trout) but the rainbows with slow metabolisms stay in the fresh water offering great sport opportunities throughout our summer season.

  • Rainbow Trout: Fewer and far between than the Sea-Run or Resident Cutthroat. Rainbow trout of the OP are fast, hot, wild fish. Great fun and put on their best aerial display once hooked. Average size 5 to 16 inches

Summer Steelhead – June-October

  • These are sea-run rainbow trout. Summer Steelhead coming from the ocean enter the river in the summer from June to as late as October migrating up river to spawn. Averaging 5lbs to 12lbs summer steelhead are incredibly fast and strong for their size and put the heat to any reel. We use lighter fly lines and often fish smaller flies. For rods, we can get away with using single handed rods but might prefer smaller/lighter spey rods for our summer steelhead. (Your guide can provide all rods if need be)
  • Summer run steelhead are no longer as abundant as they once were decades ago. Even for an advanced angler if you catch one a day you are doing great! But this is why we love to fish for them. Here on the OP Steelhead are something very special.
  • If you’re new to fly fishing, Steelhead fishing may not present the best sport as it is very difficult even for advanced anglers to find and hook these rare tough to catch fish… if you don’t mind a high probability of not seeing a fish and would like to learn how to fish for steelhead, than we would love to take you out. Who knows, with a guide your chances are dramatically improved! Our summer runs average 5lbs to 12lbs. Also, we do have a summer hatchery/stocked run in a few of our rivers.

Lake Crescent Trout – June 1st to October 31st

Beardslee rainbow trout AKA “Blue Backs”. Though this guy is about 10 inches in length, in a couple years may grow to be upwards of 15lbs!

  • Beardslee: Oncorhynchus mykiss beardsleei are considered to be a sub-species of rainbow trout. These Beardslee rainbow are endemic to Lake Crescent and can reach incredible size. Some have been caught up to 15lbs to 20lbs. On average we catch these fish 12 to 16 inches with 20+ inch fish not being uncommon. These Bearslee have a chrome, dime bright body with an almost azure blue back (locally known as Blue Backs). Not only are they beautiful but they are incredibly aggressive and feed heavily on Kokanee (bait fish) crayfish, sculpins and will take dry flies and in the early season will take poppers on top of the water!

 

Crescenti Cutthroat upwards of 12lbs! This is a rare treat to see a Cutthroat of this size, but it can happen once in a blue moon

  Crecenti: Oncorhynchus clarkii crescenti these trout are endemic to Lake Crescent, and though they do not get quite as large as the Beardslee rainbow, our Crescenti Cutthroat have been caught up to 15lbs. Crescenti are again, gems, beautiful and no two Cutthroat are alike. Some are covered in bold dark spots, some hardly a mark, and you’ll find a few that have a trademark vivid fire orange tag on their dorsal. Crescenti are incredibly aggressive eating large bait fish streamers, sculpins, crayfish, drys, and at times small nymph patterns. Average size 10 to 16 inches with some getting up to 20 inches and much larger in some rare cases.  

       Another Crescent Cutthroat trout, awkwardly large head but loaded with spots and beautiful yellow birthmarks!


 

Coho Salmon – July-November

Head Guide – Curt Reed with a chrome bright, fresh from the salt Coho salmon. Though Coho on the fly is not our specialty service, we may fish for them if they are present in the river. Often if Coho are present in the river we may combine our effort, targeting both Steelhead and Coho during your trip. If your interested, ask about targeting Coho salmon while booking a trip and we will accommodate (again, “if” Coho are in the river at the time of your trip. )

Coho Salmon: AKA “.Silvers”. Coho offer great sport opportunity through summer into fall. They fight hard, and are great fun on a fly rod. Though we can and often do book trips specifically targeting Coho, these Coho are often caught using the same gear and tactics while fishing for summer run steelhead or our early winter run steelhead. Average size ranges from 5lbs to 12 lbs.


Fall Chinook – September-November

Fall Chinook can present a very challenging yet sometimes a great sport opportunities when available. We don’t specialize in guiding for Spring or Fall Chinook as the runs and the productivity are highly unpredictable, but we do target them both for our personal fun and leisure fishing. Though its not our specialty service, if you would like to book a trip targeting fall Chinook than give us a call and we would love to take you out. After all we love our Fall Chinook!

Chinook Salmon: AKA King salmon/ AKA Springer / AKA Fall Chinook. “King Salmon” is just a name for “Chinook” / “Springer” is just a Chinook that arrive in the Spring / Fall Chinook arrives in the Fall. Chinook are the largest of our Salmonid (fish) species with the largest upwards of 35 – 40lbs! Chinook salmon live at sea for a few years then make their migration into the rivers to spawn at specific times of the year based upon ocean and river conditions. Chinook salmon can range greatly in size. Average size range of adult Chinook salmon 10lbs – 30lbs. Chinook can be very difficult to catch on a fly, and only fisherman looking for the unsure challenge search out these Kings


Winter Steelhead –  November-April

Turn down the exposure! A beautiful dime bright winter steelhead. Our steelhead may range greatly in size but on the OP we get some of the largest steelhead in the world

Winter Steelhead are Sea-Run rainbow trout that have spent a year or more in the ocean feeding heavily, building up fat reserves for their migration into the rivers to spawn. Unlike other salmon species which spawn once then die, some steelhead may make this journey up the river then back down to the ocean three times in their life. Average size: 5lbs to 15lbs with some in the 20+lbs range Conservation: There is currently a large scale effort to restore our rivers back to the infamous bounty we once had only decades ago. Olympic Peninsula Steelhead have been subject to many variables of over harvest by commercial fisheries, mishandling, environmental impacts, ocean conditions and just a vast misunderstanding of how vulnerable these steelhead really are. It’s a continuous effort to understand how to manage the incredibly diverse biodiversity of the Olympic Peninsula. It involves collaboration of Federal, State, local/corporate business, Tribal laws, and even us as fisherman. So on your guided trip we emphasize these fish are incredibly unique, beautiful, great fun and most importantly every fish is handled with care. The “run” timings are by Thanksgiving the early run of hatchery winter steelhead are in and they will be most abundant through December.  By January the highly prized native steelhead are getting started as we enter prime time.  February and March are special months as some of the largest wild steelhead in the world swim up our rivers.  These fish are truly amazing and draw anglers and guides from all over.  And April brings the lower flows and warmer water temperatures that equal snappy fish. If you’re new to fly fishing, steelhead fishing may not present the best sport as it is very difficult even for advanced anglers to find and hook these rare tough to catch fish… if you don’t mind battling winter elements, a high probability of not seeing a fish and would like to learn how to fish for steelhead, then we would love to take you out. Who knows, with a guide your chances are dramatically improved! Give us a call or email us to ask specific questions or to book your trip today!

 (360) 417-0937 ~ info@waterswest.com

THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA RIVERS

The Olympic Peninsula is a rain forest, so much so that in the upper reaches of the O.P. we may receive 200 inches of rain per year. All this rain has to go somewhere and most of it drains directly into the Pacific ocean, anywhere this fresh water drains into the ocean you’ll find a blooming and highly dynamic ecosystem. These freshwater drainage’s are migration hot spots for many species. Some move into the rivers for spawning and some for feeding purposes. The Olympic Peninsula has since become a mecca for sight seer’s, hikers/backpackers, nature documentaries and of course, sport fisherman!

 

 

We typically fish the major coastal rivers around Forks, WA, and are licensed for guiding in the Olympic National Park.  The rivers include the Sol Duc, Hoh, Bogachiel, Queets, and we also fish Lake Crescent from June-October.  We target steelhead almost year round,  and trout from summer through fall.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
  1. Our guided trips include all necessary tackle, lunch/snacks and water. Anglers are certainly welcome to bring their favorite rods, flies, beverages, etc. This is what you will need to bring:
    • Waders and Boots – If you do not have any, let us know so we can get you a pair of rentals
    • Fishing License – Make sure to get this before the day of your trip. If you get it online it usually takes about 10 days to get to you. Otherwise you can get one at Swains General Store in Port Angeles or Forks Outfitter in Forks. If you are fishing for salmon and steelhead with us, make sure to get the “Catch Card” as well.
    • Sun glasses and hat (eye and head protection and helpful for seeing into the water)
    • Rain Jacket in muted tone if possible
    • Appropriate clothing: summers are generally mild, with a lightweight long sleeve being the most you’d probably need, but fall and winter are a different world. Dress in layers, with hat and gloves. Warm, but thin socks can really make the difference. We use Woolpower because it’s thin and incredibly warm, but anything like that will work as well.
WHERE DO WE MEET?

We do most of our river fishing around Forks, Washington, about an hour west of our shop.  We will often meet our clients right in, or nearby Forks, depending on the river we are fishing.  If you are staying in Port Angeles and do not have transportation, we can usually make arrangements for your guide to pick you up in town.

NEW TO FLY FISHING?

Great!  We enjoy teaching new fly fishers a lifelong hobby.  There is no better place to learn than on the water, and we provide all the essential gear.  Just show up ready to learn and we’ll take care of the rest.

 

 

GUIDE RATES

(See below for Deposit Policy)

These rates include all fishing gear (rods, reels, flies, etc), and lunch on full day trips

Not included in this price is your Washington State license (not needed if fishing inside the Olympic National Park), sales tax, waders and boots, and gratuity for the guide.

Guided River Trips-

1 Angler 2 Anglers 3 Anglers
Half Day Walk* $250.00 $300.00 $375.00
Full Day Walk* $400.00 $475.00 $550.00
Full Day Float $450.00 $550.00 N/A

*Available June 1 – October 31

 

RENTALS

If you need gear, all gear is provided on any guided trip. We are happy to offer rental gear for anglers who want to travel light or may just be fishing for a day while in the area.

Waders & Boots – $25/day

DEPOSIT POLICY
  • We require a $150 Deposit to hold your preferred date.  Deposit is fully refundable if the trip is cancelled due to unfishable conditions. (Trips will not be canceled due to rain or bad weather, unless conditions are unfishable or dangerous. It rains quite a bit here.)
  • Cancellations over one month in advance of trip – 100% refund of deposit
  • Cancellations less than one month, but more than two weeks from trip – 50% refund of deposit
  • Cancellations within two weeks of trip – no refund of deposit
  • The full amount will be due if the trip is canceled within a week, unless we can re-book the date before the trip.
OTHER GUIDE SERVICES WE RECOMMEND

Captain Justin Waters at All-Waters Fly Fishing : Sea-Run Cutthroat Trout fishing in The Hood Canal. You’d be hard pressed to find someone that knows Cutties better than the fine folks at All-Waters. Justin tells the best jokes out of all the guides we’ve known and clients often tell us their trip with Justin was the best they’ve been on. Plus you get to hang out with Lemmy the boat dog. Make sure to book ahead of time as he tends to book up quickly. 360-318-5664 — Justin@All-Waters.com

All-Waters Fly Fishing — Sea-Run Cutthroat Fly Fishing int he Hood Canal

All-Waters Fly Fishing — Sea-Run Cutthroat Fly Fishing in the Hood Canal

Anadromy Fly Fishing - Year-round fly fishing on Olympic Peninsula Rivers

Anadromy Fly Fishing – Year-round fly fishing on Olympic Peninsula Rivers

Terrance Stevenson at Anadromy Fly Fishing : Year-round fly fishing on Olympic Peninsula Rivers. Terrance is a great fisherman who has been fishing these rivers from a very early age, and knows them all very well. A tremendously skilled oarsman, he can row through some of the most intense whitewater without even touching a rock. Make sure to book ahead of time as he tends to book up quickly.  (360)460-3500 – https://www.anadromyflyfishing.com — anadromyflyfishing@gmail.com

Dave Ferguson – Real Deal Guides : On top of being a great angler, Dave is quite possibly the nicest guy you will meet on the river. Always patient and eager to help you have a great day on the water. Top notch lunches and great conversation!  (724) 591-2714 — realdealguides@gmail.com

Dave Ferguson - Real Deal Guides Forks WA

Dave Ferguson – Real Deal Guides Forks WA

Caleb Hitzfeld, Forks Fly Fishing Guide

Caleb Hitzfeld, Forks Fly Fishing Guide

Caleb Hitzfeld : November – April fly fishing on Olympic Peninsula Rivers. Caleb splits his time between Alaska and his home in Forks, because of that he is only available November through April. Caleb is a dedicated Spey guide and a great instructor, whether you’re new to the game or have been fishing for years. You’ll learn something from Caleb. He also provides some of the best guide lunches we’ve ever seen. Make sure to book ahead of time as he tends to book up well in advance.  360-640-8513 — caleb@chflyfishing.com

Larry Ford at Blue Heron Guide Service : Larry is one of the Peninsula’s most experienced fishing guides, and one of the very first Spey fishing guides in the area. A great angler and fantastic Spey caster. People travel from all over the world to fish with Larry. Make sure to book ahead of time as he tends to book up quickly. 360-640-0447 — info@BlueHeronGuideService.com

Larry Ford - Blue Heron Guide Service

Larry Ford – Blue Heron Guide Service

Curt Reed, Guide

Head guide Curtis Reed has been with Waters West for over 15 years and is an integral part of and a major asset to the shop.  During this time, he has fished and guided extensively throughout the Olympic Peninsula with heavy emphasis on the famous steelhead rivers near Forks, Washington.  Curt is a skilled fisherman and a true professional.  A day on the water will always be fun and informative and most likely involve hands that smell of fish.  He’s a well-rounded fly tier, an outstanding spey caster and one of the best instructors around.  He teaches many of our classes and clinics on all things fly fishing and is available for private lessons as well.  His fly fishing roots began as a boy studying entomology and tying flies for his dad.  It wasn’t long until he had his first 4-weight and was hooked for life.  He has since evolved into a very knowledgeable, incredibly patient guide with a passion for fishing and a gift for teaching.