I have been gathering as many fishing reports as possable but am curious form the people that are familiar with these rivers, if you could fish one of these rivers during the middle of february which would it be and why, less people, bigger and more fish, etc. i do have a fly fishing video on the sol duc and the river really looks great, and for years have read about the hoh and bogachiel, but am wondering your professional opinions. we will actually be fishing the penninsula for 3 days.
mike doughty
Bogie, Hoh or Sol Duc?
If the river is in go fish the Hoh above 101. It has very good access and a considerable amount of fish. Not quite as many as Brenden's Hole, but how many do. 
Mike,
I fished the Hoh last year for the first time...awesome river. Can't help you on any of the others except I heard the Duc can be quite hairy in terms of floating. The Hoh in my book is a number 4 or 5 (10 being most dangerous) until you hit the lower canyon section (which I've been told to avoid), just above the hwy.
I'm planning on going this month 19-21...thus far it is only for sure 2 of us, 4 if you count "riding the fence" people. Let me know if you would be interested in meeting up and shuttling?
Andrew
I fished the Hoh last year for the first time...awesome river. Can't help you on any of the others except I heard the Duc can be quite hairy in terms of floating. The Hoh in my book is a number 4 or 5 (10 being most dangerous) until you hit the lower canyon section (which I've been told to avoid), just above the hwy.
I'm planning on going this month 19-21...thus far it is only for sure 2 of us, 4 if you count "riding the fence" people. Let me know if you would be interested in meeting up and shuttling?
Andrew
My buddy and i will be up there the 16,17,18,19 getting there the evening of the 16th and leaving the afternoon of the 19th, but if could hook up someone that would be great.andrew said:
The Hoh will be the easiest to find good bank access to. Should be good numbers of fish but the river runs with quite a bit of color most of the time. I wouldn't let that deter me though. Just make sure you tie something on that is big enough for those fishies to get a glimpse of.
If you plan on jumping from river to river for 3 days you'll probably not learn as much as you would by picking one and hammering away at it.
My .02
Have fun, Dave
If you plan on jumping from river to river for 3 days you'll probably not learn as much as you would by picking one and hammering away at it.
My .02
Have fun, Dave
The Bogey is not a bad place to fish and is a relatively easy place to float for an average to good oarsman, lots of water but subject to off color conditions with almost any rain.
The Sol Duc is a beautiful river and remarkabley busy from the hatchery to lyendeckers. You should be a proficient oarsman to float any run on this river, as it has a reputation for collecting boats and people. Lots of big fish in here from feb to closing in apr, as a result lots of guides fish here with meat.
The Hoh is the easiest to float and also very subject to poor viz due to rain. Even in good conditions carries a fair amount of color. Very straight forward float with a handful of moves to be made through out. The turn at the Ox bow is probably the most difficult and harbor the most wipe outs. Of all the water the it probably has the most fly water due to smooth tail outs and ample back casting room.
I fish on the Peninsula alot, what will you floating in? I will try to sya hello if I run into you on the river...
Fish On...G
The Sol Duc is a beautiful river and remarkabley busy from the hatchery to lyendeckers. You should be a proficient oarsman to float any run on this river, as it has a reputation for collecting boats and people. Lots of big fish in here from feb to closing in apr, as a result lots of guides fish here with meat.
The Hoh is the easiest to float and also very subject to poor viz due to rain. Even in good conditions carries a fair amount of color. Very straight forward float with a handful of moves to be made through out. The turn at the Ox bow is probably the most difficult and harbor the most wipe outs. Of all the water the it probably has the most fly water due to smooth tail outs and ample back casting room.
I fish on the Peninsula alot, what will you floating in? I will try to sya hello if I run into you on the river...
Fish On...G
If walking and wading then I would go the route of the Hoh. It has alot of bank access. Love fishing all those rivers. Good luck and have fun. If you are wading I would give more than one a try. Solduc 2nd. Ask around, or get a guide.
there is a saying amongst those i fish with, " Only Whores fish the Hoh more than once a week", J/K. I was up in the OP last weekend and fished the Sol Duc, the Calawah, and The "Pukeachiel" in two days. The Hoh was out so i was unable to fish it. But if this rain storm Tommorrow doesnt blow out the system ill be on the Hoh on Saturday, Shwaaannnging the fly. Jeez I love this time of year. :beer2:
i believe the upper Hoh, is flywater only, but not to sure. But i do know for a fact that from Oxbow Up bait isnt allowed.
Actually, it's 101 up, which isn't that far from Oxbow takeout. But I think inside the park it was "fly only". But heard there was an uproar over that decision. But the state water is anything but bait/scent.
Onto floating the Hoh, there is a few tricky spots. Hoh really isn't that bad of river in terms of "classification" of the runs. BUT, it has "boat eaters". Meaning, it's the unseen that puts you into trouble. As many boats are eaten entering the Canyon at the Rock Garden as down at Oxbow. Have seen almost as many sink there as in the Oxbow itself over the last couple decades. Usually a simple mistake navigating a run. Problem with DB's, a little mistake and water over the gunnel spells swim time.
All the rivers over there are good to go at that time. You can flyfish the Hoh, just remember to bring out the marlin sized flies. :rofl: Hate tying them that big, but those monster marabous work like a charm in that off colored/full stained water. Unless it's puking, you can flyfish it. If it's puking though, I bring out the drift gear.
Onto floating the Hoh, there is a few tricky spots. Hoh really isn't that bad of river in terms of "classification" of the runs. BUT, it has "boat eaters". Meaning, it's the unseen that puts you into trouble. As many boats are eaten entering the Canyon at the Rock Garden as down at Oxbow. Have seen almost as many sink there as in the Oxbow itself over the last couple decades. Usually a simple mistake navigating a run. Problem with DB's, a little mistake and water over the gunnel spells swim time.
All the rivers over there are good to go at that time. You can flyfish the Hoh, just remember to bring out the marlin sized flies. :rofl: Hate tying them that big, but those monster marabous work like a charm in that off colored/full stained water. Unless it's puking, you can flyfish it. If it's puking though, I bring out the drift gear.
At this time the west end Olympic Peninsula Rivers have been a bit turbid and high.Especially the Hoh.
I was up the upper Bogachiel yesterday and it was off-color a bit, about two feet of visibility. As were many of the other area waters. Of course the lower Bogey was impossibly turbid.
The lower Sol Duc was fishable, a bit high and colored, up to about 3-4 feet of visibility. The upper Sold Duc, near Sappho, was also moderate to high but eminently fishable, and visibility was about four to six feet. Water Temp 41-43 degrees.
The Calawah was on the rise, and colored up a bit. I did not have time to go upriver on the Calawah yesterday, it may have been fishable by late afternoon.
We are now getting a cold, high presure front here, and we expect Mountain snow at 1000 feet levels. And colder, drier nights are expected for the week ahead, This should help the O.P. Coastal rivers drop back into very good shape over the next week. It will depend on how well, and for how long, the high pressure holds inland.
My vote is for the Sol Duc right now. Some very big fish have been caught here lately. And I expect that the upper Hoh, near the South Fork, could get good soon again. Check your regulations carefully before you go, especially with regard to open and closed areas and selective gear rules on some areas and sections of rivers.
I was up the upper Bogachiel yesterday and it was off-color a bit, about two feet of visibility. As were many of the other area waters. Of course the lower Bogey was impossibly turbid.
The lower Sol Duc was fishable, a bit high and colored, up to about 3-4 feet of visibility. The upper Sold Duc, near Sappho, was also moderate to high but eminently fishable, and visibility was about four to six feet. Water Temp 41-43 degrees.
The Calawah was on the rise, and colored up a bit. I did not have time to go upriver on the Calawah yesterday, it may have been fishable by late afternoon.
We are now getting a cold, high presure front here, and we expect Mountain snow at 1000 feet levels. And colder, drier nights are expected for the week ahead, This should help the O.P. Coastal rivers drop back into very good shape over the next week. It will depend on how well, and for how long, the high pressure holds inland.
My vote is for the Sol Duc right now. Some very big fish have been caught here lately. And I expect that the upper Hoh, near the South Fork, could get good soon again. Check your regulations carefully before you go, especially with regard to open and closed areas and selective gear rules on some areas and sections of rivers.
Mike,
I'd focus on the Hoh and Sol Duc for the mid-Feb dates you mention. Water conditions can, and usually are, highly variable, so it helps to be flexible. The Sol Duc goes out last and comes in first. The Hoh is always colored. It takes getting used to, but it helps if you accept that 18" visibility equals "gin clear" on the lower Hoh, and the fish can actually see the fly in lesser conditions. The Hoh has more easy access than the Duc, but you can walk in to enough places on the Duc to kill a day.
Good luck.
Sincerely,
Salmo g.
I'd focus on the Hoh and Sol Duc for the mid-Feb dates you mention. Water conditions can, and usually are, highly variable, so it helps to be flexible. The Sol Duc goes out last and comes in first. The Hoh is always colored. It takes getting used to, but it helps if you accept that 18" visibility equals "gin clear" on the lower Hoh, and the fish can actually see the fly in lesser conditions. The Hoh has more easy access than the Duc, but you can walk in to enough places on the Duc to kill a day.
Good luck.
Sincerely,
Salmo g.
Well after some researching and what not we decided to get a room at the sol duc lodge. it wasn't that much more then some of the hotel/motels in forks and since we had to cancel our michigan trip i had a little extra money to play with so i know we will fish at least one of the days on the river we are staying at, but yes we are flexable.
Mike,
Fishing on the Sol Duc River is good to great, depending on river conditions. Perhaps find the time to track down a guide for a days float to see tactics etc. Gloria is a great host and has a great location on the river. Have fun perhaps I will see you out there....and if you dony mind tell Gloria Gus Garcia says hello....
good luck....G
Fishing on the Sol Duc River is good to great, depending on river conditions. Perhaps find the time to track down a guide for a days float to see tactics etc. Gloria is a great host and has a great location on the river. Have fun perhaps I will see you out there....and if you dony mind tell Gloria Gus Garcia says hello....
good luck....G
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