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Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

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Satsop River Report
Grays Harbor County, WA

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Details

11/24/2014
41° - 45°
Casting
Coho Salmon
Raining
Jig
All Day
11/24/2014
3
5722

If I’m rating this day for myself fishing success-wise it’s a one. Fortunately I had Gringo Pescador along to save the day and bump it to a three. Of course, for him it would have been a five.

The water level was a bit high today but it had come down in 24 hrs from 5,000 cfs to around 3,200. Lower part of the river was colored up and a bit fast, but past the fork the water was in much better shape. We fished out of my little jet boat. The Satsop is fun to dart around with this boat, but a bigger jet boat would be advised to stay below the east/west fork.

We fished our first hole after a guide boat left, and started to see rising fish here and there – and Gringo nailed a beautiful B run chrome bright coho on a twitching jig. I was twitching as well but also throwing chartreuse spinner and plugs, but no love for me from the fish. After fishing this hole for about an hour and a half and no further action we ran up river about a mile and spent a half hour trolling a prime fish lane, but no fish came out to play.

Our final destination was a well-known piece of frog water off the east fork. As noted earlier, running the river this far up is a bit trickier – it has some sharp S turns and shallow spots with a fair amount of wood to be on the lookout for. We arrived safely and spent the rest of the day, about 4 hours, twitching and casting till our elbows got sore. Mark once again had the hot hand, catching two more chrome bright B runs and losing one. Me, I got one tired, moldy chum. We saw the bankies catch a half dozen fish while we were there, so while it wasn’t on fire there was action to be had. We called it a day at 3pm as the rains started to fall heavier. Back at the launch it was "fun" powering the boat on to my trailer. Be aware the launch has no current deflection, it can be a challenge.

Now if I can just manage one more trip for this year!


Comments

River Pig
11/25/2014 6:33:00 AM
What brand of boat hull is that? Like the looks of it. How do you like it?
Mike Carey
11/25/2014 1:46:00 PM
It's a 15 ft Klamath. I like it, it's a good multipurpose hull. It does get a little squirrelly back trolling plugs. It's also a very light hull. 35 hp rated pump runs 2 people nicely, and can go skinny water very well. Lots of fun zipping around!
goodtimesfishing
11/25/2014 3:08:00 PM
Your chum should smoke up just fine....LOL
Gringo Pescador
11/26/2014 6:14:00 AM
It was a fun day and all hens so I was able to triple my egg supply to boot! Just wish Mike would catch something, I'm afraid my netting skills are going to get rusty.
Salmonchaser
11/26/2014 12:54:00 PM
Never been to the satsop. Heard lots about it. Can you guys share some info on some good bank access? Thanks and nice fishes you got there
obryan214
11/26/2014 3:23:00 PM
good job, that one in front of you on the beach in pic 3 should smoke up just fine. seen a sled about the same size as yours way up by my property in may, long after the upper east fork closes(octobr 31st). must've been an interesting trip going through the giant log jam downstream, weaving around the clay bank in front of my place and another tricky one downstream by the old scout camp and up over the small waterfall on my neighbors place. got a log jam on both sides of the island up there now.
Mike Carey
11/26/2014 8:28:00 PM
It was a heart in the throat blast running up as far as we did. I just have to watch out closer for low hanging branches. :-)
Gringo, no worries, my turn will come! Just so nice to work hard all week and then be able to get out and totally unwind and relax for a day.

Salmonchaser, I don't really know much in the way of bank access. Cooks Creek is a popular spot that the road runs next to. We saw bankies in several spots as we ran upriver.
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709