I haven't fished the East Fork for a couple of years. Lost a large Chinook on a twitching jig.
Couldn't get the coho to bite but my buddy got one. He did well last weekend but I was busy.

Anyway going to give it a shot. Haven't fished for several weeks. Forks next weekend.

I am not sure there is much room on the gravel near the freeway bridges! Perfect weather and water and folks out enjoying things, not bad.

Latest Coho returns for Bingham and Springs report stayed the same.

BINGHAM CR HATCHERY Satsop River- H 10,450 Jacks 2,130 - total 11,601 10/27/23
BINGHAM CR HATCHERY Satsop River- W 1,287 Jacks 127 10/27/23

Same time 2022 30,108 H and 2054 W. Some have expressed reservations that the preseason forecast is not holding up. Could be right as for Recs the early rain got fish up so inriver was mostly good fishing. Tribal and NT Coho harvest were way off ( keeping in mind WDFW has not shared any numbers recently ) so looking at Bingham if the forecast was correct and tribal plus commercials had fish run up early those 10/27 numbers should be wayyyyyyy bigger.

Hope you guys are out fishing. Took the little guy out around Oakville yesterday before the rain. There's plenty of fish around!

and the river is pure mud today at tidewater.

Kinda knew this was coming.

FISHING RULE CHANGE



Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Nov. 3, 2023



Adult salmon daily limit reduced for Grays Harbor rivers
Action: Reduces adult portion of salmon daily limit to one (1) fish. Closes all Chinook retention.

Effective date: Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023.
Species affected: Salmon.

Locations and rules:
Black River (Grays Harbor County) from the mouth to the bridge on 128th Avenue Southwest:

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Minimum size is 12 inches. Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.
Chehalis River (Grays Harbor County) from the mouth upstream to the high bridge on Weyerhaeuser 1000 line:

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Minimum size is 12 inches. Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.
Clearwater River (Jefferson County) from the mouth to Snahapish River:

• Nov. 4 through Nov. 30, 2023: Daily limit is three (3) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.

• Effective Dec. 1, 2023: Closed.
Copalis River (Grays Harbor County) from the mouth to the Carlisle Bridge:

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.
Elk River (Grays Harbor County) from the mouth at the Highway 105 Bridge to the confluence of the middle branch:

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.
Hoquiam River (Grays Harbor County) from the mouth at Highway 101 Bridge on Simpson Avenue to the west fork at Dekay Road Bridge:

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.
Joe Creek (Grays Harbor County) from the mouth to the Ocean Beach Road Bridge:

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.
Johns River (Grays Harbor County) from the mouth at Highway 105 Bridge to Ballon Creek:

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.
Moclips River (Grays Harbor County) from the mouth to the Quinault Indian Reservation boundary:

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.
Newaukum River, including South Fork (Lewis County) from the mouth to Leonard Road near Onalaska:

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.
Queets River (Grays Harbor and Jefferson counties):

• Contact Olympic National Park for regulations at 360-565-3000 or https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/fishing.htm.
Salmon River (Jefferson County) from outside the Quinault Indian Reservation and Olympic National Park:

• Nov. 4 through Nov. 30, 2023: Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.

• Effective Dec. 1, 2023: Closed.
Satsop River and east fork (Grays Harbor County) from the mouth to the bridge at Schafer State Park and from 400 feet below Bingham Creek Hatchery Dam to the dam:

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.
Skookumchuck River (Lewis and Thurston counties) from the mouth to 100 feet below the outlet of TransAlta WDFW steelhead rearing pond located at the base of Skookumchuck Dam:

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.
Van Winkle Creek (Grays Harbor County) from the mouth to 400 feet below the outlet of Lake Aberdeen Hatchery:

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.
Wishkah River (Grays Harbor County) from the mouth to 200 feet below the weir at the Wishkah Rearing Ponds and from 150 feet upstream to 150 feet downstream of the Wishkah adult attraction channel/outfall structure (within the posted fishing boundary):

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.
Wynoochee River (Grays Harbor County) from the mouth to the WDFW White Bridge access site:

• Nov. 4 through Dec. 31, 2023: Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release Chinook.

Reason for action: Early season indicators suggest the number of coho returning to Grays Harbor and other coastal tributaries are lower than pre-season forecast. These measures are necessary to ensure natural escapement and hatchery broodstock goals are met.

Additional information: Anglers are reminded that fishing from 400 feet below Bingham Creek Hatchery dam to the dam and from 150 feet upstream to 150 feet downstream of the Wishkah adult attraction channel/outfall structure (within the posted fishing boundary) is open only to anglers with disabilities who permanently use a wheelchair and have a designated harvester companion card.

Please see the 2023/24 Washington State Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for current season information and be sure to check for any emergency rule changes prior to fishing. Consider downloading the Fish Washington mobile app or signing up for fishery changes at email notification through WDFW Regulation Updates.
Information contact: Region 6 Montesano office, 360-249-4628.



________________________________________
Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at 360-902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call toll free 1-866-880-5431.



Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-855-1012, TTY (711), or Title6@dfw.wa.gov.

I've been saying that they over estimated the run size all fall..

first they say theres plenty of fish up river on satsop so they raise the limit to 3. Now there lower the limit to 1 cause they are afraid that they might not get enough for egg take..


DOES ANYONE AT WDFW KNOW WHAT THE HELL THERE DOING???

Dry all fall, finally get some rain, drop the limit, get 40000 to the hatchery, drag feet on bumping limits, fish are gone, and or rivers are closed.

When I heard that the QIN had stopped netting WDFW would somehow restrict the rec anglers. Sure enough. I would think that they would wait until after this big rain to see what comes in.

Had to look but 2022 H&W Coho at Bingham same week was 32,162. 2023 Bingham same week H&W 11,737 so I kinda doubt the 40k is realistic. The % on H&W is about the same so it is doubtful that the hatchery Coho are under performing and the wild are not.

Take a look. 2023 https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/weekly-escapement-11-02-2023_0.pdf

And this is 2022 https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-11/weekly-escapement-11-03b-2022.pdf

As Region 6 staff have not provided any up to date QIN harvest numbers so this is about all we have to go on. From what I have been able to see Chum were well above expectations. Coho came early with the rain but both NT and QIN Coho harvest was way below expectations. Chinook showed way early in mid August and they just did not seem to pick up again in September. My bet is Coho & Chinook well below expectations and Chum well above. Chum are hard to say for sure because the prices both QIN & NT got per pound had a drastic reduction in effort.

QIN says jump, WDFW says "how high?" It's embarrassing.

The QIN closed their season until the end of November. I know there were some big bright coho showing in the lower Chehalis this last week. It will be interesting to see what comes into the tribs after this high water. Yes, the return of coho so far is less than at this time last year but the reason WDFW raised the limit to 3 adult coho /day a couple of weeks ago on the Satsop was that they had enough fish back to Bingham to justify it. QIN will go back in in Dec to (I suppose) fish the late timed coho and maybe pick up a few early steelhead. The new limit (1 adult/day) started today but the recs won't be fishing for a while because of the high water. WDFW could have waited to see what comes in with this high water before reducing the limit. I guess they have to keep the QIN happy.

11/4/2023



And to get the NT gill netters, fishing time. A group, IMO, that should have been eliminated from the Chehalis side and Humptulips side many years ago.

I've said for many postings, that this basin DOES NOT 3 GILL NET FISHERIES. The Qin, the Chehalis tribe, and the the NT'ers.

It's not like the NT fishers do not have options....a very liberal Willapa Bay fishery or take part in the "buy back program".

WDFW, Region 6 and some levels of WDFW upper management are so short sighted, out of touch with current reality, that the coastal salmon and steelhead fisheries will both be in the toilet. One of the worse things to happen in this State, around 1995, combine the 2 agencies responsible for "fish and game", then tip the scales with many Salmon management personnel.....duh move, an now here we are!!!! Grrrrrrrr

Exactly what Drifter said!!!!!!!! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

WDFW employees are only in it for a pension.
They are a group of lazy, college educated idiots.

Comments like this aren't helpful. To paint all employees with this same brush is dumb and inaccurate.

You are correct!

Cashing Jay's check this week I see.

So who is accountable if it's not the WDFW employees???????

WDFW employees and the weatherman get paid for consistently being wrong.
It's a culture of not being accountable and passing the problems down to the next generation.
Do something!!!!!!

they r doing something!!! there destroying fishing in washington!!!

i was told by a buddy who is well informed, the reason that the tribes wont net through November, is because they were 32% over quota LAST MONTH....

playing by the rules as usual..