Fished the Lower Quinault 4 times last winter. Didn't need a tribal fishing licence but you do need to be with a guide. Dec and Jan. for brats, Feb. and Mar. for nats.

I would say a drift down the Sol Duc because you get a shot at some trophy Steelhead and a white water experience all in one.

I'm not sure where I'd go. On one hand, the Quinalt would be very nice because I'd be more likely to hook a big steelie. On the other hand, one of the reasons I go with guides is to learn new areas and techniques. Since a guide is required on the Quinalt, the knowledge gained there would be less useful than knowledge I would gain on say, the Hoh that I could apply by myself later on.

To me, this is the best way to shorten the learning curve, so my pick is a fairly local river (within an hour's drive). Doing it next week in fact, on the Wynoochee (weather willing).

JacobF, good point! Now I am really undecided. Thanks for everybody's input.

If it were me I would whant to go to a truely unique place where many people dont go. Catching big fish is nice, catching lots of fish is nice but I would rather go to a place that is remote.

If it were me I would get a Quinalt guide and have him take me to the Raft River. Im not into paying to catch a pile of brats Id rather catch 2 or 3 pretty wild fish in a unique remote place with knowone else around then be on the lower Quinalt brat factory/farm anyday.

My second pick would be Bear Creek, Sol Duc drift, then the Clearwater, trib of the Queets then maybe the South Fork of the Clawah. All unique places that will make good memories no matter how many fish you catch as all the fish caught in these places are special.

Iam with you Rich!!!! Good points and just how i feel too!

if you are talking about anywhwere in the world, that would be dallery creek up in the rivers inlet area. i dont mind telling any one about it because there is no access, unless you are willing to back pack in for a hundred miles. summer run steelies on every cast

That's what Brad tells people as he's warming up the chopper.

I'd havfe to choose the Kispiox in BC. I've never been, but fvrom what I have read, and the pics, it looks like an awesome fishery.

Steel-Addicted

Whichever river has the best chance of getting into fish; quality fish. Or I will settle for a river that possesses the biggest fish. I don't care what the fish is. If it's huge, I'll target it.

Personally if a day is paid to fish anywhere in the world, I would fish the Great Barrier Reef after the biggest damn fish of them all. And I would use people, live people, as bait. Anybody want to go fishing the barrier reef with me?

Or I've always wanted to line up down at Blue Creek. Nothing like having that entire stretch below the cliffs all to yourself, especially from Thanksgiving to Christmas. There's no one there and the fish are over 200 pounds. It's great because there is no easy way to access it and you can get away from the roars of the jet sleds. Total serenity.

I want to get up on the Skeena system since we are talking about 30+ pound steelhead in large numbers.

One word ... Kamchatka

RICH G,
You just hit exactly what fishing is all about for me.I put very little emphasis on the catching.If I only had the bogy or the sol duc to chose from in dec I would chose the long shot because I would have it to myself.

in theory, kamchatka sounds ideal, but the last time i inquired about going there on my own, i was hassled by the fbi, and followed for a whole year by commie pinkos. ( no kidding ) things might be a bit better now ( that was in the 80's)and if anyone has any connections , i would love to go on a trip and try it out. i'll supply the transportation if someone out there speaks russian

Taimen in Mongolia. Check out the size of this pig:




They reach weight of up to 150#s...the locals use whole gopher to catch these bad boys. Oh ya.

I agree with the others...Kamchatka is my dream trip. I could die a happy man if I ever made it over...if I ever find out I have some terminal cancer and a limited amount of time to live, Kamchatka would be my destination!!

Check it out...
Kamchatka

Okay, if were no longer just talking about in-state fishing but anywhere in the world, though Kamchatka does sound interesting, I think my dream trip would be ultra light tarpon fishing in Costa Rica, as much as I love catching kings in Alaska, I might have to change my name to C.R.Tarpon.

As for an in-state trip, it would either be a trip on the Duc in March, or the Hoh, Feb or March

Another fun river would be the Dean. I'd love to get down around tidewater and camp a week on the Dean. Some monster fish that don't get talked about much.
Keith

thats a pretty cool looking fish. what is it? looks like a cross between a brown trout and a steelhead