After a 2 hour drive on a skating rink we finally arrived at the nooch today only to see the most driftboats I have ever seen on one float in my life 30+ rigs at black creek probably another 30 where we put in at!


How did everybody else do?

Yes, they came by the hundreds. the boats that is. I didn't see many fish caught.
It must be the only river in the state open.

I forgot to bring my own rock, so I had to turn around and head home.

Sorry to hear about the crowds....I just wanted to pass along a phrase I remember from a very long time ago in an article written about the Fortson Hole. It went something like, "....in the dark you could hear the lines tangling."

I'm so glad that I moved over to this side 30+ years ago.....it was like moving into heaven back then......and by comparison, I'm sure it still is.

I have heard the nooch and the satsop have a late silver run so on the last piece of water we decided to change techniques And first cast we were rewarded with a 12# chrome bright hen silver.......Oh yeah she still had sealice
2nd cast same little piece of water fish on it was her boyfriend low to mid teen buck....couldn't land him so I don't know if he had sealice or not, but still bright none the less! fun day other than the lack of ettiquite on the river.

Write about it and they will come.

fp

Cowlitz....Cowlitz....Cowlitz....There you go I wrote about it now GO GO GO! morons than what was on it today.

It will have more morons on it tomorrow than it had today. As FP said "Write about it and they well come"! Dan S. also subscribes to that theory along with myself.

P.S. Make sure we thank those people that dump their empty tackle packages at Black Ck.
It always makes for a nice wilderness scene.

Man and I quit fishing the noochie years ago because I thought it was crowded!!!PEACE

Just pick up some garbage when you're out there. If everyone that fished that river picked up two pieces of garbage, it would be pristine.

We need to make up for the folks who think of the Wynoochee as their own personal trash can.

As far as the crowd.........you can bank on it, whatever the cause. Might as well make the best of it.........I still love that river.

Minibear,
Thanks for the info. Interesting advice. But alas, I too was on the Satsop yesterday. Today you will find me on the Nooch, along with you and your buds. Nice diversion though.

i'm with dan s. on that

i to agree with dan s. i am one of those guys that if i see trash i have to pick it up, yes it seems like you have people everywhere that dont care.

fp and other local guides:

Can't believe how many articles have been written, Salmon, Trout and Steelhead, about the best way to "learn a river" is to pay one of the local guides to take you down a river. (How about all the television shows that were done 10+ years ago, naming local rivers, what bait to use, etc.????) They tell you to ask as many questions as you can while you are on the river.

Don't you think that maybe many of those people have finally decided that they can buy their own boat, tie or plug, like they were taught, put in on the same gravel bars or a the same boat launches, and fish the same water "like the guides do".

Just tired of everyone saying that "everyone" is talking about where to fish in Grays Harbor.

People do have the ability to "learn" on their own. Granted the ability to get information is much faster today than 25+ years ago, computer and cell phones, but the bottom line is that "just more people" have the ability to buy "toys" and now they come to where they can use their "toys".

Seems like this area is getting to be like "some of the those areas" in Alaska.....

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!!

"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"

I live down here and I didn't fish it - went goose hunting instead - probably the same results as most of those who fished the 'Nooch though

I have a fish that I took many years ago before I started c&r that is hanging in Auburn S&M that is from this beautiful river! I thought there was alot of people back then! I started fishing the Noch in the early 60's.

Yeah fp, I seem to recall a TV show some time ago featuring a Grays Harbor guide. West Fork of the Hump as I recall. Wonder if that put many people on the rivers....

How about the i-n-t-e-r-n-e-t?

I remember that show, Fishing the West with Larry S.
I remember that float on the west fork. The same day that FP took Larry and his crew, I floated the same stretch. Fp and guest were friendly and even offered dry clothes to my fishing partner. My drift boat went over him after he got out to to wade.
FP has fished for years around here, I have never known him to be a mouth piece, telling others where he fishes. Fishing is his source of income, his job.

DrifterWA & Salmonbelly,

Ya's got me laughin' now!!! That was 1984 and things were a bit different in "those" days don'tcha think?

Go on up on the West Fork of the Humptulips and try the float. You should be all alone. But, if ya see another boat there blame it on me. I'm a married man and I'm used to it..

I will not get into a pissin' match so Happy New Year to ya's.

fp

Hi my name is FASTWATER and I am a moron!!!PEACE

fp

What's the chances that you still have a VHS copy of that FTW episode from 1984 that you could drop by my office. That one is not in my collection. I'd like to make a copy if you don't mind.

I for one was a huge fan of that program, as it helped long Alaskan winters go by a little faster. I still dig out an old episode now and then... you know, for a glimpse back in time to remember how it was in the good old days.

fp, Isint that the show Larry missed one and you seagulled him the nexth cast.

fp, didn't mean to start a pissing match, only to indicate the apparent contradiction of a guide advising people not to mention rivers. Could have said "guide on it and they will come." And no, in terms of people, things are not much different today than 1984. Lots of people then, lots of people now. Irregardless, happy new year!