Hey guys I am planning a silver/king trip to the oly pen this yr in October..just curious which week you would choose to go over and what two or three rivers you would concentrate on for silvers and kings...

I dont know if I will be taking my db with me or not but it is a possibility.

thanks in advance guys!!!!

The best way to make your first trip is not to plan it out six weeks in advance...

Clear three weekends in a row and watch the weather like a hawk. If the rivers are in shape any of the three weekends, GO! As busy as it gets in Forks, the hotels don't fill up to the point where you can't make last minute reservations.

When I was living in the city, I'd take my OP vacation the last week in October every year because IMO, that's when the maximum number of fish are in the systems as a conglomerate.

Leave the boat at home unless the Hoh is in shape. It and maybe the Bogachiel are the only rivers floatable to an oarsmen inexperienced to their danger.

Ive been there before in the fall just not for a couple of yrs and want to make it back. if I remember right I always used to go during the middle of october and fish the duc. but nothing too great going on when I was there

I'm sure some guys will have a differing opinion but I focus hard on the Duc the last week in October, first week of November. I've always had my greatest success in terms of numbers somewhere in those two weeks. I've only ever experienced HOT fishing on the Duc when its in the weeds.

Earlier in the year I'll focus on the Hoh when its in shape because, IMO, the majority push of fish happens a lil earlier there.

Caught my nicest Hoh river king on October 3rd, 1999, the 42# chormer I posted the pic of in the nice fish/ugly fisherman thread.

Nicest Sol Duc fish came November first last year, released untaped and estimated at 45 - 50 lbs by everyone who saw it..... Each fish was fresh to the river but the Sol Duc fish had more color...

...hope that helps!

Where would you recomend a cheap dry place to stay.

I usually stay at the Forks Motel. Decent room, reasonable price.

I stay at the Pacific Inn. Nice rooms etc. Wherever you stay, let them know your fishing. Sometimes you can get a cheaper rate. If your going with a bunch of people, you can also stay at the hotel on the north end of town. They have rooms that are like apartments and can sleep 3 or 4 nicely. Other places to think of are Bear Creek motel if your fishing the Solduc up high or Three Rivers Resort if your fishing the lower Solduc or Bogi. Good Luck

hey catcher-

check your pm's


Hint:
Don't forget about all of the neat B & B's there are in the Forks area...check around, you might even find one cheaper than the hotels.

I do the Dew Drop Inn.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I second H2O's recomendation. Leave yourself some flexibility to pick the right weekend. However, with all the rain early this year, there will be good numbers of fish in the early part of the month also. Last year I hit 8 kings durring a one day float on the hoh October 11th.

It is all about being there right when the rivers start to drop after a nice medium high water event!

Cheers!
SA

anyone else thinking of fishing it around the middle of the month that might want to meet up?

Catcher,
I'm thinking of floating the lower Hoh on 09/25.
But never floated it.
If you know the lower Hoh and want to show me the way, I can hook up with you on 09/25.

i have a trip booked with bob on oct 18

While you're in the Forks area fishing for silvers, try not to think about the 150,000+ coho that will be returning to the Skagit about that time. :p

Why would I the OLY pen isnt the skag...I want a change of pace and I love the forks area.

The fish will be in the skag till the end of Jan.