9/29/2010

Fished from about 8:30 am - 12:00, Chehalis has "lot's of color", not coming from Satsop so Chehalis river could be "off color" for some time. No fish for me, only saw 1 fish "caught"???? Snaggers have been working area's of the river........lot's of boats coming down from Fuller and up from Montasano. Not many fish showing.......Satsop should be "gang busters" on 10/01.....Time tells all !!!!!

Not cool about the snaggers. Not cool at all.

We have to report these guys. If I see a snagger I will report immediately. Program the poacher hotline into your phone and do it.

This river is a special fishery, relatively un-ruined by the yarn chucking losers. Any small amount of snagging has to be stopped.

Last year there were some guys snagging at a popular spinner spot. I stopped my boat and called the hotline. I was sure to talk loud enough that they could hear my conversation with the machine. I got the 'death stare' but it was worth it because they left.

Behind Wal Mart water was still pretty clear on the incoming tide. Had to go small to get mine. Small beads and a copper powder coated blade.

Snagging on the Chehalis seems like pretty long odds most likely to yield some very sore arms and no fish. That's pretty big water, not the kind of place I'd associate with snagging.

Sg

The snaggers I have observed having "success" on the Chehalis were not using the usual drift gear. Rather, they "fished" the frogwater with a slow-sinking bead setup. Let it sink until something causes the line to move or stop, then set the hook. I have heard this referred to as "tickling." A couple of guys I saw were deadly with that technique, and they were somehow managing to hook everything in the front of the head area. There was a game warden watching these guys, and you could tell he was frustrated at how efficiently they were hooking fish in the vacinity of the mouth.

I hate to admit it, but some of those snaggers are really good at what they do. Makes me think they could be great fishermen the ethical way....

I am heading that way friday morning, where would the best place to start trying. I'm not opposed to floating the satsop but dont know if it is too early.

What type of fishing you planning on doing?

By floating do you mean rowing a drift boat?
Early morning you could launch at South Monte', Mary's River, casting spinners.

Yesterday, a young lady I know landed two coho downsteam. Fish should be moving up with every tide.

There are spots that fish stack up and snagging is rampant there on the Chehalis. Have seen it done in the past where boats and bank fisherman alike were snagging both Chinook and Coho and there was a fish on almost at all times. Go down and watch them at the mouth of the Satsop some time when the fish stack up there and the game wardens have left.

As for fish moving, they are sitting off Johns river right now in droves so the school is on the way. Once the baramoter drops they will be on the move. Should be a couple days and we will start seeing the main run moving in. Satsop should still be stacked with early fish though.

9/30/2010

Finally...2 adults..............


snaggers were working the "upper pump house", this has driven off the normal "old timers" who fish this area.....the language is terrible, little kids, ladies(?????), 7-10 guys....cast and jerk...

Sg........there is 3 or 4 places, between Monty and Fuller Bridge, where the snaggers, practice their "skills". I choose to not fish around this crowd......peace and quiet is just a short run, away.

Satsop should be a pistol!!!!!!

Don't waste your time for a couple days anywhere below Monte or so. Everything is lock jawed and free swimming in these pathetic tides. Tides get better in a couple days and will drive the fish back into school and close to the bank for those of us tied to the rocks.

got one but your right about LJ. what is around seems to be bright though.

Quick question for those of you that fish the lower river.........in regards to launching either at Friend's Landing or the WDFW launch at Monty by the 101 bridge, what should someone avoid as far as low tide heights are concerned with a larger jet boat...like 22 foot, when putting in or pulling out?

Also....any concerns at 28th street as far as low tide?

Thank in advance....appreciate your help.

Wacenturion~
Alright heres the down low on the Chehalis launches and what you need to avoid... The South Monte ramp (the one under the 101 bridge) is a nightmare at low tides. Basically the concrete ramp stops and then it just drops off into the river. I've seen numerous boats lost right at the launch because of low tide issues. As long as you have the water, you shouldn't have any problems launching and pulling out. But stay away from there during low tides, trust me on this one.
The friends landing launch is much easier. The ramp goes down a lot further and it doesn't just drop off when you do come to the end. I've never launched there during a super minus tide, but have during regular low tides and done just fine.
The Cosi ramp is fairly good too during low tides, but there is limited parking and it's usually pretty packed. The 28th street launch is ideal, but it too has it's down falls during low tides. The Westport shipyard is right there, and they use this launch to launch their 100 plus foot yachts. The problem is that they have built up a flat gravel landing that goes a ways past the end of the dock. So when you have a low tide you really have to back down a long ways to get your boat off the trailer. I know I have had to back past the dock and really jack knife my trailer to the side to find water deep enough to get it off the trailer. It can be done, but it's a pain in the butt during a minus tide. All in all you should be all right, just plan around the minus tides... Good luck out there...

Harbor_Hog.............Thank you very much. Appreciate the detailed information. I launched at Friends a week ago at a 1.7 low. An old timer told me that I didn't want to go any lower, as it also drops off like you described for the Monty 101 bridge launch.

Reason I ask is because fishing the Chehalis from a boat is new to me and I'm usually taking my 91 year old father, who is in good health and gets around just fine, but not really up to being the assist person on launching and loading. So I'm trying to make it easy on myself.

Boat is a 22 ft. North River Commander with full hardtop, Hamilton 212 jet.

Thanks again

Oh....forgot ....how's John River....launch and channel?

John's River is single lane and has no dock. I'm not sure how low a tide one can still launch or retrieve at. The channel is shallow at low tide and tricky at most any stage of tide. Your boat might be a tad much for launching there.

Sg

Again.........Thanks!

I hit it from 2pm till sundown, lots of big fish rolling and plenty of jacks, nothing for me though.

Watched a group of guys snagging in the frog water hooking and losing a lot of fish. They weren't clear on what a king/coho was so I'm pretty sure some kings got the wood shampoo.

Heads up to those planning to fish next week.

Tribal nets:
42 12 Noon, Sun. Oct. 10 12 Noon, Thur. Oct.14
43 12 Noon, Sun. Oct. 17 12 Noon, Tues. Oct. 19
47 12 Noon, Sun. Nov. 14 12 Noon. Fri. Nov. 19

Cowboys:
Oct 8th 7am-7pm
Oct 15th 7:30am-7:30pm

Anybody know how the bay is doing?