Here's a spin on the what do you do when the rivers flood thread...

I'm wondering, when the rivers flood, what do the fish do? Do they just find a solid holding spot and try and wait it out? Do they immediately start charging upriver to get into the hatchery as soon as they sense the rising water? Do they charge high up river to find some more stable water conditions to hold in? Have any studies been done on this?

Thanks for any input,

Drew

They will always look for the clean seams where a clear tributary will be entering the main river. Also any slow water and slow side channels. Believe it or not, this is when you'll find them in depths down to a foot deep. Just think close to shore!

So all the Reiter fish probably shot into the hatchery then? Or maybe dropped back down to Big Eddy? Not that I'm trying to fish it right now but I'm just curious while I wait.

I would think there's a decent seam up in the gravel pit about now. Maybe try Hogarty crk. on the other side of Reiter Rd.

Back when I used to do "lot's of plunking"....late 60's and early 70's....the "then old timers" told me..."the higher the water, the closer to shore...is where you should be fishing".

I actually help net 2 steelhead for a guy when the Humptulips was running "brown with color".......both were well over 25#......before Bolt Decision.....His plunking gear wasn't more than a foot from shore.

Drew,
Since you are relatively new to steelie fishing, you should add some rags to your tackle arsenal. Add your favorite bait ....very good in high dirty water.

Those little buggers also work well in almost gin clear water, aswell.

I actually made some a while back but have yet to use em. I guess this would the time where I'd want to bust them out but I'm not planning on fishing til sunday anyway. Speaking of rags, I know of probably the only place in Seattle that carries the white backer rod to make em anymore

White backer rod is for newbs... It's all about the gey!

Yeah, The skok chums are quite fond of that. Did anyone else see that video of the dog that walked off with about a ten pound chum that was trying to cross the road earlier this year when the skok flooded?

You're just saying that because you're jealous that I know where to find it. and for free none the less. I've got a phuckin stock pile of it.

Turn dark.Good luck,
SZ

Swim

A friend of mine has a small spring creek on his Fork's area property. The creek has formed a few ponds. From the pond's outlet to the big river, it is no wider than a foot or two in most spots. It's probably half a mile from the big river to the ponds via this small stream. When the big river blows hard, the ponds will quite often stack up with steelhead.

Must be nice!

Uh.......Coley, when are we gonna make it out to Forks?

It is easy fishing. You hold the net in the creek and I will chase them out of the pond.

Been a long time since I've seen a 25#'er from the Hump let alone 2, but I did watch a guy pull in two big bright silvers doing the same thing at Reynvaan's a few weeks ago when the Hump was puking. It was so blown, there was only 2 plunkers and not a boat rig or driftfisherman in sight. He couldn't have been fishing more than 4 feet from the bank in about 2 foot of water.



Drew,

Forget the study, think like a fish.
What would you do if the wind was blowing 30-40 knots and debris was in the air? You'd get out of the way by traveling along the protected edges of buildings or holding behind obstacles or moving inside smaller streams or backwaters. Since high water also brings turbidity it also provides more cover, thus making slower shallow water more usable too. For plunkers high water actually makes it easier to target fish travel lanes, big stationary baits make it easier for fish to key in on too.

But if it's a study you want, look no farther than where the tribes put their nets in high water. They've been doing this longer than any of us.

Big difference between annoying and bothering. Just sayin'.

The fish in Wildcat Creek swim up into my neighbor's ditch. Just checked it for blockages and found 4 silvers. Looked like the hens were getting "bothered".

Yeah, I'm really not looking to fish chocolate milk and I'm not into plunking but it could be fun to explore small tribs of the larger rivers and maybe come upon a nice pool full of steelhead.