I am going fishing for salmon this weekend for the first time on the Quinalt/Hoh. I would appreciate any suggestions on shore locations to fish from.

I would wait!!! The salmon arnt there yet its still Steelie season. Are you sure your going Salmon fishing?

Bear with me...I am new at this. I am not sure it is salmon, so it must be steelhead. Anyway, I am staying in Quinalt for the weekend hoping to catch something BIG, but I don't know what rivers or shoreline to fish. Don't have a boat, so I am restricted to shoreline accessible areas. ANY help would be great!

Upper Quinault or Queets. Both good bets and with the low clear the colored streams are probably your best bet.

Read and understand the regs though, some areas are selective and some like the upper Queets are catch and release only. Not that they shouldent all be. Catch a "pig", take a pic and let em go!!!.

Good Luck

What do you mean "colored streams"? And thanks for the other info.

SPIG-Get a guide, they will help you. Bob is probably booked, but he can line you up with one.

Okay. Thanks a lot for your help

If you fish the upper Quinault stay low (below Big Creek) on the north shore road. That is where the hatchery fish are. Good luck

The upper queets would be another good bet,almost the entire river is in the Olympic National park so access is no problem if you are willing to do a little leg work, be sure to check the regulations they can be complicated on this river also this is an example of a colored river, the color in the water is caused by the river sweeping up against larg clay banks thus adding color to the river this makes the fish easier to approach when other rivers are low and very clear.

Doug and potter: Thanks so much for the information. I really am a rookie at this and can't really afford a guide right now---just a poor working girl trying to learn to fish for the big uns! Although I do pretty good with trout, this is a whole new ballgame!

Doug,
There is one leetle problem with access to the upper Queets (if that's what you mean by the upper Queets). You have to wade cross the river just above the campground in order to follow the trail upriver. It's comfortably wadeable at summer levels, but unless the river is extremely low, I wouldn't try it in the winter.

Preston,
You are right about wading the river but you dont have to cross the river in order to fish it but you do have to cross Sams river if you want to fish upstream which can difficult at times in the winter,the trail is ussually in such poor shape in the winter with wind falls and washouts it is easier to just stick to the river. What I call the upper Queets is about three miles up or down from the campground.

You can look at the Queets flows at this site. It looks crossable. http://wa.water.usgs.gov/rt-cgi/gen_tbl_pg

SPIG,

I am still a beginner. I do have about 2 salmon seasons and going on my second steelie season under my belt, I have really learned allot, mostly from this sight and from going with some one that knows allot and has done it for several years. the biggest thing I found is just staying with it and going with some one that knows what to do and when. I still havn't made it past the Whynooche river. I have fished from the Carbon down to the Cowlitz and out to the Nooch. I find that I have more time to fish locally. than traveling alllong way to fish when I am still in experienced but if you are going to be there anyway why not wet a line! you are like me you work and don't have all the time in the world to fish but I get out when I can but still can't afford to go with a guide. Try fishing some rivers closer to home. You will have more time. I live in Olympia but work in Tacoma. I fish the Nisqaully allot when the salmon are in it. I am able to stop and fish it on the way home for a few hrs. just some sujestions from a beginner.

One question. I see you are a paralegal. I have a friend that has just started school to be a paralegal. I was just woundering where you went to school and how long you have been a paralegal.

dcrzfitter

well..sheeesh..where is the quinalt..and the hoh..im new to stealheading in washington..jus fished today for them..(saturday 2/19) got one on the carbon..about 6 # female..wild but good tasting..yummy..i jokes..C&R all the way..saw another guy land one..bright cromer..it was wild too.i got mine on a pink corkie..anyone fish the carbon and how did you do?

Hey Spig! It's spelled Quinault most places and it can be good. But I'd put my money on a shot about the middle of March. In my experience, it is best about a day or two after the Hoh blows out with rain. If you release all wild fish, e-mail for more specific information. I fish it about 20 days per winter.

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DCRZFITTER: Been a paralegal for four years-work for King County Public Defender-Went to shcool at Eastern Washington. Its a good field to be in.

As for fishing-We went to the Satspo,Noochie,Upper Quinault(*Spelled it right this time, Queets, Salmon and CLearwater. Saw some fish in the CLearwater, but came home empty handed. Guess we need that rain badly!. Also, I just don't know the rivers well enough and without a sled I am limited to shore fishing. Sure enjoyed the area, but wished I could have at least had a bite or even a nudge! I am not giving up and plan to go back right after the first good rain.