River Reports
This page is a living record of river reports and updates. Whenever I visit a river I will try to post a brief recounting of the state that river was in when I visited, fish activity, clarity, crowds and so forth. The intent is not to hot hole rivers or spots, but instead provide helpful reports on my favorite rivers.
November 9, 2024
Skykomish River - Sultan to Ben Howard Launch
Floated from around 9 am to 3 pm. Were surprised by the slow speed of most of the float, discharge was around 2950 cfs. Fish were rolling on river right at the deep wall at the start of the float. Noticed bank anglers having success at the tail outs of gravel banks. Caught trout on our jig float set up using the center pin. Had some bites on beads/eggs. Lots of zombie chum out and about, one even had the energy to bite a spinner!
November 3, 2024
Satsop River - West Fork to Highway 12
River at 3160 CFS. Visibility about 1 foot. Floated West Fork to Highway 12. Coho rolling mostly on river right, along the stretch across from Juel’s Nursery. Fished that bank with bait, beads, spinners and jigs for 2 hours with maybe 1 or 2 hits. Encountered 2/3 jet boats and about 6 drift boats throughout the day. No fish caught. Visibility seemed a bit too low, WDFW officer said it had been a slow day at the take out. Afternoon to early evening.
November 2, 2024
Skykomish River - Reiter Ponds
River at 3880 CFS. Visibility decent, about 4-5 feet. Bank fished above and below Reiter ponds. Crowds were thick, several hooking up to fish, but we had no bites fishing eggs, beads jigs, and spinners. All hook ups that we saw were just below the hatchery intake. No fish rolling or rising, but action was solid. Most people were float fishing, drifting bait, jigs, and beads. Afternoon to early evening.
October 27, 2024
Sol Duc River - 101 Bridge Closest to Forks
River high, after solid rains. Bank fished under the bridge closest to Forks. Struggle continued, no bites on eggs, spinners or jigs. Saw one other person hook up out of a drift boat on the far side basically sitting on the rising fish. Oh yeah…tons of rising fish on the far side. Visibility was solid. Early morning to afternoon. No pictures taken, this is a photo from the same spot a few months earlier. No crowds.
October 26, 2024
Hoh River - Morgan’s to Allen’s
River at 4000 CFS. Visibility < 1 foot, barely fishable. Floated quickly to preserve daylight and fish elsewhere. River was moving fast and was chocolate milk. Hit a coho traveling upstream with my paddle. Oxbow was doable, but a bit intense. Canyon section beautiful as always. One or two other boats.
October 26, 2024
Sol Duc River - Secret Hole
River was highest I have seen it, much more fishable than Hoh. Shockingly no rolling or jumping fish. Teagan caught a resident steelhead / rainbow on a black and green Steelhead Slammer, maybe 17 in or so? Caught in a pool before a riffle. Afternoon to evening. No crowds.
October 18, 2024
Hoh River - Secret hole
River at 880 CFS, hours before spiking to 18,000. Visibility solid. No bites, but saw a large chinook that put on a show for us. It jumped on the far side of the hole once, then jumped about 12 more times all throughout the hole for the next minute or so. It had a gold spinner lodged in it’s jaw. This hole always has fish holding in it. Afternoon to evening. No crowds.
October 12, 2024
Stillaguamish River - Somewhere near Blue Stilly Park
Visibility good, maybe too good. Water was very low. Coho rolling consistently on far bank. Took my parents out, mom was the only one to get a fish, a nice 10 in rainbow on an orange and silver Steelhead Slammer. Salmon were stubborn today. No crowds.
October 6, 2024
Satsop River - Highway 12
River around 300 CFS. Visibility good. Coho rolling consistently on far bank. Several anglers out on the bank with us. Teagan hooked into a large spawny coho. Flares of red and black on the beast and had good fight in him. Teagan fought him to the bank, and he made several runs and jumps. He spat the hook out and it rehooked in its Dorsal fin. He came off before we could get a picture. First freshwater salmon of the season for us. Caught early evening.