Advice / Information Request;

[Ardster]

Hi,

Ard from Alaska posting again, this time not about a lost item but seeking some advice preferably via Private Message.

Last year was my first time fishing on the Peninsula and I have no idea if the water levels were low or normal. I was there the last couple days of February and first week of March. That was of course the same time that the area received more snow than usual which didn't make for the best respite from a hard Alaskan winter but I rolled with the punches. I have a habit or practice of fishing in the same river / rivers rather than always trying some new location. That's the way I learn my way around and usually it is how I learn the whereabouts of fish. I intend to return to the 3 rivers area and to become better acquainted with the waters there and am curious. BTW, I know it rains there often however the amounts seem rather heavy at this time.

I've been watching the daily accumulation of rainfall via the weather app that is on my phone and see many days with between .7 and 1.25 inches falling per 24 hours. My question is: If rainfall continues at the current pace right up to the beginning of March will the rivers stabilize or will an inch / day make fishing the fly a bad idea?

I ask this because I do not know anyone personally in the area of the Peninsula and a long trip results in expenses. If anyone familiar with the rivers in the area could message to me I would do the same for you if ever you try to travel to Alaska to fish. Real time intel from a local is golden and I can tell you what you need to know about conditions and closures in South central AK. when you need to know. I have been a 2 hand guide here for a long time and still stay on the pulse of the rivers albeit a rather weak pulse in these modern times

Thanks,

Ard

 

[Divad]

If rainfall continues at the current pace right up to the beginning of March will the rivers stabilize or will an inch / day make fishing the fly a bad idea?

An inch+ a day for the next 30 days would indeed make it not fishable but that is really unlikely. You can’t look that far out and forecast accurately.

Part of the fun and frustration in the coast is the weather unpredictability. All it takes is a day or two for the rain to subside, river to drop and prime fishing is on. I’d say you are a little too far out to make an accurate depiction.

Check the airport rain gauge and a local station for totals.

 

[Bambooflyguy]

Hey Ard, Steve here! I’m a mile away from Sea Tac airport…..if it’s raining too much come on over and we’ll drink Crown and you can cast 80+ bamboo Hotrodz!! Check out the way this site has the Art section…..

 

[RCF]

The Olympic Peninsula gets about 12 feet of rain a year depending on where you are. An inch here and there is not very much. Rivers handle a lot more than that. They rise and fall quickly. As indicated above wait a day or two and the rivers will be back in shape.

When a 'pineapple express' or 'atmospheric river' hits it will take a bit longer of course. Long range weather climatologists are able to predict these with greater accuracy (couple of weeks in advance). I would find those as a better indicator if you should travel or not.

 

[Ardster]

Hey Ard, Steve here! I’m a mile away from Sea Tac airport…..if it’s rain ing too much come on over and we’ll drink Crown and you can cast 80+ bamboo Hotrodz!! Check out the way this site has the Art section…..

Hi Steve,

I knew you were registered here because I saw your wood burning post. I'm kinda familiar with where you are located there because I often come into the Seattle airport then drive either north west or east to reach destinations. We have been experiencing a traditional winter here the first in almost 15 years. By traditional I mean cold with -o temps for weeks now. There have been a few fronts move through my area that warmed things up to 30° or more but for the past 2 weeks it's been negative numbers. That makes me want to go either to Washington or Oregon by February, someday I'll go where it's really warm but for now above 32° sounds good.

 

[dirty dog]

What little I know is that as long as the river is not all brown and muddy fishing could be OK.
The problem would be is it wade able or do ya gotta use a boat.
Around here in Sourthern OR I have done pretty good in March/April.
During high water the fish try to find quiet water and side channels.