Non-Fly Dirtbag river Coho '24'

Slow for N-type coho here in SWW. Usually into some chrome by now, but I haven't seen or hooked a single coho. No shortage of dark chinook, but I think we are down to straggler stage with them. Thinking I'll burn some vacay time and hit it Monday. If they don't show with the rain we're getting now, I'll probably call it a season.
 
Got out with Shad right before the rain. Probably won't float Decker down at 300 CFS again. Found some dark fish up high but then nada lower down.

Had great reports from friends out early last week after the rain brought the river up to over 4k CFS and started to drop. Unfortunately I work Mon-Thurs.

Was able to get out Friday and we hooked a couple fresh coho but a lot more boats and less fish than earlier in the week.
 
SilverFly said:
Slow for N-type coho here in SWW. Usually into some chrome by now, but I haven't seen or hooked a single coho. No shortage of dark chinook, but I think we are down to straggler stage with them. Thinking I'll burn some vacay time and hit it Monday. If they don't show with the rain we're getting now, I'll probably call it a season.
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Yeah it's been a tough year to say the least. Same over here on this side of the river. Both big river and tribs: They just aren't cooperating.
 
Hooked one of those funny looking coho with purple bars and big teeth on a black brads wiggler today, these things are incredible fighters when they are fresh, nothing at all like the colored up ones I caught two thanksgivings ago. Long distance release sadly. The plug bite is savage, doubly satisfying knowing I got that one for free from the bank of the Sky. I’m glad I gave it new life.

I get frustrated with how hard coho are to catch in rivers, and how non aggressive they seem, and yet today I had a really colored up 6-7lb spawner swim right up to my leg and try to fight not my tackle but *me*
 
Modest_Man said:
Got out with Shad right before the rain. Probably won't float Decker down at 300 CFS again. Found some dark fish up high but then nada lower down.

Had great reports from friends out early last week after the rain brought the river up to over 4k CFS and started to drop. Unfortunately I work Mon-Thurs.

Was able to get out Friday and we hooked a couple fresh coho but a lot more boats and less fish than earlier in the week.
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My timing has been bad, too. Glad you got out again and hooked a couple. I haven't found anything but chums and kings since the rain came, but I've probably been fishing the wrong water (just can't convince myself I have a chance on the Lower Satsop with 50 other anglers down there). I think next weekend will be good. We'll see...
 
Last week was the end of my coho fishing. Time to get in my two months of working and SRC fishing on weekends until the weather chases me off.
 
SilverFly said:
Slow for N-type coho here in SWW. Usually into some chrome by now, but I haven't seen or hooked a single coho. No shortage of dark chinook, but I think we are down to straggler stage with them. Thinking I'll burn some vacay time and hit it Monday. If they don't show with the rain we're getting now, I'll probably call it a season.
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Figured a late update for Monday was in order here, since I did throw spinners for a bit in a backwater spot that's produced before (nada.)

Switched to pocket water and found 'em. Eggs would've killed but the fly action was nuts. Hooked at least 10, landed 3 (par for the course in this heavy water stretch.) Mostly semi bright fish like these, and an even mix of fire trucks and chromers.

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Cut better than I expected.
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Sky opened up! I may be taking a sabbatical from S River coho for a few seasons to try spending more time chasing sea runs in October and chums in November. I believe this is the third year in a row I have caught zero, despite extensive time on the water covering known producing spots.

Hit one of the S rivers yesterday. Found dark coho that were not interested in spinners, spoons, eggs or wiggle warts. Saw some big chums jumping but they also didn’t want to play
 
Broke my promise to myself lol. Caught a very large feisty 14 inch whitefish. Comparing reports from yesterday to fish I saw rolling today I think wdfw needs to award whatever legal anglers are supposedly causing “significant conservation concerns” on Puget sound rivers a medal rather than river closures. Wish I had more time to learn how to fish my local systems rather than just the end of the runs.

Very pleasant surprise at the end of the fishing session was my largest ever chum, looked to be between 10-15lbs, and angry. Blew away the fight I encountered with Upper Green fish. No waders, so casting right at the edge of the water to a very shallow seam, can't be deeper than 2 feet if even that. Upon bobber down I assume a snag but hope for the best and set the hook. It's not a snag. I see the monsters back roll to the surface, and immediately feel the angriest headshakes I ever did on the end of the rod. I loosen my drag a bit to allow it to run, the fish makes a short dash downstream. I point upstream, precariously aware that being unable to close the distance between me and the fish is giving it a massive torque advantage against me. As I attempt to bring it closer to the bar, he jumps, I feel the line go taught, and then nothing. I expected to see a broken knot, and I curse myself for tying 15lb mono instead of 20. Instead, I see a snap swivel bent open. There were no fish rolling while I was fishing, breaking a long held belief I had about fishing rivers that will definitely encourage me to fish good looking water longer even if the fish aren't physically showing.

Hope the river I was on one day soon has sufficient chum to allow a targeted fishery. Thanks a lot to those working hard to make it a reality one day.
 
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