River Snorkeling with Cutthroat

[Matt B]

Out of curiosity anyone here fish the spots they are snorkeling in? What do you think the catch rate is vs. the fish count? 1/10? 1/100? 1/1000? Something else?

We’ve already said, it’s 1/500. That’s only a slight exaggeration. Maybe not if you count all the juvenile fish, actually.
I don’t really mix it a whole lot. I know this, though—there are big ones that we just ain’t hooking. Not usually. But every now and then…

 

[fatbillybob]

We’ve already said, it’s 1/500. That’s only a slight exaggeration. Maybe not if you count all the juvenile fish, actually.
I don’t really mix it a whole lot. I know this, though—there are big ones that we just ain’t hooking. Not usually. But every now and then…

I just pulled 1/500 out of the sky. Crazy number...so many fish! That's good though...

 

[Matt B]

I just pulled 1/500 out of the sky. Crazy number...so many fish! That's good though...

As a broad generalization I don't think it's a terrible SWAG. This is going to vary soooo much from system to system, tiny headwater trib to the Columbia, right? I'm just saying, there are a lot of fish in un-fly-fishable water and 9/10ths of all the fish are juveniles or YOYs. A lot of those just don't make it to be "catchable" size.

 

[fatbillybob]

Agreed!

 

[Sneax]

Wilson is cool for sure! depends on what you want to see, I used to fish the lower molalla for smallmouth bass really cool area! All the coastal rivers near the Wilson would be awesome! Trask and Kilchis!

I am putting together a weekend trip to either the Trask or Kilchis and wondering if you have any general info to share on where to find rewarding snorkeling? My plan is to basically start in Tillamook, work my way upstream, and look for spots and possibly camp further up in the state forest, but not sure if one or the other river might be better.

 

[clarkman]

I know this wasn't the video people were asking to see but I snorkeled a local river this week before the rains came and it was truly remarkable. Saw countless steelhead and cutthroat. Spent way too much time in this pool with these fish but I couldn't get myself to leave until the go pro died. Of course once it died I proceeded to see even cooler pools of cutthroat and steelhead with no camera.

Anyone else out there been snorkeling there local rivers?

Damn! That is so cool!

 

[Little Fork]

I am putting together a weekend trip to either the Trask or Kilchis and wondering if you have any general info to share on where to find rewarding snorkeling? My plan is to basically start in Tillamook, work my way upstream, and look for spots and possibly camp further up in the state forest, but not sure if one or the other river might be better.

I really like how SpawnFlyFish just refers to “a local river” in the description of their video.
Asking members on a public forum to name spots on these two little streams seems like not the best idea.

 

[Sneax]

I really like how SpawnFlyFish just refers to “a local river” in the description of their video.
Asking members on a public forum to name spots on these two little streams seems like not the best idea.

Why? We're talking about snorkeling, so it's not like I'm going to look at all the fish before anyone else can

 

[Matt B]

My plan is to ...work my way upstream...

The best way to river snorkel is to cover a chunk of river. You pick your starting point, you swim down, then you get out. It's a little different from fishing where you might want to hit this spot here then that spot there, etc. Going upstream would be hard.

 

[Little Fork]

Why? We're talking about snorkeling, so it's not like I'm going to look at all the fish before anyone else can

I guess I just thought if I mentioned a good spot to see a lot of cutts not only you but everyone who read the reply would know where those fish were and go there.
Best of luck.

 

[Sneax]

I guess I just thought if I mentioned a good spot to see a lot of cutts not only you but everyone who read the reply would know where those fish were and go there.
Best of luck.

True enough! I think what I was asking for that might be a little more specific was good pools to swim in; in my experience doing this a couple places, the tricky thing to find is a pool that has enough going on to be interesting but is also the right depth and current to be reasonably safe swimming. On the lower Trask especially, my concern is interfering with people floating by to fish, both because I don't want to catch a hook and also because I don't want to mess up their chances by scaring everything.

 

[Pink Nighty]

True enough! I think what I was asking for that might be a little more specific was good pools to swim in; in my experience doing this a couple places, the tricky thing to find is a pool that has enough going on to be interesting but is also the right depth and current to be reasonably safe swimming. On the lower Trask especially, my concern is interfering with people floating by to fish, both because I don't want to catch a hook and also because I don't want to mess up their chances by scaring everything.

Specific to the avoiding hooks thing, and for safety in general...

I would really suggest employing the buddy system when swimming/snorkeling rivers. A buddy on the bank could alert driftboats to your presence. Shit gets weird in rivers, feet get snagged and wrapped and changes happen so quickly. Especially in unfamiliar waters I think the most important safety measure would be a teammate.

 

[Matt B]

Here are a couple screen grabs from a blurry video I shot snorkeling with my phone in a ziplock bag. It’s easier to make them out when they’re moving. No cutthroat spotted, mostly coho and steelhead.

 

[skyrise]

There are 2 S rivers up here that are closed until September someone could check without having to worry about boats or others fishing. Both have searun populations that are struggling. One because of much habitat damage due to slides the other due to ??? Cormorants, harbor seals ??