Dewatto and Tahuya Rivers

[seansfire]

Went out to both rivers today and managed to dodge the rain till late afternoon. Saw a couple Silvers and several Chum at the campground at Dewatto so we split down to Tahuya just in time to see a large school of Silvers run under the bridge so we got on the waders and headed upriver. Went as far as about a 1/2 mile below the boundary and clean our 2 fish and went home as the rain started. Lots of fish in the river and lots coming up as we got in the car.

[birdwacker]

I fished Tahuya today and hooked one on a hot pink jig. What are you using for lures? Lot's of fish in the river today most were hiding under logs but weren't biting for me but I saw others with a limit.

[seansfire]

i know alot of guys on here dont like it but i am a flosser or snagger as some call it. i use a split shot and about 3 feet of line with a hook and some orange yarn. i am not a lip ripper like some guys i see out there , i drift the line thru a group of fish or along a bank and if i dont get one in the mouth i turn it loose.

[Button Nubbs]

[trophyelk6x6]

wow, I guess if you snag em in the mouth it's ok. Why even put yarn on the hook?

[Button Nubbs]

C'mon trophyelk we all know salmon don't bite. don't be too hard on the snagger...

[seansfire]

went and walked the tahuya today and got 2 and got the hell outta there as the thunder and lightning started. good lightning show for sure.

went to dewatto today as well and walked it from the mouth to about a mile above the campground and didnt see a single fish. seemed very strange to me.

also have not heard a word about indians netting at either place this year , is there some kind of netting stoppage around there or something ?

being you guys seem to be such a smartass about how i fish what do you suggest so i can be a *censored* on here too ?

[Button Nubbs]

Ummmm well, spinners, jigs twitching or floating, bait (if legal), plugs, ect. Plenty of options other than snagging, but your pullin the whole *censored* thing off pretty well.

[trophyelk6x6]

sean are you serious? You admit using a loop hole to snag fish. Dragging that hook across in hopes to hooking a fish while they sit there with their mouths open is snagging. That's fine, if that is what you are then do it. I better never see you post anything about indian nets, or any other un ethical way of hunting or fishing. Just use a net or a treble. How is that any different except how long it takes you to catch your fish. If you use a treble or a net... then you can go home quicker.  PS how many fish do you let go because you foul hooked them? You mentioned you let those go in your original post. I fish all year long....salt and fresh and I probably foul hook a fish 2x a year. I land 50 a year. I bet you beat that in one day.

[trophyelk6x6]

went to dewatto today as well and walked it from the mouth to about a mile above the campground and didnt see a single fish. seemed very strange to me.

also have not heard a word about indians netting at either place this year , is there some kind of netting stoppage around there or something ?


Sean, these are small rivers if you havent figured that out yet. These fish come in on schools and the tide matters plus the rain which we just started getting. The skokomish indians do fish these runs but they start in september so you are experiencing the latter of the runs. So they will be hit or miss. So dont be so suprised you didnt see fish one day an some on the next. I suggest you go buy fish from the back of the skoks trucks for 5 bucks a fish. That will save you time from having to floss them on your own.

[Button Nubbs]

Don't waste your breath trophyelk. I've been at it with this guy about snagging before. He said that salmon don't bite in fresh water.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Nope salmon dont bite in fresh water....

I converted a snagger on the skok this year. Hooked him up, set his rod up with a bobber and showed him how to do it. Gave him a pound of cured aggs and he had a blast. Said he had never taken 8 fish home in one day before. Him, his wife, and his kids all get there fish on that one set up and eggs. The next day i was back and he gave me 10 pounds of eggs from the day before.

All you have to do is try something new. And the fish up there hammer eggs.

[CallMeBigPapa]

I have yet to meet a salmon that can resist a properly presented bait of eggs! Sure salmon get lock jawed but you run that bait of eggs in front of their face long enough they will strike it.

[wildmanoutdoors]

i know allot of guys on here dont like it but i am a flosser or snagger as some call it. i use a split shot and about 3 feet of line with a hook and some orange yarn. i am not a lip ripper like some guys i see out there , i drift the line thru a group of fish or along a bank and if i dont get one in the mouth i turn it loose.

If the fish is not taking your offering willingly, then you are flossing/snagging. There are no two ways about it. If your keeping the fish only hooked legally your a flosser. If your getting them in the butt mouth and keeping them, your a snagger. Keep in mind that there the same thing.
Its just too bad its legal to keep fish hooked in front of the gill plate inside or out.

I'm not gonna knock ya. But you have to realize fish do bite in fresh water but NOT when they can see you too. If you can see them, they can see you and you wont get a voluntary bite.

[wildmanoutdoors]

It really cant be fun fishing like this. Its should be about the take! Then the fight. And the bonus of bring a fish home that you actually fooled!
Try standing back and not spooking the fish and free floating a small gob of roe thru.

That will hook ya for life!

If your fishing in a spot were everyone is ripping lines ect, you most likely wont get a real bite. Ever...

I live in Port Orchard and fish like a maniac. Ethically though.
We should go down there together and access the situation, have some fun trying to get them to bite on real bait. I have plenty of awesome eggs cured, and the 35 years of guiding and fishing experience to probably get you real bites.



If the streams are low and clear, its allot tougher.

[WSU]

It really cant be fun fishing like this. Its should be about the take! Then the fight. And the bonus of bring a fish home that you actually fooled!
Try standing back and not spooking the fish and free floating a small gob of roe thru.

That will hook ya for life!

If your fishing in a spot were everyone is ripping lines ect, you most likely wont get a real bite. Ever...

I live in Port Orchard and fish like a maniac. Ethically though.
We should go down there together and access the situation, have some fun trying to get them to bite on real bait. I have plenty of awesome eggs cured, and the 35 years of guiding and fishing experience to probably get you real bites.



If the streams are low and clear, its allot tougher.

That's a pretty damn nice offer!  A lot nice than just calling him a snagger (which is tempting) and leaving it at that!

[birdwacker]

No bait or scents allowed there.

[Rainier10]

No bait or scents allowed there.

I think in most places the Dewatto is about 20 feet wide at most so casting spinners is tough too.  Basically corkies, yarn or flies that look like roe are all you can use.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Maybe drift fish a Dick night then with about a 4 inch dropper to your weight!

[wildmanoutdoors]

I'm gonna go down there one morning this weekend and give it a go.

[seansfire]

wouldnt waste ur time with dewatto at all. no fish there anymore. last 2 or 3 years it has gotten worse and worse.

tahuya on a incoming tide seems to bring in alot of fish

[Rainier10]

That could be, I haven't been to the Dewatto in 3 years for sure and probably more like 5.  I know even then the run was getting smaller and smaller.  The tide is everything there.  I think we did better casting hotshot plugs in the bay at the mouth of the stream.

[trophyelk6x6]

I was on the canal this week and seen lots of seiners working. Two off of Misery Pt and some south towards Dewatto