Salmon river Steelhead fishing

[Bearhunter]

Hey guys have any of you fished the Salmon on the Quianault rez.  Ive been wanting to do this for the last 10 years, Im thinking about booking a trip next week if this http://www.johnstoneguideservice.com/ guide has openings.  Whens the best time of year for the Salmon, and whats you experience on the river?

[Bearhunter]

Nobodys fished the Salmon?

[Hillbilly270]

I just fished there last sunday and caught 6 kings and lost 4.  All chromers too.   However I did see some steelhead caught and there was a few in the super fast water and couldn't get them to bite.  my buddy hooked a couple of them and lost them.  You should be in them if you go.  good luck

[tlbradford]

I haven't steelheaded that river, but for the peninsula coastal rivers, mid december to mid january was usually the best time.

[MuleySniper]

Ive heard stories that you can give those guys like a hundred bucks and they just sit by and watch you catch one after another Ive never fished that one, but Ive fished just about all the others up there. Hopefully since my hunting season sucked ass I can make up for it this winter with some chrome.
MS

[Houndhunter]

its the best steelhead river in the state for size, i know i guy that drifts the upper end and he says he usually hooks into atleast one if not more fish at the 20lbs marker

[Bearhunter]

Ya muleysniper the guide were walking in with is chargin $100 bucks hope its worth it.  He said they dont harvest any of the steelhead until late December, prior to that they remove the fish 2 to 3 times from the river and kill them.  What a waste, they could at least redump them but the river is real short.  Give ya a report when we get back with pics.

[actionshooter]

Years ago you didn't need a guide, you bought a $10 permit (for the whole season). We had a few pretty awesome days there. Never caught any really big steelies, just LOTS of them  .  End of Dec-end of Jan.

[Jerome]

I went with Jim Richidson (Top Notch Charters and Quinault river guide) and had a blast.  He was alittle more money then the guy you are checking out but it was well worth it.  We ended up catching some hogs.

[PST]

That guide Jim your talking about also has a couple of cabins he rents out on his property.  They're not too bad.  He also has a website you can look into.

[rasbo]

where is this river?

[HawkenBob]

Dumps into the Queets at about 7 miles above the ocean. Acess is off Queets rd or Q1000 at mile marker 143. From q1000 gauge up its tribal and you must have a guide.

We fished it last week and got Silvers, Kings and fresh Steelies.

Not much happens below the res unless you hit it right. the fish zoom up. We have fished it for years and there is some reel hogs. I got a 44 pound Kinf g out of there 2 years ago. We have had some great late Oct days.

If your having a hard time finding a guide or want a review on any guides let me know. I fish there allot as by bro is a tribal member and Shakey the chief is our cousin. My brothers great grandfather was Chief Tahola.

Allot of "guides" do nothing more than stand there with ya. Pretty much bring your own stuff.

The best out there...Clay Butler and Jim R. Both very knowledable and do more than just stand there. Clay would easily be my first choice.

Heres a sickening thought. The native Steelies that come up frequently follow the hatchery creek. They used to transport each one everymorning to above the dam. Now the tribe tells them to kill and send to the fish house. THIS SUKS>>>

[rasbo]

Dumps into the Queets at about 7 miles above the ocean. Acess is off Queets rd or Q1000 at mile marker 143. From q1000 gauge up its tribal and you must have a guide.

We fished it last week and got Silvers, Kings and fresh Steelies.

Not much happens below the res unless you hit it right. the fish zoom up. We have fished it for years and there is some reel hogs. I got a 44 pound Kinf g out of there 2 years ago. We have had some great late Oct days.

If your having a hard time finding a guide or want a review on any guides let me know. I fish there allot as by bro is a tribal member and Shakey the chief is our cousin. My brothers great grandfather was Chief Tahola.

Allot of "guides" do nothing more than stand there with ya. Pretty much bring your own stuff.

The best out there...Clay Butler and Jim R. Both very knowledable and do more than just stand there. Clay would easily be my first choice.

Heres a sickening thought. The native Steelies that come up frequently follow the hatchery creek. They used to transport each one everymorning to above the dam. Now the tribe tells them to kill and send to the fish house. THIS SUKS>>>

thats sounds like a blast.sucks on the natives..Thanks for the info

[Bearhunter]

Im going with John Stone on Wensday, any good word about him?  Also what gear would you suggest to bring?  Do you have any pics of the river, is it a gravely river or full of dead snags and pond like pools?

[actionshooter]

Im going with John Stone on Wensday, any good word about him?  Also what gear would you suggest to bring?  Do you have any pics of the river, is it a gravely river or full of dead snags and pond like pools?

Not much slow water, gravel bottom, . Sounds like a good time 

[HawkenBob]

Be a float and egg show up in the hole by the hatchery intake. Sounds like your talking about Dean Johnstone of Johnstones guide service? Great guy and a reel fisherman...allot are just walkin guides lookin to make a few bucks. Dean is a actual Fishing guide...My cousin Rueben uses him all the time for overflow and visaversa. You'll most like be in the presence of Clay Butler. Chat his ear off a bit. Great guy and a serious fisherman.

You really dont need anyones expertise up there. The rivers gonna be low and clear and the best fishing will be first couple hrs. Expect to have a couple other groups right with you. Theres really only one really productive spot when the Salmon are gone and the Steelies are just coming and its low and clear...but you'll hook a couple steelies and probably some big ugly Kings as they came late. Just made quata last week...

Have fun up there.

[Bearhunter]

Dean called today and said it was in our best interest to reschedule for a later date, water levels are real low and very clear and most the fish have moved up passed the hatchery, sure appreciate him being honest.  So we will probably go after the next big high water, Ill keep you guys posted.

[HawkenBob]

Thats awesome. I just talked to Rueb too and he said it was too loooowwwww. Were gonna be out there this holiday so we'll fish it anyway. Deans a stand up guy and just dosent want to take your money. Cudo's to him. You need to get in his sled in early to mid January when the toads from the Lake hatchery are coming thru. These are serious toads from upriver broodstock programs. They hang right at the 101 bridge. Put the plugs out and hammer time.

Cook Creek was dynamite the last 3 weeks to. I mean really good. But its too low now to. Its a ZOO though. Not worth it for us.

[Bearhunter]

Headed to the Salmon at 2:00 am tommorrow, its gonna be a long day.  Post pics and video when I get Back!

[huntnphool]

Right on BH, cant wait for the update

[Bearhunter]

Trip started out in a bad way.  On the way down, I5 at Seattle thought I got a flat drivers side front.  Took the exit after I-90 got off the freeway pulled over, looked at the tire, and didnt have a flat.  Got under the front to find my Cv joint slipped off the axel, banged the hell out of everything underneith.  Managed to slip it back on and stayed snapped it.  Got back on freeway, made it 5 miles and another hellashish comotion from under the truck.  Pull over and it has slipped again.   The C clip holding the joint to the axel was partially broke, took some needle nose pried it up and slammed the joint over it and it seemed to stay locked in place.  Indeed up holding all the way to the Quinault and all the home, very lucky.  I just had the axels replaced 3 weeks ago, back mechanical work I guess.  Anyways fishing was lousy, we went way up BFE in the woods, no one around was nice but the fish were off bite.  45 minutes into the trip my brother gets sweep off his feet and fills his waders and barely makes it to the shore, get him stripped down and wader emptied and were back in business.  It snowed all night out there and rained absolute mess.  Didnt touch anything way up high, went down above the forest service bridge and didnt touch anything there.  I seen one guy with about a 16pounder below the bridge.  Only fish he touched, he caught 13 yesterday 1 today.  They were definetly off bite.  5 of us and only one take down.  Guide made some money today fished 8:00 to 2:15.  Little over 6 hours and he made $500, good business to be in on the REZ.  Dean is a good guy though.  Should have been there yesterday.  Its fishing not catching though right.  River was really moving and a bit brown from the melt off.  So dam wet all day I never got the camera out plus it got wet and didnt want to turn it on.  Ill have to make another trip out eventually to get my first Salmon river Steelhead.

[MuleySniper]

I wish I could have fished there a couple of years ago. Im not that enthused to go there anymore. A good friend of mine is a checker up there and he said it has gotten so popular on the salmon now its like combat fishing. Sorry to hear your trip wasn't all that great. Thats a hell of a drive to get skunked. Better luck next time.
MS

[DeerHarvester]

Very long WET day for no fish.   

[HawkenBob]

Its been full to the brim with BIG Steelies as of the last week. Gettin low and clear now..Gonna be out there 3 days this week.

[onetufk9]

 

Hey bearhunter I can guide you for $500.00 and guarantee you the same results. I will throw in getting one of your parties wet for free too. Also bring your high dollar camera photos are also free.

Sean