Wynoochee

[akirkland]

Anybody have any luck? I havent had alot of success on this gem. Thought about heading down for some plunking in the next couple of days. I havent heard of any reports. Thanks guys.

[eggster]

I havent heard any reports either, but i suspect theres a fish or two to be had down there.

[dreamunelk]

There is fish.  Rule of thumb when the guy's quot wining about no fish and go zipper lip then it is fish on.  Check the launches if there are a bunch of boats then there is fish.

[TheHunt]

I have never fished that river.  I must give it a try.

[akirkland]

I have never fished that river.  I must give it a try.

     Im gonna be down there Friday. We will be plunking i guess. Im ok with that. It can be productive and its a good way to sit around a fire and shoot some breeze with a few buddies. Drink a few brews and make a few fried egg sammiches. Weather is clear and cold so the river will be in good shape.

[JimmyHoffa]

I have never fished that river.  I must give it a try.

If you find a large bend in the river that has a boulder that resembles a trout tail, rumor is there is buried treasue nearby...something like $1,000 in early 1900's silver dollars and other old coins.

[Button Nubbs]

Did wildman john tourneau tell you that?

[BigGoonTuna]

despite it being close to my house, i don't have much luck down there.  the crowds tend to keep me away, since about half of the steelhead fishermen in the puget sound area seem to be on the nooch between now and march.  the satsop has gotten almost as bad, with a plant less than half the size of the wynoochee.

[Hyde]

The Wynoochee is a great steelie river.  These are summer runs, but there is a great winter run as well.  It's a fairly simple river to float, but there are some tricky spots and seasonal changes to certain spots.  I fish regularly with Casey of Waters West Guide Service.  He's a top notch guy to fish with. 

[TheHunt]

I might have to drive you down there to show me some spots.   

The Wynoochee is a great steelie river.  These are summer runs, but there is a great winter run as well.  It's a fairly simple river to float, but there are some tricky spots and seasonal changes to certain spots.  I fish regularly with Casey of Waters West Guide Service.  He's a top notch guy to fish with.

[flinter]

I agree with you, BGT. The Blackcreek launch on the Nooch is 14 miles from my house. I used to be a regular there in the winter. Not anymore the crowds have won. It looks like combat fishing during salmon season, from Jan. thru March. I did a drive by a couple days ago on a week day there was nowhere to park any where near the Black creek launch area. I will wait for summertime, when the crowds have left.

[TheHunt]

How many drift boats are on that river? 

[Houndhunter]

When they shut down the northern rivers it seems alot of seattle-Tacoma guys come to the nooch. I've counted 21 boats on one drift before, it can be tough on weekends

[TheHunt]

Yikes...   Lots of boats

[JimmyHoffa]

When they shut down the northern rivers it seems alot of seattle-Tacoma guys come to the nooch. I've counted 21 boats on one drift before, it can be tough on weekends

Sounds similar to some of the rivers near forks at times.  I call it the drift-boat parade, liquid I-5, and bumper boats.  Not to mention the parking lots at boat ramps.

[TheHunt]

So is there people all up and down the bank of the river? 

[flinter]

There is plenty of drift boats. There is some bank acess, alot of people walk the lower section when h20 drops enough to cross back and forth.  I have always fished the lower half of the river. What finally finished it for me is the big sleds boondoggin in front of me all day. half dozen to a dozen big sleds with 4-6 people just staying below you. they vacum the river clean every day.

[Houndhunter]

There is plenty of drift boats. There is some bank acess, alot of people walk the lower section when h20 drops enough to cross back and forth.  I have always fished the lower half of the river. What finally finished it for me is the big sleds boondoggin in front of me all day. half dozen to a dozen big sleds with 4-6 people just staying below you. they vacum the river clean every day.

Ha, the sleds drive me nuts too. I dont mind a few but when your in a drift boat and you have 2-3 sleds that continually ride up to you then low hole all day it can get irritating. I would love to see some sled restrictions on both the nooch and satsop

[TheHunt]

You can write your representative. 

[flinter]

There was a push to keep sleds below the highway 12 bridge about 15-18  years ago, but the game dept. wouldn't  get involved

[TheHunt]

But that many years ago it was the Fish and Game.  Now it is the fish and wildlife.  It might be worth a try.

[Angus]

Another option for the Nooch that I like for avoiding crowds is to sleep in, hit the river about 9 or 10 and put in at white bridge and do a short float down to Crossover bridge. Its only about 2.5 to 3 miles but I have caught alot of fish in this section. Sometimes I take my time and hammer the spots that produce, other times I run and gun it and do this section twice in a day.
Most people that put in at White bridge are going all the down to Black creek so they are off the upper section pretty early in the day leaving it for me.

[BigGoonTuna]

you kick the sleds off the river, those guys will just buy 18-20' magnum-sized drift boats.  most of the worst offenders are guides.  this state needs to go to some kind of limited-entry system with some stringent requirements for being a guide.  too many people go fishing on the cowlitz a couple times, decide they want to become a guide and head over to the grays harbor streams.

i fish all the local rivers with my little 14 footer, don't get in the way of the bankies or drifters, and i guarantee i don't piss anyone off down there, except for the people that get offended by me just being on the water in it.  they can go pound sand.

[flinter]

Angus, I agree with you. I used to make that float for summer runs after work. I did pretty well on that short little drift. Its been a long time since I made that float.

[bankwalker]

I live a few miles east of the 7400 line bridge on the nooch and hardly see anyone around there fishing. I haven't caught very many fish in that area, 2 fish in 10 trips. But it sure is nice not dealing with boats.

[BigGoonTuna]

any more i like to stay above the 7400 in the winter.  don't have to deal with hordes of boats coming down and pounding the spot i'm fishing, the only drawback is that you can't use bait but when the river's in good shape they'll hit the artificial stuff almost as well.