YOU HAVE TO get up pretty early in the morning to have a chance at a productive fishing day on the rivers.
For reasons I don’t always understand, humans tend to love heat and loathe cool temperatures with some rain sprinkled in.
Anglers being human, for the most part, also rejoice for warm weather.
But prolonged stretches of warm weather with limited amounts of rain lead to summer conditions on the rivers. That is, low and clear.
This type of water doesn’t make for easy fishing.
“You better know what you’re doing and have a plan,” Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks said.
“The average Joe Weekender is going to have a hard time.”
Here are a few summer river fishing tips from Gooding and Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim that just might help you fish above your skill level:
■ Don’t make a scene.
Fish see fairly well in the clear water. They’ll see you coming and quickly become wise to your intentions if you aren’t careful.
So, don’t dress like the Oregon Ducks. (As if you needed another reason.)
Menkal said dull colors are less likely to stand out to fish.
Also, be subtle.
“You have to be a whale of a lot sneakier,” Gooding said. “Don’t go splashing around like you’re digging for golden nuggets.”
Fish are easier to spook in the low and clear water. Be quiet and cautious when around the water and try to avoid being in the water.
And minimize wiggle when your line is in the water.
Sometimes all it takes is one fish getting spooked to ruin your day because it will alert the other fish and they will freak out, too.
“You have to be more stealthy,” Menkal said.
■ Change gear.
Barring luck, what worked for you in the winter or spring probably won’t be as effective in the summer.
“Lighten up on your gear,” Gooding said.
Menkal recommends small lures and corkies and yarn.
And because fish can see better in clear water, they can discern your tackle easier. Like your shirt, the color of your tackle matters.
“Nothing super bright,” he said.
Get that? Light gear, but not bright gear.
■ Make adjustments.
If something isn’t working, try something else.
“Experiment with what you’re doing with colors,” Gooding said.
The fish might have figured you out. Don’t stick with one color unless you’re dominating.
■ Early to rise.
It is important to give heed to your alarm clock, but ignore your significant other.
You need to delicately find a way to delay your honey-do list until the afternoon.
“If you’re going to sleep in, eat breakfast, mow the lawn and then show up around 9 or 10 in the morning, you’re going to have a tough time,” Gooding said.
Fish are too riled up during the late morning and afternoon. They calm in the evening, which makes them easier to catch in the early morning.
Good luck, and send me photos.
River opening
The Quilcene River opens to coho on Thursday, Aug. 16. The salmon fishery on the Quilcene extends from Rodgers Street to U.S. Highway 101.
It remains open until Oct. 31.
The minimum size is 12 inches and the daily limit is four coho.
Also, there is an important rule: only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained.
Other rivers
Because of the difficult summer conditions, the rivers aren’t much of a hot spot these days.
Steelhead are the most-caught, but Gooding said the salmon harvest isn’t dead.
“There’s some silvers in the Sol Duc, and there are still some sockeye around [the Sol Duc River], too,” Gooding said.
Menkal said the rivers should get a big coho boost when a storm brings them in from the ocean.
River fishing class
Menkal will hold part two of his rivers fishing class Tuesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Attend even if you missed part one.
The second session will consist of a review of part one, tips on landing a fish and gear to use.
The class is held at Brian’s Sporting Goods and More at 542 W. Washington St. in Sequim.
Bring a pen, chair and notepad.
For more details, call Menkal at 360-683-1950.
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Outdoors columnist Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.