THE PINKS ARE thinning out along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, just in time for the chinook run to pick back up with a little more than a week left in the king season in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) and 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca).
Chinook fishing is open in the those two areas through Saturday, Aug. 15.
It seems like the later king run always gets back in gear right before the closure, an opinion shared by Jerry Wright of Jerry’s Bait and Tackle (360-457-1308) in Port Angeles.
“Things were just getting going last year when they closed it,” Wright said.
“And now guys are back to doing pretty good out there and it’s coming up.”
In recent days, Wright said the action has been found off the kelp line at Freshwater Bay.
“I’ve been hearing the fishing has been the best down by the Madronas [Madrona Point] in 30 feet of water out by the kelp line,” Wright said.
“Guys have been doing well mooching in along there. There’s been less pinks so they aren’t taking off with the bait.”
It’s early in the month for Swain’s fish ladder contest, but Freshwater Bay yielded a 22.5-pound king Wednesday, putting Tim Allison of Port Angeles in the top spot.
King fishing had been pretty spotty off Port Angeles at the end of July before a relatively recent resurgence to open the month of August.
Wally Butler of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles had a theory about why those numbers dipped.
“I think the warm water temperatures are having an impact,” Butler said.
“We had some guys from the state [Department of Fish and Wildlife] come in, and they told us the water temperature is 7 degrees warmer than normal off Port Angeles.
“The kings are always going to be in the deeper water, so this may make them head even further down.”
High water temperatures also were mentioned by lure designer and avid angler Pete Rosko of Port Angeles when we fished Freshwater Bay last week.
He mentioned them being as high as he’d ever seen them since he moved to the North Olympic Peninsula in the late 1970s.
Both Wright and Butler mentioned some silvers have made it down to Port Angeles.
Sekiu bite is on
Brandon Mason of Olson’s Resort (360-963-2311) in Sekiu had good news for those seeking kings.
“The pinks have moved out and it’s pretty much all chinook right now,” Mason said.
“We’ve had some nice ones come in. Twenty-seven pounds is the biggest we’ve had in this week and it came in Wednesday.
The best part is that there’s little need to leave the protected waters of Clallam Bay.
“They are right here in the bay,” Mason said.
“The bait is really thick right now, so folks are in about 200 feet of water and fishing about 50 to 60 feet down.
“The kings are right here behind the jetty, as close as you can get.”
Chris Mohr of Van Riper’s Resort (360-963-2334) in Sekiu also said the king fishing has improved greatly, especially in Clallam Bay between Sekiu Point and Slip Point.
“It’s really an unusual year,” Mohr said.
“We’ve been catching them in 70 feet of water right in Clallam Bay, fishing between the two points in the bay.
“A big ball of bait has been hanging around close to shore and it’s making things real interesting out here.”
The mass of pinks has cleared out as well.
“The pinks that we had up in the gazillions really disappeared,” Mohr said.
“But then I had folks asking, ‘Where are the pinks?’
“That pink fishery, it’s like your cousin you don’t really like, and when you run out of friends to play with, you start wondering if they can come out and play again.”
Mason said coho numbers have increased steadily in recent days.
“The coho are starting to slowly move in,” Mason said.
“They are in the bay as well. Yesterday we saw more silvers come in than we have all year.
“They are small now, probably 3 to 6 pounds.”
The Clallam Bay-Sekiu Lions Club’s Kids Salmon Derby is set for Saturday, Aug. 15.
The derby is free for kids ages 5 to 14 and every angler will receive a prize.
Register at Olson’s or Van Riper’s at 5:30 a.m. The weigh-in, prize ceremony and hot dog lunch are at noon at Olson’s.
Hoh River report
Wright heard from a buddy who’s been having success catching some steelhead and kings near the mouth of the Hoh River.
“Looks like there is some river fishing to be had,” Wright said.
“There’s nobody down there fishing.
“They were just tossing vibrax spinners and they picked up a few steelhead and some kings.”
Wright said they were using regular steelhead gear, with 12-pound test line on spinning rods.
“They had success just timing the tide, waiting for the fish to come through and mosey on up through there,” Wright said.
Quillayute River
The tributaries of the Quillayute River system may be shuttered for now due to low-water conditions and high water temperatures, but the lower stretch of the Quillayute remains open 475 yards downstream past the confluence of the Sol Duc and Bogachiel rivers.
Wright said a “boat load” of summer coho have been running up the river.
“Most of those are 6 to 10 pounds,” Wright said.
“They are nice quality fish with lots of fat in them, which makes them good for smoking.”
Wright recommends using 6-pound test line with pink jigs or spoons.
“Use a pink or purple jig or a small pink spoon, time the tide, or get there really early or really late in the evening, and it should be good,” Wright said.
And it might be good to hit this fishery up sooner rather than later. Wright said there’s been rumors the entire stretch of the Quillayute may close due to those same water conditions.
Gibbs Lake closed
High levels of the toxin microcystin were detected in a water sample taken from Gibbs Lake on Monday, forcing Jefferson County Parks and Recreation to close the lake for recreation, including fishing, boating, and swimming.
Visitors are also urged to keep pets out of the water.
A full report on the closure can be found in today’s edition of the Peninsula Daily News.
Traditional archery
The Wapiti Bowmen Archery Club of Port Angeles is sponsoring a tournament for traditional archers at their club facility Saturday and Sunday.
The club is located at 374 E. Arnette Road, off Monroe Road in Port Angles.
Traditional shooters (no compound bows) will be able to shoot at 30-plus full-size 3-D targets.
Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. each day, and breakfast and lunch are available on both days.
For more information, visit www.wapiti-bowmen.org, or phone Walt Koneziski at 360-531-2153 or Steve Morgan at 360-460-9132.
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.