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Wild Winter SteelheadNative and wild winter Steelhead begin to show in all of the Olympic Peninsula rivers around the end of December with fishable numbers by early January. These runs of fish continue into spring and usually peak in March and April. The largest of these fish are typically caught in the second half of January and thru February with more numbers of fish into the later spring part of the run. Fish can vary in size from 10-30+ lbs. Fish in the 20+lb range are common.
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Spring Chinook |
Most of the area rivers have spring Chinook Salmon, however the Sol Duc has a large Salmon hatchery with good production of these fish. They begin in April most years and run thru June. These fish will average 8-20 lbs. and are far and away the best eating Salmon there is. The other area rivers have smaller runs of wild Spring Chinook which are protected because of declining numbers over the past 10+ years.
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Summer & Fall Coho |
Coho Salmon begin to show by mid summer with fishable numbers from August thru the end of November. These runs are prolific with retention of wild Coho on most area rivers after September 1st. Wild fish are numerous in October and November with 20+ fish days not uncommon. They range in size from 8-16 lbs. with fish pushing the 20 lb. range seen on occasion.
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Summer & Fall Chinook |
Chinook Salmon runs continue during the summer months thru fall. Run size varies dramatically from river to river on the Olympic Peninsula but overall have been in decline in the past few years. We guide on the Klickitat for Fall Chinook in September and October as large state and tribal hatchery programs on the Columbia have been producing record numbers of Chinook as of late. Fish can range in size from 15-40+ lbs. These fish are incredibly strong and a battle with one of these fish can easily be 45+ minutes, testing even the strongest of anglers.
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