The run of winter steelhead to the Bogachiel Hatchery is normally one of the earliest in Western Washington, and it appears the run is even earlier this year.
Bob Gooding at Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks said that while Thanksgiving is the rule of thumb start of the Peninsula winter steelhead season, fishing was surprisingly good a week ago in the Bogy, just after the heavy rains of the first week in November.
“You hear every year the fish might be a little early, but it appears this year it might be actual fact,” Gooding said.
The hot spot for returning winter fish is below the hatchery, located just west of Forks, and downstream to the mouth of the Calawah. Since there isn’t a lot of holding water in the half-mile between the hatchery and the calawah, the fish tend to hold where the Bogachiel and Calawah meet, and in the lower end of the latter.
To access the Calawah honey hole, park in the first of the two parking lots at the hatchery, Gooding said, where you can hike the trail downstream about a half-mile. The second parking lot is for those launching boats at the hatchery ramp, for takeout at Wilson’s, down the La Push Road.
The lower Calawah is grabby, Gooding said, so float/jig setups are more popular there than standard drift gear. Marabou and rabbit fur jigs are commonly used, in pink, black or purple.
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