Northwest Fishing Reports

Anyone fishing this weekend or early this week with all the rain? Does it blow out the rivers?

It will on some rivers, the ones that are most succeptible, if not all of them.

It all depends upon your definition of "blown out". If it's like most of the larger rivers throughout the Puget Sound, which looks like chocolate milk with quite a bit of debris...then yes. I don't pay much attention to many of the rivers, other than the Puyallup & White. That's just because I drive over them just about every day. I don't imagine most of the larger rivers and their tributaries (i.e.- Green, White, Snohomish, Cowlitz, Lewis, etc., etc.) would be much different. It all depends upon the amount of rainfall, too...light steady rains bring the rivers up, but not to the extent of heavy, short lived rains. The ground has more of a chance to absorb the rain if it's slow and steady...otherwise, it just drains into the rivers blowing them out.

They'll usually fish good up until the rain starts, maybe a bit longer (a few hours)...but then watch out, the levels start rising quickly. Have a look at the linky below and check out the discharge and gauge height charts...

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/WA/nwis/current/?type=flow

Fishing in the rain rocks, it usually keeps most at home while those who are confident enough fish right through the storm

Brian253 wrote:Fishing in the rain rocks, it usually keeps most at home while those who are confident enough fish right through the storm

Just like everything else in the PNW...if you're not fishing in the rain it's going to be a long wait until the sun comes out.

leahcim_dahc wrote:

Brian253 wrote:Fishing in the rain rocks, it usually keeps most at home while those who are confident enough fish right through the storm

Just like everything else in the PNW...if you're not fishing in the rain it's going to be a long wait until the sun comes out.

Springtime's coming.

Amx wrote:

leahcim_dahc wrote:

Brian253 wrote:Fishing in the rain rocks, it usually keeps most at home while those who are confident enough fish right through the storm

Just like everything else in the PNW...if you're not fishing in the rain it's going to be a long wait until the sun comes out.

Springtime's coming.

HaHa!!

I won't lie...on many occasions I've woke up to go fishing, looked out the window at it raining like a cow pissing on a flat rock...look back at the wife all snuggled up in bed...look out the window...look back at the wife, weigh my options, and then kiss her on the forehead and run like hell!

Then there's other days I just say to hell with it and crawl back in bed. The older I get the more it seems I opt for crawling back in bed.

I did it just today, sat out on the Nisqually for 6 hours in the pouring rain and then the thunder and lightning came. I had fun being the only one down at Mounts bridge on the civilian side. Although I figured out why I was the only one there, even the gillnetters arent getting fish. It's kind of depressing I love the Nasty and it was good to me with silvers last year but it seems completely blown out.

my son and I fished all day in the rain then sun then rain again fished dash point didn't see one silver running through but did finally catch something to eat 3 months of trying to get a bite on something other then a crab or star fish. great time my son and I had out there. only a few people came and left as the rain came and left also.

Fishing the tops of the rivers in rain like this has paid out for me in the past. When the little rivers are on the rise the fish can move around more and there're less folks throwing stuff and the fish aren't as spooky. So long as there's good visibility, the fish usually move around more, and it's fun. If you've got good rain gear and waders it's no more wet than if'n you were fishin in the dry. I'm gonna go out tomorrow morning I'm thinking see what there is to see.

The rain doesn't bother me nearly as bad as the wind. Strong gusty winds are my least favorite fishing conditions. Then ADD rain into that equation and a facefull of icy cold wind/water and you have the makings for a really miserable day.

Rain is always good. Even when they get "Blown Out" . The fish cruise up river in the high water which makes for more productive spawning. Now the extremes are prolly as good. I was down to the Nasty 2 weekends ago and the water was coffee with cream color. That I didnt fish. I like the rivers with a lil off color.Also when you live in th NW you have your rain gear too. The fish are always in the rivers ,you just got to know where to find them.Good luck all.

Matt wrote:The rain doesn't bother me nearly as bad as the wind.

I agree - sun, rain, sleet, snow, hail - fished it all. As long as you are dressed for the conditions, no problem. I'm with others in that it reduces the # of other people fishing. I was out yesterday in waders and a rainshell all toasty warm and it was POURING - I loved it!

It's the wind that can be the issue. Been riding motorcycles for 30 years so it isn't the wind in the face for me so much as it is battling the wind for casting and keeping your line tight enough to feel a hit and get a good hookset. Then if you are on the water instead of banking it, well you have that to deal with too.

+3 for against the Wind.

I wish the rain would turn to snow.... Too many fishing the rivers!

jens wrote:+3 for against the Wind.

word.

You guys should try FLYfishing in the wind LOL. Geez, about the only prayer is trolling if that's an option or else roll casting down wind. Trying to drift a dry fly drag free on a river with 20-30 MPH winds is FUTILE.

And oh ya, the rain DOES blow a lot of the rivers especially the ones without dams or above the dammed areas. The coast rivers are often susceptible.

Brian253 wrote:Fishing in the rain rocks, it usually keeps most at home while those who are confident enough fish right through the storm

I can agree with that...I remember last year on the puyallup fishin for the pinks it started pouring rain. All of these guys went to their trucks including my uncle.I stayed out and fished and had a hook up on every cast for about 15 casts in a row!!!! WHat a year that was...Cant wait till next year...

Heavier weight, brighter colors, more stink, and pound the hell outta the seams. If you have 2 speeds of water hit it. If you know the rivers well then fish the objects you cant see cause of the higher water. The fish dont leave cause its raining. They actually become more active with the rain. Get your gear straight and youll be in for big days.

Prime example today, fished my spot pretty much complete blowout. more fish, less idiots. About 6 other guys there, we left with six chrome b-run coho all around 15 lbs. Right gear presented with confidence turned a storm into some damn great fishing. Throw some chum in the mix and its a good time!