Satsop watch

[Paranoid]

Just returned from checking the condition of the Satsop. The main branch is still high and very dirty. Visibility approximately 1 foot. The East fork is a little better with visibility about 3 feet. The Turnow and the West fork is still the culprit. The mainstem Chehalis is fishable but high and very off colored. Heard of a few fish today at Monte but mostely unmarked silvers.The river is now rising once again. I hope it comes into shape for you all by saturday. Anyone wanting an update or swap tactics feel to e-mail me. Good luck.

[ 10-24-2001: Message edited by: Paranoid ]

[Lund]

does the chehalis or satsop get any chinook this late in the fall. after a big rain it should have lots of nice kings?or does it just get silvers?

Kevin, in addition to it's famous big silvers it also has fall 'nooks and chums. The chums are also big *** kickers and Jim told me a run of them also came up the 'Sop with the water rise. There will be a lot of tough fighting fish up there this Saturday if the heavy rains hold off as currently predicted. Some OP rivers allow retention of chinooks and some don't. I'm not sure about the Satsop/Chehallis regs on that. ...

I wish you and Scott could drift the EF Sop Saturday for F III. It's full of fish. Or send Oregon teams up there with your eggs. We are going after fresh ones out in the Chehallis; by necessity.

Steve

At 9:00 pm Wed. night the Satsop was running at 2740 cfs, on a slight rise from showers [Edit: now at 3150 cfs at 1:00 am early Thur. morning]. ... (If ya think that's something, the Queets is currently at 8400 cfs and rising! Big downpours on the outer OP - after all the dry weather I now wish it would queet rainin!) ...

Watch these sites for Saturday's F III, in addition to important eyewittness reports on Friday, are >>>

Washington River levels: http://wa.water.usgs.gov/rt-cgi/gen_tbl_pg
Look under 'Chehallis River Basin' down to 'Satsop R. at Satsop'.

Weather forecast sites (type in Montesano, Washington in the Search box):
http://home-weather.excite.com/forecast/

and

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/...uery=Tillamook

The upper one includes a current satelite weather map of systems. ... The lower one loads slower at times, but has better multi-day schematics. It also has the the current weather going on at Hoquiam. It's now saying rain overnight into Thur. morning, then tapering off thru the rest of the day and most of Friday. The concern is how much rain this morning and how much will come with the system due in Friday night into Saturday - hopefully it will be light or move north of the 'Sop drainage.

Friday evening reports from these sites along with eyewittness river condition reports here for the Satsop and Chehallis will be greatly appreciated; and needed for F III! Thanks.

EDIT:

Look what's coming in on a classified satelite photo site. It will be interesting to see where it is later Thur. I hope those large reddish areas (indicating occuring rain) are heading northeast and not due west! Otherwise F III may have to be set up on a short notice basis for the first Nov. Saturday that the Satsop/Chehallis are fishable? We'll soon see. I want to fish! Check this out:


http://www.offshoreweather.com/image...=Washington_IR

[ 10-25-2001: Message edited by: RT ]

Also watch the 'SATSOP/CHEHALLIS River/Weather Watch for F III ' thread on the piscatorial BB, because local Washington guys are watching the river and posting there too. Doug just posted it's at 3800 f/s and still rising. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] I remember one drought fall years ago that ended with a downpour that seemed to last the rest of the season. That can't happen again, could it? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

The river does get nookies, but most of them by now have gotten darker. Wednesday evening I got a 20lb hen on the 3rd cast that was bright.

The problem I see is lots of chummies that can't be retained. This rain will move "the teeth" in. Should be fun as always!

I may back out just for other obligations. I have the Friends of the Cowlitz banquet dinner that evening afterwards, but if I'm not feeling much better from the flu, I may back out of both events, but still meet everyone early in the morning and get some banking done for a couple of hours.

[Paranoid]

Just got back from the Satsop/Chehalis. Bad news boys and girls. The Satsop is way out. Including the east fork. The Chehalis mainstem below the Satsop has ZERO visibility(less than 6"), and is very high. Not quite blown out by the Satsop but close. The Satsop is approaching 5000cfm and has not yet crested. Historically it takes a solid 48 hrs for it to even begin to clear with no precipitation. Given the fact that it has not yet crested and it is supposed to rain more today and friday things are beginning to look bad for this weekend. I fish it alot and am not planning to go again until monday or tuesday. Best wishes and good luck.

[O'City Fisherman]

So with the bad news that has been given, are people looking at going to a second river?

[DanS]

Yep, she's toast.

Only rivers that will be fishable are too small to have a get-together on. Probably better just shoot for a later date.......

[CATCH AND EAT]

Does someone smell chicken burning?.... Nope, just wet Dawgs tucking tail. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] what a bummer about the Satsop. Keep us posted boys. Thanks.

Jim Bain just called me and we both agree with what Dan posted above. I propose we just keep this thing on a 'go when it's ready' basis for the first Saturday in Nov. that it's fishable. Most guys should be able to go. That would be Nov. 3rd, 10th, or 17th - not the Sat. of Thanksgiving weekend though. The Satsop should come in for one of those Saturdays, and those famous big silvers come into it fresh all thru November; just like chinooks do in the Tillamook rivers. Keep us posted on the 2 boards guys. Thanks.

RT

[Lund]

Steve,

your e mail link doesnt work, email me so i can get the reel truth. no pun intended.

Kevin,

We canceled AOL. My e-mail addy is now reeltruth1@home.com

I just tried to look at my profile to change it and found it locked by the site owner. Stew told me his was locked too. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] Nice management, eh?

Steve

Yeah Me and RT the scourges of ifish [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] I offered to be deleted if it would make Jennie and the mods sleep better but no takers. Anyway I don't really care anymore. I know what is truth and what is fiction or imagination or paranoia or jealousy... take your pick.
Stew

[ 10-26-2001: Message edited by: STEWED ]