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Thread: Olympic Peninsula Report

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    el cerrito
    Posts
    339

    Default Olympic Peninsula Report

    We managed to get most of our trip in this year, but I think we achieved a PhD in Travel Management in order to do so. While we were there, Washington went to full Shelter in Place and their Governor closed all rivers to recreational fishing at the end of Wednesday. That ended their Steelhead season. Our decision to drive up to Washington on Friday had us on the river Sunday, so we were able to get 4 days in. After getting washed out of two planned Eel trip earlier, we just had to get this one in. We packed a bunched of hand sanitizer and wipes with us.

    As I said, we head out mid-day on Friday. We make it to the Kalaloch Lodge, on the OP, at the end of the day on Saturday. We were going to spend 3 nights there, but when we get there the restaurant is closed, and they are shutting down the lodge on Tuesday morning, so we only get 2 nights there. We call the hotel we were heading to next and add an extra day there. When we arrive there that evening, they let us know they will be closing down in 2 days!!!! Next we find a house that we can rent for the remainder of the trip. On top of it, the damn guy had put up a Seahawks logo on the side of his garage that we had to look at everyday. So you get the drift, no pun intended, completely scrambling for lodging. As here, all restaurants were take out only. We ended up doing a lot of our own cooking anyways.

    The fishing was ok for the trip. We were able to put 2 days in on the Queets and 2 days in on the Ho. There were 3 of us on the trip. On day one, one of our gang had a big day, and went 5 for 10! The others of us were 0 for 2. The rest of the days, we generally had 3 hookups and landed one or two. All in all, it was slower than most years had been. We each got into at least one large ( 17lb - 20 lb) fish, but only 1 was landed between us. Some great fights though, just Mr. Steel prevailed.

    They are finally getting some more weather up there. The rivers were getting low and a little too clear for optimal conditions. But with the closure, now it's onto next year.

    Here are a few pictures . . .
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
    Posts
    23,837

    Default

    It is wonderful that all that wilderness still exists.......excellent adventure.
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    1,067

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by yubaman View Post
    We managed to get most of our trip in this year, but I think we achieved a PhD in Travel Management in order to do so. While we were there, Washington went to full Shelter in Place and their Governor closed all rivers to recreational fishing at the end of Wednesday. That ended their Steelhead season. Our decision to drive up to Washington on Friday had us on the river Sunday, so we were able to get 4 days in. After getting washed out of two planned Eel trip earlier, we just had to get this one in. We packed a bunched of hand sanitizer and wipes with us.

    As I said, we head out mid-day on Friday. We make it to the Kalaloch Lodge, on the OP, at the end of the day on Saturday. We were going to spend 3 nights there, but when we get there the restaurant is closed, and they are shutting down the lodge on Tuesday morning, so we only get 2 nights there. We call the hotel we were heading to next and add an extra day there. When we arrive there that evening, they let us know they will be closing down in 2 days!!!! Next we find a house that we can rent for the remainder of the trip. On top of it, the damn guy had put up a Seahawks logo on the side of his garage that we had to look at everyday. So you get the drift, no pun intended, completely scrambling for lodging. As here, all restaurants were take out only. We ended up doing a lot of our own cooking anyways.

    The fishing was ok for the trip. We were able to put 2 days in on the Queets and 2 days in on the Ho. There were 3 of us on the trip. On day one, one of our gang had a big day, and went 5 for 10! The others of us were 0 for 2. The rest of the days, we generally had 3 hookups and landed one or two. All in all, it was slower than most years had been. We each got into at least one large ( 17lb - 20 lb) fish, but only 1 was landed between us. Some great fights though, just Mr. Steel prevailed.

    They are finally getting some more weather up there. The rivers were getting low and a little too clear for optimal conditions. But with the closure, now it's onto next year.

    Here are a few pictures . . .
    Way to insist on making it happen...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    el cerrito
    Posts
    339

    Default

    It's pretty much what it came to. We all cancelled our flights into Portland with the big question mark on air travel. We just felt better off knowing we were in charge of our own travel by driving up. Besides, who wanted to jump on a plane at this point? The drag was hitting the big 6-0 birthday up there and not having a bar to knock a few down in. We did find an alternative social optionhowever.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    1,067

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by yubaman View Post
    It's pretty much what it came to. We all cancelled our flights into Portland with the big question mark on air travel. We just felt better off knowing we were in charge of our own travel by driving up. Besides, who wanted to jump on a plane at this point? The drag was hitting the big 6-0 birthday up there and not having a bar to knock a few down in. We did find an alternative social optionhowever.
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER!
    60 is the new 40 so you got 50+ more years of steelheading
    and I saw what you did there...
    Wildwood flower grew wild on the farm and we didn't know what it was called...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Yolo County
    Posts
    13

    Default

    Did you nymph all 4 days?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    el cerrito
    Posts
    339

    Default

    Yep, no swinging.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Carson City NV
    Posts
    461

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by yubaman View Post
    We managed to get most of our trip in this year, but I think we achieved a PhD in Travel Management in order to do so. While we were there, Washington went to full Shelter in Place and their Governor closed all rivers to recreational fishing at the end of Wednesday. That ended their Steelhead season. Our decision to drive up to Washington on Friday had us on the river Sunday, so we were able to get 4 days in. After getting washed out of two planned Eel trip earlier, we just had to get this one in. We packed a bunched of hand sanitizer and wipes with us.

    As I said, we head out mid-day on Friday. We make it to the Kalaloch Lodge, on the OP, at the end of the day on Saturday. We were going to spend 3 nights there, but when we get there the restaurant is closed, and they are shutting down the lodge on Tuesday morning, so we only get 2 nights there. We call the hotel we were heading to next and add an extra day there. When we arrive there that evening, they let us know they will be closing down in 2 days!!!! Next we find a house that we can rent for the remainder of the trip. On top of it, the damn guy had put up a Seahawks logo on the side of his garage that we had to look at everyday. So you get the drift, no pun intended, completely scrambling for lodging. As here, all restaurants were take out only. We ended up doing a lot of our own cooking anyways.

    The fishing was ok for the trip. We were able to put 2 days in on the Queets and 2 days in on the Ho. There were 3 of us on the trip. On day one, one of our gang had a big day, and went 5 for 10! The others of us were 0 for 2. The rest of the days, we generally had 3 hookups and landed one or two. All in all, it was slower than most years had been. We each got into at least one large ( 17lb - 20 lb) fish, but only 1 was landed between us. Some great fights though, just Mr. Steel prevailed.

    They are finally getting some more weather up there. The rivers were getting low and a little too clear for optimal conditions. But with the closure, now it's onto next year.

    Here are a few pictures . . .
    Thank you for your trip report and pictures.

    The only thing missing was "For the drive home, a small Thermos of ..........."


    Seriously though, as I replied in John H's Lower Sac report/post, this is great "escape" from the troubling times we're all experiencing.

    I do appreciate you taking the time to share your trip with us !!!



    Bob

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    el cerrito
    Posts
    339

    Default

    Bob,

    You're right about that! . . . the Thermos.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Sacramento, Driggs
    Posts
    1,204

    Default

    Next year, I am bound and determined to make this trip happen. Unless I am able to get a visitors visa to NZ by February...in which case it will be a tough decision.

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