I’ve not fished for spring chinook before.
I usually hit the fall run on the Cowlitz, Chehalis, Satsop, and Humptulips.

When and where to the “springers” run?

I think my spots on the Cowlitz will work, as the season is Jan 01 - Jul 31, can keep 2 adults.

Does one fish for spring chinook the same as fall chinook?

Thanks.

Yep, there are steelys in the Satsop. Unfortunately it’s closed until April.

Check the Hoh, “From Olympic National Park boundary upstream to Dept. of Natural Resource's Oxbow Campground boat launch.” two hatchery steelhead can be kept. Read through the rest of the emergency rules on how to catch legally.

“Other game fish” includes steelhead, so you can chase them on the Sky until 31 Jan.

Double check the Emergency Regulations/Rules.

There were a TON that came out in the last week or so regard the coastal rivers (Hump, Satsop, Chehalis, etc…).

https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/emergency-rules

Looks like a lot of the close for all species 12/16.

The Skykomosh closed 11/30 to all species, as did the Snohomish, and from what I’ve found on the WDFW Fish Washington APP, Tokul creek is also closed.

It’s my understanding a lot of the coastal river fisheries for salmon have closed, or are closing very soon, and I think they all close (for salmon) 31 December.

I had really good luck down stream of Shaffer State Park on the Satsop, pulling limits on Coho and/or Chum last month.

If you’ve a boat, or access to one, I limited on Coho every visit to the Chehalis, down stream of the mouth of the Satsop.

There are several shore spots along the river as well, but I didn’t fish them as my Buddy was kind enough to take me out on his boat.

😃

Marc, welcome to the forum.

I’m up north but if you want to come out on the sound when the season opens again, I’ve a spot on my boat.
I’ll be hitting the Edmonds Oil Docks to Richmond Beach, and maybe across the inlet over toward Kingston. Putting it at Eddie Vine.

Additionally, I troll the mouth of the Duwamish for coho when that opens.

I’ve fished some spots from the shore on the Chehalis, Cowlitz, and Satsop, but always up to join in for walks to new places.

The correct answers are not found on a forum such as this.

The correct answers lie with the Game Warden.

I’ve seen too many guys get busted because “…that guy told me…” was their excuse to said Game Warden.

A quick phone call > Asking on an Internet forum.

Questions about what’s open, what’s closed, what gear you can use, what fish you can keep?

All your answers are found in your state regulations.

Read them.

Want clarification?

Ask your state.

I’ll be happy to give you my opinion, but you know what they say about opinions….

I do not see “Night Closure” listed for the Cowlitz specifically, in the WDFW Fish Washington APP.

Double check the State Wide and General Rules.

Blue Creek “From the mouth to the posted sign above rearing pond outlet“ is closed to night fishing.

Chum are fantastic on the smoker, in curry, chowder, and teriyaki as mentioned

I use the double-uni when tying line to line.

I tie floro/mono to braid when twitching jigs, throwing spoons, or lures like Kwikfish.

Will have to look into the Albright.
Thanks for that info.

I use the Net Knots app, it’s pretty great.

Thoughts on knots?

I’m running the Palomar when I tie braid to terminal tackle.

I use the World’s Fair for mono and floro, (and sometimes braid if the jig or lure is too big).

Egg loop when bobbing eggs.
Need to learn one I can tie with only one open end…

What are your Top Knots?

Prior to 9/25?

Bank or boat?
Boat: About a 1/4 mile or so down river from the Fuller Bridge boat launch.
Bank: Preachers Slough.

No telling…. I read the hatchery escapement reports weekly so it sure looks like coho and chinook are running too.
I’ve trolled the mouth from Harbor Island to the Boeing access bridge for coho, twitched jigs, threw spoons and bobbed eggs at Cecil Moses for coho, and done the same up river in Tukwila for chinook and coho.
So far I’ve caught the ground and lost three jigs and two vibramax spoons and fed the guppies and smaller fish eggs.