Just outside Forks, the self-proclaimed Steelhead capital of the Pacific Northwest, the Bogachiel River is one of the Olympic Peninsula’s most productive salmon and steelhead streams. Fed by rain and springs in Olympic National Park, “the Bogey” usually runs clear but is often among the first rivers to blow out after heavy storms, and fishing it on the drop can be outstanding.
Seattle Fishing Company’s guide covers key access points, including Bogachiel State Park on Highway 101, the busy Bogachiel Hatchery off Bogachiel Way, Leyendecker Park at the Sol Duc confluence, and the Bogachiel River Trail into the national park for backcountry trout fishing. Note that national park regulations differ from those on the rest of the river.
It also lays out a season-by-season calendar. Summer Steelhead arrive as early as June, Fall Chinook and Coho peak in October after the first fall rains, and hatchery Winter Steelhead kick off in November. Wild steelhead catch-and-release fishing builds through winter and peaks in February. Cutthroat and Rainbow Trout are available year-round. Gear picks include spinners, spoons, twitching jigs, plugs, and bobber-and-jig setups, with tips for matching tactics to changing river conditions.
Read the full post here: Fishing the Bogachiel River
Fishing at Whistle Lake near Anacortes
