It is beginning to look a lot like another unusual inland salmon fishing season and weather patterns could have a major impact.
More specifically, really low water conditions have hampered the migration of salmon tremendously. We have experienced some very pleasant fall days in October and also leading into November. This may have affected the fishing scene adversely. I guess one could say “we can’t have it both ways.”
The following has been our situation lately: The October storm moved salmon. Once these fish reached popular holding waters, they darkened quickly.
The hopes have been that more fish would occupy the river waters. While this is occurring in some measures, anglers are having to work the rivers to locate fresh salmon that are looking for their spawning locations.
Normally at this time, fishers are picking up some early steelhead prior to Thanksgiving. It seems this predictable time line is not happening according to schedule. So, the obvious expectation is to see salmon join the steelhead run well into December and even into January.
This is not necessarily a bad situation. From an anglers’ standpoint, it extends the possibility for salmon further into the season.
The thing that does change are the colder temperatures. Fishing the fall months for salmon is different than fishing these fish in the winter when temperatures drop. Yet, if the fish are there, they can supply table fare throughout the holiday season.
When fishing water is jointly inhabited by salmon and steelhead, there are modified rules. On rivers where this occurs, the simple barbless hook rule applies. In some cases, the selective-year rule would apply as well.
This rule means that only unscented artificial flies or lures with one single-point barbless hook are allowed. Up to a total of three artificial flies or lures, each containing one single-point, barbless hook may be used.
Bait is prohibited and fish may be released until the daily limit is returned. Also, only knotless nets may be used to land fish except where specifically allowed under the special rules for individual waters. If any fish has swallowed the hook or is hooked in the gill, eye, or tongue, it should be kept if legal to do so.
At the end of October, there has been some closures for smaller rivers and sections of larger rivers. These may apply to either salmon or game fish so anglers should consult with the regulations before heading out. Along these lines, inland lakes have also closed to fishing except for those that are year round fisheries.
We do find ourselves in a interesting situation. All is not bad and options do exist.
Anglers can make the most of the situation, and I am sure that they will. Yet, on the other hand, I will continue to be curious how this season plays out. Mother Nature has a way of making things predictability unpredictable. When this is the case, the whole scene becomes a guessing game.
