Most people are going to describe inland salmon fishing in Grays Harbor as being slow. This was the case largely because, until this week, no significant rain has come to move the fish.

Although some fishwere being caught, it was not a fast and furious scene on our local rivers. This is the case not because of a lack of effort. Anglers are making time to pursue salmon and the evidence supports this notion. Boaters are trolling fishable water, bankers are occupying accessible locations and sporting goods stores’ shelves are bare of popular lure choices.

This can typically be the case well into the month of October. However, our balmy weather extended beyond the norm. This situation can create havoc for the salmon fishery. Anglers need to be ready because the slightest chance of measurable rain is going to create a large push of fish quickly. These fish will be anxious to locate their spawning area and get to the business at hand.

Providing we do not get a flood, this scenario will serve anglers well. It will spread out the fish along each of our rivers. It will spread anglers out as well. More fresh fish will be arriving and limits should be easily attained.

When these things occur, people start eating more fish. Anglers are curing eggs for the upcoming steelhead season. Smokers are being purchased and folks are putting away a lot of smoked salmon for the holiday season.

All of these things happen when we get rain in the right proportion.It is a delicate balance because too much rain creates a freeway for fish to travel much too quickly. On the other hand, a shower only settles the dust and doesn’t make for any significant fish movement.

So, in the meantime, anglers will keep doing what they are doing. For those trolling, they will be focused on the Chehalis River mainly. Other opportunities in this regard would be the Wishkah, the Hoquiam and the mouth of the Satsop rivers. Bankfishermen are lining up at various locations on the Chehalis, Humptulips and Hoquiam rivers. It seems that these fish have been in these mentioned estuary waters for quite some time now. They are beginning to show some color as well.

Those who have fished for salmon in Grays Harbor for any length of time are certainly aware of these circumstances. There have been times in the past when we have experienced earlier rain falls which have only caused these fish to migrate en masse seemingly all at once. I do not expect that to be the case this year.

Anglers will have to adjust to our current situation. When things change, they will have to adapt to new conditions. This is all in the life of an angler from Grays Harbor. They are hardy, flexible, adaptable and determined to get the job done.