So my annual fishing trip to the Queets was cancelled because our guide was sick so since I had the day off had lots of options of where to fish. I was going to try out the Tilton river as it has been getting a good number of coho from the Cowlitz hatchery but after hearing the rain pound all night was worried it would be blown.

I have been fighting a cold lately so took some nyquil last night and woke up at sort of late around 6:30am so figured my best option was to give Chico creek a shot after stopping by there this weekend with the wife ( had to take her away for the weekend because of the empty nest syndrome) but did talk her into checking out Chico and Hoodsport and both were loaded with chum.

I favor the people at Chico over Hoodsport any day so arrived around 8:30 as the tide was running out and moved to the end of the creek out more in the open water as everyone was concentrating on the schools that were shooting up the creek but have found over the years that the ones out in the open water tend to bite more and you will hook more in the mouth that way.

I had tied on a purple sparkle yarn ball with chartruese thread and a black soft bead loaded it up with anise/shrimp scent and a small amount of lead and started casting out into the water. It didn't take long before I hooked up and 'walked the dog' back to the beach. It was a nice buck but I was after hens so let him go back to sea and it took me a couple hours to finally get a nice hen but had one buck literally swallow my hook so kept that one as it was bleeding too bad.

May not be too many options after the next couple of days of rain but still want to get down to the Satsop and Chehalis for some late coho! Did get a nice couple of skeins of eggs for that!

see you on the water!

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