Met up with a couple fishing buddies (Don and Ron) to hit the Sol Duc today. Got to the hatchery at 0600 and Don and i walked down the boat launch to check the river out. We get close to the bottom and he sees a big nook jump and splash. He turned into a 5 year old at christmas. He ran up to the truck to get his wadders on and I followed. Ron was taking his time and told us not to worry about waiting for him and to get out lines in the water. So we head down and don starts to throw a drift rig out. I tie up a rvrfsher silver hammered spoon. Check for the best area to cast out and I do. 15 seconds in to me first cast my spoon get hit like a freight train. I didn't even have to set the hook. After a few jumps and a few line rips off my reel I get it to the bank.......I was on such a high, 11lb steelie on my first cast out on a spoon I have never used before (never had much luck with spoons).
So Don switches out to to a float and jig setup throws on a prawn tail and works the hole. About 20 minutes after the fish I landed he lands the sweet 15lb nookie.
We worked the river all the way dow to by forks and then checked out the bogie...way low.. we fished for about 20 minutes or so and then we headed back to the hole we fished in the morning.
I had a fish on for a few seconds. Hook came out and saw him swim away.
So for three of us..one steelie and one nook. Spent 9 hours out on the water and the only two fish were caught in the first 30 minutes of us getting our lines in the water.
There are still fish holding at the hatchery....form what the locals said you need to get there uber early or uber late.