January steelhead fishing on the Olympic Peninsula

WARNING: No steelhead were hooked in the making of this video. Viewer discretion is advised.
Kidding aside, I had a nice, long day of fishing yesterday. However, over the past couple months I've had a lot of opportunity to develop my thoughts on establishing a life and lifestyle in the Olympic Peninsula. I tried to capture my sentiments throughout the day regarding the fisheries I've experienced--or at least tried to experience--and questions I have about my own future here. There's been some major differences between my expectations and what I've experienced over these first four four months. But I also wanted to capture the beauty of both this river and this time of year here for my friends and family back in Michigan.
Putting aside the recently really low numbers of fish I've been catching, there's a lot of upside to living in the Olympic Peninsula. And if it happens to play out so that the months of December and January, in the years to come, find me doing more--oh, I don't know--waterfowl and grouse hunting, crabbing, or using that time of year to visit friends and family, then I think I'll still have come out ahead.

[@brendaherzog1453]

You need to be on the Hoko a month earlier, all the tribal hatchery fish start around Thanksgiving and peak 1st 2weeks of Dec. You would have seen many anglers there a month earlier. You were there just before wild fish show.

[@fathersonoutdoors8049]

Egg sacks work pretty good in that river. There are some awesome spots on the lower river also

[@CarsonPrichard]

Funny you say that. I was talking with a couple people explaining how egg sacks are the main thing used for steelhead in Michigan, but I haven't seen anyone using them here. And now I am kicking myself for not saving more coho eggs from earlier this season for exactly that purpose. Until I land a hatchery female I'll have to wait. Next year I'll be prepared, for sure!

[@fathersonoutdoors8049]

@@CarsonPrichard good luck on the rivers!

[@williamcooke6056]

@@CarsonPrichard don't you speak with local anglers? Then you'd know why people here don't use "egg sacks". They use "egg clusters", no need to wrap them in anything, when you have prime skeins, and cure them right. Lots of literature available that will tune you in to how most fish around here. You live on PA, but can't believe you aren't seeing other anglers when you are on a smaller stream instead of one of the legendary ones right down the road? You can't believe you aren't seeing anyone else there? You have many awesome rivers on the west end. Get off that one and look around.

[@johnkenny694]

Dude, maybe hit the bigger rivers, Sol Duc, Boggy, Hoh, Queets.

[@noahsorenson1418]

I would be willing to show you a few spots on that river and on a few others in the area

[@CarsonPrichard]

That'd be cool. Lemme know!

[@jakobbengelink9962]

As someone from Washington going to college in Michigan I can say without a doubt Michigan steelhead and salmon fishing is super ass compared to Washington. You’re just fishing steelhead way too late. Those hatch fish on the coast are a December show. You gotta hit it hard the second the river drops. Also I would highly encourage you to keep river names and locations out of your video titles, even talking about them in the video could land you in the hate circle quickly. People are protective of lesser known areas or fisheries. People like to be negative in Washington because sure some areas aren’t what they used to be but people just like to sit in an echo chamber of negativity to make up for them not catching fish or being on the wrong rivers at wrong times. Just gotta tune out all that bs and keep to yourself, fish new places, you’ll start to be in the know eventually.

[@ryanrozsonita2904]

Fish worms as well, don’t get discouraged there are some monsters in that river it’s a better river to float for sure but you can most defiantly catch fish on there!

[@thechase652]

I’m out on the op often and Id be willing to show you a few spots to get ya started, lots of great great fishing just takes time and knowledge

[@CarsonPrichard]

Sure, man. Lemme know!

[@dienluu410]

I wish I live closer to the Olympic.

[@noahsorenson1418]

That river can fish very well at times but it’s also very hit or miss generally the lower the water the better it’ll fish

[@williamb6817]

I'd be willing to show you a few spots.

[@CarsonPrichard]

That would be awesome! If you want to message me on Facebook or Instagram my name's Carson Prichard.

[@daveingram5712]

Don’t get discouraged. Just keep learning your rivers and run timings. There are great resources on state websites to help you time things up. Just do a bit of digging into catch stats. They are available for salmon and steelhead. Good luck on the river.

[@Pasha7310]

Keep at it brotha… takes time to learn fisheries here, if you up to go out sometime for steel HMU, can show you some local holes… RN is some good fishing

[@CarsonPrichard]

Steelhead fishing is closed on the whole peninsula right now, isn't it?

[@Pasha7310]

@@CarsonPrichard im not talking about a pennensula river, a SW WA river… limited out the other day, been hot past couple weeks

[@danbolton3180]

Talk to Jerry at Jerry's bait and tackle in Port Angeles. I went with him a few weeks ago and got a hatchery fish.

[@williamcooke6056]

Start fishing November 15th

[@oleg9634]

Nice fishing spot! What is your impression of the Dryft waders in terms of durability and breathability? Is it Large or Medium long?

[@CarsonPrichard]

Best waders I've ever owned, including Simms. Fit well, durable. I have just regular Mediums I think.

[@roryduncan1819]

The hype of the OP is is Bull $#|t I lived there for 41 years and the fishing is getting worse every year but if you are looking for that 20+ hit the duck or up high on the calawaha maybe the hoh

[@PNW_AnglingAdventures]

That one dude a long time ago got that 28 lber or something like that on the hoh fly fishing

[@PNW_AnglingAdventures]

My uncle and grandpa used to guide out there all the time until my grandpa passed and now my uncle's busy with his main job

[@TraceyBurkey]

Slow fishing. Can u say nets

[@jasonsablan670]

Nice video! We should link up. I fish the peninsula too

[@CarsonPrichard]

Thanks, man! Absolutely. Do you have Facebook or Instagram? Message on there. My name's Carson Prichard.

[@nicholasyebra1988]

Bro I'm super behind I definitely want to move there sooo bad I'm jealous lol

[@bretandcaleb916]

I feel like your at the hoko

[@dragonflytoo]

Why do steelhead anglers only use bobber? I catch steelies on spoons and jigs... All the time.

[@lucaspreszcator8687]

Spoons and jigs will pick out aggressive fish but float fishing provides the most natural presentation and presents the bait in a way they would naturally eat it

[@dragonflytoo]

@@lucaspreszcator8687 okay, why does it matter? 🤔

[@zekeisme1]

i will take a aggressive fish over no fish any day

[@PNW_AnglingAdventures]

​@@zekeisme1yah but aggressive fish are much more rare and hard to come by

[@waymirepa245]

What you guys have going in Michigan is far better than Washington. Our rivers have been whittled away at. Fish are few and far between and the runs alot shorter.

[@CarsonPrichard]

Steelhead fishing in Michigan is definitely awesome. I do dislike the cold, snowy winters. But yeah, the Lake Michigan tributaries of Michigan have great runs with steelhead fishing available late October through April, except when the rivers are iced over.

[@MrBillTaylor]

Why do Michigan fishermen keep so many steelhead that are ready to spawn or have already spawned?

[@williamchristy9436]

Go fish Cowlitz until you learn about steelhead fishing the west coast

[@brianpaige9227]

Worst advice ever given on the web

[@mikehock3792]

Hey I also came here from great lakes. If you wanna learn some stuff hmu I am down to show u the slay

[@austinsonger388]

Are you living in P.A.?

[@rosswillet210]

The river is the Hoko River

[@austinsonger388]

@@rosswillet210 I'm aware if the river this is. Inwas just wondering if the gentleman that filled it. Lives in P.A. if so I was willing to show him around to some spots in the peninsula

[@CarsonPrichard]

Yep, I live in P.A.