Fishing Report Updated 04/23/24 (Bottom Of Page)
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone
Species
Steelhead (Native and Hatchery)
Chinook Salmon
Sea-run Cutthroat Trout
Resident Cutthroat Trout
Size
Small to Medium
Location
Olympic Peninsula
Nearest Towns
Forks
Season
See Seasons Below
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Washington
Weather
National Weather Service Link
USGS Stream Flow Data:
Near La Push
Seasons:
The season regulations is subject to seasonal changes. Be sure and check the current year regulations and dates for seasons.
Spring:
Winter steelhead are still in the river until well into April.
Summer:
Summer steelhead run from June through September.
Fall:
Steelhead fishing can begin as early as late November.
Winter:
December and January are the prime months for the winter steelhead.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
For Steelhead and Salmon
Fly Line:
7, 8 , 9 or 10 weight for appropriate typerod, sinking, sinking tip and floating
Leaders:
10#, 12# in 9 to 15 feet lengths
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly 7, 8, 9 and 10 ft. single hand rods
Fly Reels:
For 7 to 10 weight lines
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
KISS Strike Indicators, Lanyards, etc.
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Tippets:
10# and 12#
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing On The Bogachiel River In Washington
The Bogachiel River forms on the southwestern flank of Bogachiel Peak in the Olympic National Park High Divide. Most of its fifty mile length flows within the National Park’s boundary. It’s locally referred to as the Bogie or Bogey and is considered a prime steelhead fishing and hiking destination. The Bogachiel River isn’t glacier-fed like many of the other rivers within the park. It doesn’t have a runoff period from melting snow in the
spring and summer. This results in a longer fishing season.
The river is best known for the large run of steelhead in the upper reaches during December and January. Although most of its large run of steelhead are hatchery fish, some of the largest of all the Peninsula’s steelhead return to the upper headwaters of the Bogachiel River. The steelhead often weight between twenty and thirty pound. The river also has a fall run of Chinook Salmon.
The upper reaches of the river is on a steeper declination than the lower part of the river and is the preferred area by steelhead anglers. The river gets wider and slows down prior to its confluence with the Sol Duc. As with all the Peninsula’s steehead rivers, the migration of the fish is based on water levels and flows more than anything else.
Huge numbers of winter steelhead smolts from the Bogachiel Rearing Ponds are set free each year. When these hatchery fish return to the river, so do the fishermen. December and January can be a very busy time on the Bogey. The four mile long section from the ponds to the boat launch at Wilson can become crowded with boats.
The winter steelhead fishing doesn’t end in January. It continues through March and April and with larger fish. This is the best time for those anglers seeking the large 20 to 30 pound steelhead. These fish will be in the upper section of the river where ideal conditions exist for both the steelhead and the fly angler.
Bogachiel River Fishing Report:
02/24/2020 The stream is back up and in
good shape. This coming week should be a
good one.
09/09/20 The stream levels are low but
now is the time to get prepared for sea-run
cutts, coho and streelhead. Send us an
email for a list of flies and gear.
sales@perfectflystore.com
09/18/20 There are some coho and
steelhead being caught. A few sea-run cutts
have also be caught.
11/29/20 Hatchery streelhead are starting
to show up. We have received one good
report but expect more very soon.
01/11/21 Stream levels are up but should
start falling soon. We haven’t received any
recent reports.
02/25/21 The river is down to near normal
levels. Steelhead are being caught in good
numbers. Swinging, eggs and nymphs.
www.perfectflystore.com/steelhfwest.html
04/25/21 The river is in okay shape and a few dropback winter steelhead are still being caught but for all practical purposes, it is over for the winter run.
05/05/21 Steelhead fishing it done until the summer run begins in about a month. Now is the time to get your flies and gear ready. Give us a call or send us an email and we will help you.
06/01/21 The river is in good shape and it is time for the summer run steelhead to start but so far, no reports. https://perfectflystore.com/product-category/flies/perfect-generic-steelhead-salmon-flies/pacific-steelhead/
07/28/21 The river is low but we are getting some good reports on summer steelhead catches by our customers.
08/05/21 The river is low and clear. The lower section is the best section to fish and there are some steelhead being caught.
08/27/21 The stream levels are a little low. Now is the time to get prepared for sea-run
cutts, coho and streelhead. Send us an
email for a list of flies and gear.
09/06/21 The river is still very low and warm. Rain is needed. We recommend holding off for now.
09/30/21 The stream levels are up a little above normal and in good shape. Now is the time to get prepared for the up coming season.
10/27/21 Good reports from customers fishing for coho, kings and sea run cutts. Recent heavy rain should bring in a lot more fish.
11/03/21 We are still getting good reports from customers. Our nymphs and streamer salmon flies are working good.
11/11/21 More good reports have come in from customers catching salmon.
11/21/21 Good numbers of coho are being caught by our customers. The river has a very good population.
11/29/21 The heavy rain has the stream levels very high. Fish as soon as it drops. There are plenty salmon in the river and our customers were catching them prior to the high levels.
12/07/21 The stream levels are down to a much better level. You should be able to catch fish now. There are plenty hatchery steelhead in the river.
12/14/21 We received one good report from a customer.
12/23/21 Stream levels are in better shape. Hatchery steelhead are in the river being caught in decent numbers.
12/31/21 We didn’t get any reports from anyone probably due to the holiday.
01/08/22 We received three good reports from anglers catching hatchery steelhead. Steam levels are back down in okay shape.
01/16/22 The stream is still in okay shape and we received two more good reports.
01/24/22 We received two more good reports from customers fishing for steelhead this past week. Swinging and nymphs are both working.
02/06/22 The river is still turning out good numbers of hatchery fish and a few wild ones. Conditions remain good.
02/22/22 Two more good reports came in from customers catching steelhead this past week. Conditions are still okay.
03/02/22 Fishing is closed as of March 1st due to low returns.
04/29/22 Summer run steelhead will come into the river starting about a month from now, so now is the time to get your gear and flies ready. email us and let us help you. Resident cutts can be caught now.
06/22/22 Summer run steelhead are coming in and being caught. Sea-run cutts are coming in and resident cutthroat trout fishing is good. Call or write us for a recommended fly list.
07/06/22 The stream is turning out catches of summer steelhead, sea run cuts and resident cuthroat trout. There are very good hatches taking place. t
09/10/12 Now is the time to get prepared for sea-run cutts, coho and streelhead. Send us an email for a list of flies and gear.
11/01/22 We have been getting some good reports from customers fishing for coho, kings and sea-run cutts. The heavy rain currently falling should bring in a lot more fish.
11/17/22 We conditions remain okay with good reports on Kings and coho salmon. Our first steelhead have been reported and it should pick up soon.
01/01/23 Levels have been falling, but remain okay. Good winter hatches are taking place and fish are being caught. Swinging our steelhead streames and nymphs are working best.
02/12/22 Large steelhead are being caught in the upper section of the river.
02/26/22 We continue to get good steelhead reports from customers.
05/14/23 Closed until May 27th. Now is the time to get your gear and flies in order.
06/12/23 Summer run steelhead are coming in and being caught. Sea-run cutts are coming in and being caught. Resident cutthroat trout fishing is very good. Call or write us for a recommended fly list.
06/29/23 We are still getting some good reports on resident cutthroat and sea run cutts. Summer run steelhead fishing is very good.
07/10/23 More good reports came in from customers fishing for resident and sea run cutts and summer run steels.
08/07/23 Closed due to low water levels.
08/31/23 The stream is still closed to fishing due to low water levels.
10/05/23 The stream remains closed due to low water levels.
10/14/23 The stream is now open to fishing. The new pulse of water should bring the fish in in good numbers.
10/27/23 There are Coho salmon, Summer steelhead being caught along with Cutthroat trout. Conditions are good.
11/12/23 The river is still turning out good catches of cutthroat trout along with Coho salmon and summer run steelhead.
11/19/23 Good reports are coming in on Coho catches. Get ready for steelhead coming in December. Check out our spey rods for value per cost and also our Steelhead fly selections.
12/02/23 Cutthroat, summer run steelhead and Coho salmon are being caught.
12/14/23 We are still getting good reports from customers when the stream level are not too high. Swinging our egg sucking leeches is working good.
01/08/24 More good reports from customers have come in. Stream levels are just a little above normal level and the water mostly clear.
01/27/24 The stream is still turning out some nice steelhead as long as the water levels are okay. It has been high a lot. Our Estaz egg flies and Hexigenia steelhead nymphs have been working good.
02/18/24 Conditions are good. Good number of both hatchery and wild fish are being caught.
02/25/24 The stream is flowing near a normal level in good shape. We are still getting good catch reports.
03/04/24 The stream is still a little high and stained. Steelhead are being caught by our customers.
03/11/24 The stream is still high and heavily stained. There are plenty fish in the river. Give it a day or two to drop some and clear up some.
04/01/24 The stream is in okay shape and the river still has lots of winter steelhead in it.
04/23/24 The river is still in okay shape and a few drop-back winter steelhead are still being caught but for all practical purposes, it is over for the winter run.
Click Here to see our Steelhead Flies: Click Here to see our Salmon Flies.
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.