2023 Siltcoo/Tahk coho thread

Roger, I had to go really small on the flies, like 1"- 1 1/2" orange/gold.

anyone that has fished the lakes with me has heard that I like gold/orange better than silver/pink, even on sunny days and especially if it's overcast or sunrise/sunset lighting. Jacks always a good sign, they seem to lead in the main run most years and are delicious stuffed and baked whole.

still seems like just a few coho are coming in, Pepper and I had the lake almost to ourselves Tuesday but I did find this stunning coho while casting my spinner in the shallows.  Was hoping it was a big jack but nope, a little longer than the 'legal lingcod' marks on my bow so I passed it in front of the GoPro and right back into the water...

this forecast says it all, see image below for what it was.

link: https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?MPLO3

once they crack the dam, either after tonight/tomorrows rain or after that bump starting Nov1, things should be very fun at both lakes.

Wednesday 11am, no surprises:

Tahk dam- closed
Siltcoos dam- closed.
Siltcoos level- slightly higher than yesterday, still probably a foot below where they normally crack the dam.

We had the dam operator at Tahkenitch lower the lake level a couple feet this summer to aid in implementing a restoration project on Fivemile Creek. As a result, Tahk may take a little longer to reach good "coho levels" than usual. I'd plan accordingly!

We had the dam operator at Tahkenitch lower the lake level a couple feet this summer to aid in implementing a restoration project on Fivemile Creek. As a result, Tahk may take a little longer to reach good "coho levels" than usual. I'd plan accordingly!

if I read that correctly..."Larger coho expected in Tahkenitch this year, just in time for Thanksgiving!".  lol

Yep, just giving em a little more time to grow bigger  .

The lakes typically grow the largest coho on the coast, and the average size coho for 2023 in the rivers is impressive. I wouldn't be surprised to hear of fish eclipsing 15 lbs being hooked in the lakes this year.

wow, the lake level at Tahk is still low. This is the south end of the RR bridge at 5-mile arm.  that red arrow points to the opening that I normal glide through with my drive fins snug up against the hull, rudder often bumping the wood.  Normally by now, when they would be close to opening the dam, there is at least 8" of water above the large wood beam.

Tried Siltcoos for a few hrs yesterday. Marked a few salmon, saw one jump. Lost a decent cutthroat at the boat, and caught 8 lil largemouth.

Since I still can't access the AOTY page, would an administrator kindly submit the ambitious baby bass for me, for the TFS?

Thank you!

Hey Roger, Been pretty wet today in the Valley. Hopefully getting a good dosing at the coast as well. How many days of this do you think it will take to get the dams open?

Hey Roger, Been pretty wet today in the Valley. Hopefully getting a good dosing at the coast as well. How many days of this do you think it will take to get the dams open?

mostly wind here so far but rain is coming and Siltcoos should open soon, I'm checking the lakes later Thursday, update below.  Planning to fish Siltcoos Friday because after that, looks like 4 days of strong wind and rain...

Update 2pm Thursday- neither dam open, Siltcoos slightly higher and close to where they normally open the dam.  Tahk still low.  Off and on gusty wind today and just light rain, still expecting big rain soon.

Siltcoos is full of water and it is raining hard in Florence.  No coho wanted to play today, I tried flies, spinners, and my favorite Brad's wiggler.  Oldhammer got a very nice SRC today, close to 20" is my guess.  More kayaks than powerboats out today...

   

Saturday 11am-  Siltcoos up another half foot overnight, full pond.  Tahk needs another foot or so.  Both dams closed.  All 3 trailers in the Siltcoos parking lot were duck hunters (dog kennels in the truck beds). 

Strong gusty winds from SW today, see image, this wind direction isn't an issue for the west side of the lake...I'd be out later this afternoon to fish the west shoreline if the dam was open.  Wind from E or SE is the bad stuff, I really avoid that at Siltcoos.

Siltcoos is full of water and it is raining hard in Florence.  No coho wanted to play today, I tried flies, spinners, and my favorite Brad's wiggler.  Oldhammer got a very nice SRC today, close to 20" is my guess.  More kayaks than powerboats out today...

   

Followed rogerdodger around the lake on Friday. My pedaling was no match for his new trolling motor set-up.  Saw two rolls but no coho love.  Caught a fat 18 in src that looked to have escaped a sealion or two.

I have talked with several boats this weekend that report little or no coho action so far but they mentioned catching some larger than normal (for the last few years anyway) SeaRunCutthroat (16"-20")- nice chunky ones that have been eating really well in the ocean. 
(FYI- trout on the coho lakes are normal regs- 5 per day all year but only 1 per day can be over 20".)

Lake keeps rising...

 

Monday 10am-

Siltcoos dam open.
Tahk dam still closed.