Satsop River Salmon Fishing 2023

The Satsop River is considered the “middle tributary” of the Chehalis River sandwiched between the Wynoochee River and the Skookumchuck River in terms of major Chehalis Tributaries.

Draining the southern slopes of the Olympic Mountain range, the Satsop River emerges as 3 distinct forks: West, Middle and East.

All of our attention will be on the East fork of the Satsop River, because that is the only fork where salmon angling is typically allowed, and it’s also the only fork with a salmon hatchery on it: Bingham Creek Hatchery.

Salmon angling on the Satsop River is typically focussed on coho and chum salmon in the middle to late fall as the river can be absolutely plugged with both species after a good rain.

Fishing on the Satsop River typically takes place from where it dumps into the Chehalis River near the town of Satsop all the way upstream to Schafer State Park.

Schafer State Park offers some bank access and there’s a place to launch a drift boat near Decker Creek (though some indications are that it’s temporarily closed at the time of this writing).

A drift boat journey down the Satsop is an incredible experience and by far the best way to experience the entire river due to the private land ownership throughout most of the fishable portions.

Updated Status of returning Fall Chinook on the Satsop River

These graphs will automatically update as fish start to return to the hatchery. Fall Chinook are typically present, but retention is not allowed due to their low abundance.

Historical Run Timing of Fall Chinook on the Satsop River

Updated Status of returning Coho on the Satsop River

These graphs will automatically update as fish start to return to the hatchery.

Historical Run Timing of Coho on the Satsop River

As you can see, the number of fall coho can be quite significant in good return years and provide decent fishing from the first rains of fall and into December and perhaps beyond.

Updated Status of returning Chum on the Satsop River

These graphs will automatically update as fish start to return to the hatchery.

Historical Run Timing of Chum on the Satsop River

Chum fishing can be outstanding in late October through at least the middle of November, tailing off sharply in late November typically.

Forecast for 2023 Satsop River Fall Chinook

Escapement history just counts fish at the hatcheries that report escapement, total runsize combines escapement plus estimated catch of hatchery fish.

Forecasts are for total runsize, total return isn’t available until estimated catch has been calculated and released.

Forecast for 2023 Satsop River Coho

Escapement history just counts fish at the hatcheries that report escapement, total runsize combines escapement plus estimated catch of hatchery fish.

Forecasts are for total runsize, total return isn’t available until estimated catch has been calculated and released.

Forecast for 2023 Satsop River Chum

Escapement history just counts fish at the hatcheries that report escapement, total runsize combines escapement plus estimated catch of hatchery fish.

Forecasts are for total runsize, total return isn’t available until estimated catch has been calculated and released.

Fishing Regulations for Satsop River Salmon 2023

Species	Date	Additional Rules
from mouth to bridge at Schafer State Park CRC (329)
All species	Aug. 1-Sept. 30	Selective gear rules.
	Aug. 16-Nov. 30	Night closure.
	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	Single-point barbless hooks required.
Trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
Salmon	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	Min. size 12”. Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 adults. Release adult Chinook.
	Dec. 1-Dec. 31	Min. size 12”. Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.

Species	Date	Additional Rules
from bridge at Schafer State Park upstream to 400’ below Bingham Creek Hatchery dam CRC (329)
All species	Aug. 16-Oct. 31	Single-point barbless hooks required. Night closure.
Trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
from 400’ below Bingham Creek Hatchery dam to the dam CRC (329A)
All species		Night closure. Open only to anglers with disabilities who permanently use a wheelchair and have a designated harvester companion card.
	Aug. 16-Nov. 30	Single-point barbless hooks required.
Trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
Salmon	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	Min. size 12”. Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 adults. Release adult Chinook.
	Dec. 1-Dec. 31	Min. size 12”. Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook.

Emergency Fishing Regulations for Satsop River Salmon 2023

The above permanent regulations for the Satsop River are subject to change at any time and without being updated on this blog. One must consult the WDFW Emergency Regulations before any trips to ensure they are in full compliance with state laws regulating fisheries.

How to fish for Salmon on the Satsop River

Some of the most fun bank or drift boat fishing in the fall takes place on smaller rivers like the Satsop with twitching jigs or fishing with spinners. This method will catch both coho and chum, and the occasional chinook (that will have to be released).

You could also use the float fishing method with eggs or if you really wanted to get dialed in on chum, a purple/pink jig tipped with a bit of shriimp.

Checkout my guide to river fishing for salmon to get more how-to ideas.