IT’S BEEN A long journey for the summer silvers of the Sol Duc River.
They’ve dodged gillnets, hooks and hordes of predators the past three years.
Now, after hopping dozens of miles upriver, these courageous coho have but one final hurdle: The Sol Duc Salmon Cascades.
If these fish want some sweet salmon lovin’, they must first scale the imposing collection of boulders located inside Olympic National Park.
The romance will play out during the next four weeks at the Cascades.
In fact, a few fish began showing up this past week, according to Olympic National Park chief fisheries biologist Sam Brenkman.
“There are some brilliantly colored pre-spawners there trying to ascend the Cascades,” said Brenkman, who observed six silvers Wednesday afternoon.
“We did go up river by [Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort] . . . . and we didn’t see any fish up there, so I think we’re just on the onset of this upstream migration.”
The Sol Duc is the only river on the North Olympic Peninsula that sees summer coho return to its waters.
Park biologists have been monitoring the unique salmon run for 21 years between the Cascades and Sol Duc Falls.
Doing surveys every seven to 10 days each September through December, biologists have been able to pin down its run timing and spawning grounds.
Runs have varied in size between 208 adults at its nadir (2003) and 1,622 adults at its apex (2004).
And the bulk of the fish (approximately 50 percent) almost always show up between the final week of September and third week of October.
So after the next patch of rain moves through, a rampage of randy coho is sure to be close behind.
“Greater than 90 percent [of the coho spawning] occurs above the Salmon Cascades in most years,” Brenkman said.
“So that is really the prime spawning ground.
“That is really where the fish are rewarded with the highest quality gravels.”
By the time late October rolls around, viewers can observe spawners pairing off with that special someone in creeks above the Cascades.
Mink Lake Creek is one of the bigger meet markets, but several other tributaries and known for fish fornication.
Some fish travel as far as 64 miles upriver before spawning, Brenkman said.
Of course, none get past Sol Duc Falls. LeBron couldn’t make that jump.
“[The river] was surprisingly low [Wednesday],” said Brenkman.
“Some of the coastal rivers really spiked [after the last rain], but the Sol Duc remained fairly low.
“Maybe this next shot of rain will entice them up.
“It’s a good sign at least a few fish are showing up.”
Expect to get some premiere PBS-style action once that happens.
Salmon attempt to clear the Cascades — one jump at a time — every 10 to 30 seconds on a good day.
After a failed attempt, they might swim around for a little bit and size up the rocks a few more times before going for broke.
“These are almost exclusively wild fish, sort of uninfluenced by hatchery programs,” Brenkman said.
“We’ve seen very few adipose fins clipped above the Cascades.
“From a wild fish management perspective, that’s very special.”
How to watch them
The Cascades are located 28 miles west of Port Angeles.
Head south on U.S. Highway 101 at Milepost 219 into the national park on Sol Duc Hot Springs Road.
Six miles down the road you’ll find the well-marked parking area for the Cascades.
There’s a viewing platform from which you can watch the leaping salmon.
Or you can “hike just downstream of the Cascades,” Brenkman said. “That gives you a great angle to observe the fish.
“You can usually see the large adults milling around in that pool [below the boulders] and in the tailout of that pool.”
Bring your camera, but not your fishing rod. The Cascades are closed to fishing.
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Matt Schubert is the outdoors and sports columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column regularly appears on Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at matt.schubert@peninsuladailynews.com.
