-overview by Kevin Blanscet
- Current weather conditions in Forks
- Motels in Forks
- NW Fishing.com Recommended guides in Forks:
Jim Mansfield
Jan. 28, 2001
Thanks to: Corey Rasmussen
Floated from the 101 bridge down to Wilson. River was low but floatable if you have a raft. The weather was slightly overcast, but nice until about 1:00 or so then the wind and rain kicked up. Water was very clear as it often is on the Calawah. Saw eight fish before my friend and I reached the rearing ponds. There we saw another six or eight fish. Hooked into two fish, one nice fish a ways below put in and a small one below confluence with Bogachiel. Only fish we saw landed were two natives on Bogachiel. Bank fisherman sacked them, one was around 12 lbs and the other was 18 lbs. Hey guys let the natives go, these fish have had a hard enough time already this season.
Dec. 4, 2000
Thanks to: Jim Mansfield
The Peninsula finally got the winter rain that was greatly needed. The hatchery steelhead are moving to the hatcheries, and it's a good bet to fish near by them.The Calawah, Bogachiel, even the Hoh has started to show signs of these slippery fighters. There are even a few late fall kings and coho still moving up the Sol Duc. Having the snider creek hatchery on the upper Sol Duc it can be a great river to fish this time of year also for steelhead.
It's sad to hear of the closures on the Seattle area streams. I feel the peninsula streams are soon to come, as we are getting more pressure on the Olympic peninsula streams. It's good to remember that a fish released is a fish returning next year to spawn. So think about letting these fish go. It's up to you, as you're the one who can make the difference.
If anyone would like a chance at catching one of these pristine fighters send me some email and we'll get you on the water.
Mar. 1, 2000
Thanks to: Jim Mansfield
CALAWAH MONSTER, 27 pounds, 40 inches long, 20 inch girth. It put up a fight like no other it stayed deep never showed itself for 15 minutes, then we saw a flash of chrome that might have blinded us if it wasn't in 15 foot of water. The first words were "it's a KING," after another 10 minutes of pure panic and seeing that it was barely hooked we slipped the net under this HOG.Erik Stephenson from North Bend is the lucky fisherman this was his first steelhead trip and first steelhead ever.
Feb. 18-19, 2000
Thanks to: C.J. Scott
How low can you go? My brother, brother-in-law and myself fished all three rivers on this beautiful weekend.VERY low and clear which made it difficult to say the least. We were fishing from the bank so we tried to be sneaky even when we didn't see any fish which was 99% of the time. Only hooked one all weekend, that was a estimated 10-15 lb stealhead that shook his mighty head and said see ya! The only fish we saw were on the Bogachiel. Well maybe a little rain next time please! Never thought I'd say that!
Feb. 16, 2000
Thanks to: Dave Weitl
I had the opportunity to fish again with Peninsula guide, Jim Mansfield on Wednesday. With my overwhelming workload over the past several months, my fishing time has been cut to near zero. It was great to get out on the river again and breathe some green air. My companion was childhood friend and mediocre fisherman, Dave Lisch. I was hesitant to invite Dave along since the last time we fished together with Mansfield he landed a 25-pounder! I've had to endure his yapping ever since. It was hardly worth it.Anyway Dave did a favor for me recently so I thought he was deserving. We arrived at the Mansfield Inn at around midnight and had a nice 6-hour sleep. Jim picked us up and we had a nice breakfast before launching his comforable Cadillac of a driftboat. The day turned out to be spectacular with blue skies, not a breeze and lots of eagles working the river along with us. Our first action came on the right side (my rod) and I hooked into a mint-bright steelie of 12-14 pounds. She spit the hook after a couple of jumps and we settled back into our seats in front of the heater with a bit more optimism.
Floating the Calawah with Jim Mansfield is not only a great fishing experience, it is an awesome display of whitewater rowing expertise. If there is anyone better on the sticks than Jim Mansfield, I have never met him. How we avoided what appeared to be sure death, was almost effortless for the master of the Calawah. Wow, what a river!
The second chance was DL's and he missed it. Never got the hook set on what was probably another 20+ pounder. Within a couple minutes, my rod went down and I was on this one. It was a chromer of a little under 10 pounds and fought with the heart of an Olympic Peninsula wild steelhead. It could not have been a more pleasant and relaxing day on the river and away from the stress of the big city. Dave L. will have to be a little quicker on the trigger next time! Thanks Jim, for an awesome day!
Feb. 11, 2000
Thanks to: Don Mooney
We put [in] at the confluence of the North and South forks of the Calawah @ 7:30am and fished down through the lower section and into the Bogachiel. The river is catch and release only above the 101 bridge. It was my first trip with guide Jim Mansfield. I usually fish out of my own boat but I wanted a chance to fish the Calawah and figured it was probably beyond my skill level. I ended up taking my mother after a friend cancelled the day before. This was her first steelhead trip. The river was flowing at a moderate/low height and had dropped significantly from the day before.We hit a chrome bright hen in the second hole. After 15 minutes of great action, my mom boated and released her first steelhead. The fish weighed approx. 13 lbs. We had one other take and longline released a 4-5 pounder later that morning. Those two strikes were our only action that day.
Jim did a great job. The river had some challenging sections especially the lower section. We talked with several bankies and 2-3 other guides and didn't hear of any other fish being caught. If you’re going to fish with Jim, I recommend highly staying at their farmhouse. It was very comfortable, reasonably priced, and convenient.
Jan. 24, 2000
Thanks to: Jerry Ferro
Started fishing the Bogie that morning with jig and bobber, hooked and released a small native hen. I decided the fishing was to slow for the stretch so I hiked into the north ponds of the Calawah. At the tailout of the first pool I spotted a few fish rolling, and just as I stumbled my way down to them, a drift boat spotted them at the same time. We both worked them hard for an hour but I decided it would be more productive if I moved down. I continued my downward progress without much success until I spotted a huge boulder in the river. Due to the clarity of the river I knew that if there were any fish behind it I could see them and they probably could see me too. So I backed off up the bank a little and studied the situation for a few minutes. Sure enough I could see around 10 or more fish. With a very large one in the middle of the group. I made sure that I stayed behind them as I slid down the fern-covered, muddy bank (which felt-soled boots don't get along on too well!). When in position tied on a small 1/8 oz. white and pink jig, made a few short casts to determine the depth it would ride, and rifled a long shot up stream. The first two casts did nothing, but as they say the third times the charm, my bobber shot up stream like a jet sled. BAM fish on! And he was huge! After what seemed like forever. I finally slid a gigantic native buck to the beach. I've seen a few fish in my life thet went to twenty pound caught by other fishermen and it was finally my turn. I know a lot of fishermen would take this fish and not think twice about bonking it and the thought occurred to me too. But when I looked at the net marks and missing pectoral fin that probably came from a seal, what right did I have to remove such a perfect specimen from here? With a happy heart I slid him in and he revived right away. The next 20 or so casts produced four more fish for me but it was all anticlamatic to that moment. I was even treated to watching a herd of elk feeding on my long drive home. HEAVEN! If anyone wants to talk fishing, come see me at the G.I. Joes in Lynnwood or E-mail me at Jerry_Ferro@hotmail.com.
Jan. 25, 2000
Thanks to: Steve Wall
Put in the Calawah around 7:30 am with my buddy Pete and [our] guide, Jim Mansfield. First time with Jim, and I guarantee it won't be the last! Drifted the first few holes with no action, then around 8:45 my rod gave a nod and after a spirited fight complete with a couple of aerial displays, I landed a nice bright 10-lb. buck. Not more than ten minutes go by when Pete hooks and lands a pretty 9-lb. hen out of the same hole. After a couple of hours with nothing but rain I finally get the rod tweak and land a 5-lb. spent hatchery hen without much fight. This may sound strange, but less than ten minutes later, Pete's rod takes a nose dive for the water. He pulls back, sets the hook, and this sucker takes off. By the bend in his rod, I knew he was into SOMETHING. He works the fish back toward the boat twice before it shoots off downstream. Jim follows the fish through the rapids and I see it flash below the surface about 25 feet away. WHOA! Pete finally gets the fish alongside the boat when it dives underneath. He manages to get it out from under and we get it in the boat. How big? 24-lb. beautiful chrome-bright buck. Not bad for a guy who's never been steelheading and hasn't caught anything bigger than a 10" trout. Needless to say it was a great day. Thanks to Jim Mansfield, a real pro. He made that boulder field of a Calawah look easy - like riding in a caddy.
Jan. 22, 2000
Thanks to: phil wallace
Drove up to the Calawah after fishing the Cowlitz on Friday to get away from the crowds. Fished the ponds area down by the confluence using a chartreuse clown corkie with eggs. On my third cast my rod slamed down and I landed a chrome 8-lb. hen. Fifteen minutes later landed a 6-lb. hen. Called my buddy over and a half hour later he got a 6-lb. hen also. On the way home stopped at the Humptulips down by Stevens Creek. We hooked into a couple a fish but lost them both #@#!. Did see three guys fishing the grate above the boat chute hook 7 fish. But only landed 2 of them. Overall over the last 3 days we hooked 14 fish took home 7. We'll be doing another 3 day jaunt next weekend I hope it turns out as good. I hope to see you guys on the river--tightlines!
July 16, 1999
Thanks to Jim Mansfield:
The Bogachiel and Calawah have a bunch of summer run hatchery steelhead in them. There's been lots of locals going down and gettin' them.
Apr. 7, 1999
Thanks to: Dave Weitl
I had the pleasure of fishing with guide Jim Mansfield and my buddy Keith McDonald on Wednesday. Getting a date in April with Mansfield is quite a treat as it is the peak of the native steelhead fishery on Jim's nearly private river, the very turbulent and pristine Calawah.We got to sleep in a little so we were on the river by 7:00 am. The bites came steady, at least for Keith, all day long. Keith ended up with 8 bites to my one. He made the most of them and had some spectacular action with some of the most spirited steelhead I have ever seen. Most of the fish were brighter than a brand new dime and fought like a wild steelhead is supposed to fight. We caught an early summer run hen and even a hatchery fish. Great day overall, despite the weather.
Dec. 23, 1998
Thanks to: Jim Mansfield
Merry Christmas and fish on! I fished the Calawah from the bridge to Wilson on 12/22.
We hooked 8 fish and only boated
two fish, one was a small 7-lb. hatchery fish and the other was an 11-pound native buck
(nice fighting fish). The Calawah is too low now to be floated safely. For the person who
wants to float it: if the water is below the wheel stop don't float it, rocks everywhere.WARNING!!!!!! When floating the Bogachiel River from the hatchery down, WATCH OUT for the big spruce snag at the confluence of the Bogachiel and Calawah. There's been a few boats wreck with oars, fishing rods, nets and all kinds of gear in that snag. Get out and walk your boat down the left side, there's a side channel. If you are not sure, watch other boats go through.
Calawah River - Dec 16, 1998
Thanks to: Jim Mansfield
The rivers are on there way down from out of the branches. Some of the highest
water I've seen in a long time. A friend and I went today down the Calawah River
for a tester after all this high water and did O.K.. We hooked 6 fish and landed
two nice bright hatchery fish both hens about 7 pounds each. We floated down through
the lower end and the bank guys had a few nice ones too. The weatherman has a good
forecast: cold and clear, this weekend is going to be HOT!Remember the Xmas steelhead special is still going on. It makes a nice gift for dad and son. Keep the rod up and the line tight.
March 3, 1998
Thanks to Keith Jones for the following report:
Treated myself and longtime friend and pro angler f.j. to a guided trip on the calawah
river with wild man Jim Mansfield, the best guide
on the O.P. We really lucked out on the weather and river conditions (sunny all day and the
river was excellent with at least 8ft. of visibility.) Put in on the upper end and took out
on the Bogey. Wasn't long before I had my first one on. Slammed the bait diver hard and
than swam up river. Reeled until Mansfield yelled to set the hook and I slammed her home.
After a nice 5 min. fight that included a few nice runs and acrobatic leaps, we carefully
boated a beautiful bright 8lb. wild male. That one made my day, which was far from over.
Over the next 6 or 7 hours I caught 3 more metal heads all between 7 and 8 lbs. and all wild.
The 20 pounder didn't show up but what a day, never the less. My buddy f.j. wasn't doing so
well. He hadn't caught one all day and I think was beginning to become a little jealous
(usually he catches more than I do!! So it was nice for a change to see f.j. sulk a little).
I think he had about given up on his chance to catch one, especially because we were only
about 1/2 mile or so from the take-out when he finally hooked on to one. After a short
fight, and much to Mansfield's surprise, we landed a mint bright 6lb. hatchery male. We
thought the hatchery run was long gone but obviously not. Needless to say, ol' f.j. was
happy as a mudlark that he didn't get a shut out and have to listen to me rub it in on
the drive home. It was a great day of fishing on what has to be the most beautiful river
on the O.P. I would recommend Jim Mansfield to anyone, a great
guide.
December 17, 1997
Thanks to Kevin Blanscet for the following report:
Fished the lower section last Monday before it blew out. Water level and clarity were
excellent. Fished hard without as much as a bump. How could such a beautiful river be
fishless in December? The scenery made up for the lack of fish. Will try again in a
couple of weeks.
