2025 Siltcoos/Tahk Lake Coho Thread

I hope to see you there tomorrow. Planning to hit the two arms and trestles.
Thanks for your awesome reports.
Tom

last minute switch to Tahk for me, launched at Tahkenitch Landing, expecting a relaxing day, lots of trolling and perhaps some mushrooms but low coho expectations.  When I got to the Mallard arm I had it all to myself on a smooth as glass day but almost no jump/rolling going on. 

I ended up scoring a slender but tasty 17" jack trolling in the narrow channel just above the conduit slide launch (which looks to be fine to use at the current water level).  I hooked another coho trolling later that went totally acrobatic twice directly behind the kayak, never got a look before it spit the hook (I love how they do a victory jump after getting off).  It might have been a large jack but small adult is my guess.  my biggest matsutake haul ever and some nice chanterelle buttons.  feels like Tahk might heat up after this next rain event.

heading back to Siltcoos Thursday, hoping to hear some positive reports?

I spent Tuesday on Fiddle Creek arm and the south end of the lake including Booth island east side.  One serious bite/miss in about 12 miles of peddling.  Argh.  Wednesday morning I covered the east side trestles and spent some time in Maple Creek arm.  Caught a couple trout and a coho jack all within about 30 minutes of each other ... right in front of Nightingales ... trolling orange/clear/black dots Brad's wiggler.  All three fish went back in to fatten up. Two days on Siltcoos ... lots of sun, a little wind and a little rain.  A nice boat ride!

I heard about three nice coho caught and kept.  One at the outlet, one in Fiddler's and one in Maple arm.

FYI, I stayed at Ada Fishing Resort.  They are still closed for reconstruction, but they offered me their new yurt situated at the south end of the property.  It was very nice ... killer woodstove, easy access to the dock, reasonable price.  I'm looking forward to seeing what else Dan and Liz have in store for the place.  Their "soft" opening may be Nov 1.

With Siltcoos yet to heat up, I spent Thursday on Tahk again, launched at the conduit slide (map attached), used my paddle to glide over the weeds and into the deeper channel, easy peasy in the Outback at this water level. 

Trolled a spinner up the channel (side scanning really helps stay in the 12' deep channel) and picked up an 18" fat jack about 30 minutes in, so once again this week, I completed Step1 of a "Lake Coho limit" early in my day (jack coho first, adult coho second). 

fished around the entire Mallard arm, trolling and casting, did not see another boat or a coho roll for the 4 hours I was there, briefly hooked another large fish while trolling near the top of the arm, it took out some drag and let go, it was either another jack or my elusive adult.

feels like a very typical Tahk coho run, always seem to be lots of jacks using the fish ladder and once the dam gets opened, the main run of adults surge in and then trickle through until early Dec.

FYI-  Florence got 3/4" of rain today, Saturday 3pm, river was moving below the dam, lake level just a bit higher than it was on Oct.24.  My guess is they have opened one of the spillways to try and balance outflow with inflow during these storms, possibly opeing the dam more if the big rain hits mid-week.

I would be fishing Sunday, weather looks great, if I didn't have something brown and furry to pick up tomorrow.   

A chocolate?

A chocolate?

yes, settling in nicely at HIS home here in Florence.  lol

Now thats a cutie

Tuesday 9am: 

Siltcoos river moving and lake level down a bit, big rain coming Wednesday, main coho run should be coming in.  Next low wind days are Friday with Saturday.

Tahk dam still closed and lake level higher, now very close to where I expect them to open it, if we get an inch of rain Wednesday, I would expect it to be opened soon.

Thursday 9am:

Siltcoos level at the launch about the same, outflow seems to be matching inflow.  A few boats out today, I haven't heard any reports this week, hitting the lake tomorrow on a light wind day!

Tahk level up, dam closed. 

well, Siltcoos was busy today and is going to be packed with boats tomorrow but the fishing sure seemed to be slow today.  I fished across to the east shoreline and trolled both trestles, past ADA resort and across the south bay.  Not sure if any fish were biting up the spawning arms but out in the main lake, no fish being caught all morning and none of the boats I talked to had any luck today. 

I got lucky at the south end near Rocky Pt. tolling a silver/pink spinner and hooked into a big Siltcoos hen that gave me the best fight all year.  Ended up being 29"/10# but 1.75# of eggs, good for my steelhead fishing but less eats for the BBQ/smoker.  lol

the main coho run should be coming in now so I'm hoping for some good reports....

 

Fished Siltcoos (arms and trestles) all day yesterday and today … a couple trout and a jack both days … a nice 27” hen late on Friday just in front of Nightingales … casting a purple wiggle wort.
 
Tom

Fished Siltcoos (arms and trestles) all day yesterday and today … a couple trout and a jack both days … a nice 27” hen late on Friday just in front of Nightingales … casting a purple wiggle wort.
 
Tom

right on, I've heard very very few good reports from Friday and the weekend.  In past years, there were always lots of jacks (and an occasional adult) caught just before the big adult surge that resulted in great fishing for maybe 2 weeks.  when that all happens changes each year, still hoping it's coming...

Tahk dam still closed as of 2pm Sunday. 

I finished my weekend at Siltcoos Sunday morning by catching a nice buck in the reeds just north of the north trestle.  Used the same purple wiggler that was successful on Friday but this guy mangled it by chewing the hooks off!

Tom

Added photo …

Nov.11 10am:  Tahk dam closed, water level up slightly from what it was Nov.9.

Fishing at Siltcoos definitely improving.