Did You Hear Any Salmon Today?

The fall chum salmon run is going to start soon. After a week of rain, stream flows are up, and the forecast (for salmon not weather) is for a good run this year. On my bike ride today I checked out Chico Creek, Central Kitsap’s most prolific salmon stream.

It was a beautiful fall day with the temperature in the low 60’s—perfect for a bike ride. Morning showers gave way to a dry afternoon although dark clouds hung around in a reminder that more rain is coming. First I rode to the mouth of Chico Creek, where it empties into the west shore of Dyes Inlet. It was low tide and a few fisherman in waders had crossed the broad marsh that seems to stretch halfway to Tracyton to try their luck in salt water. Fishing is also allowed in the creek but only at the mouth. No one was catching anything.

Next I tried a viewing point at Chico Way. About a week ago Chico Creek was almost dry there, but today it ran swiftly under the Chico Way bridge, which was reopened in July some 20 months after being washed out by heavy rains in December 2007. Again, no salmon.

Finally I tried the bridge at Taylor Road. At that point Chico Creek is perhaps a mile from its mouth. Because I had been shut out so far, I was surprised to see a few salmon there.

Just downstream of the bridge the creek bends a bit and low-growing branches from nearby maples block the view. The rest of the salmon in the advance party were in that shady spot out of my view. I could hear them splashing past the rocks and logs there, a sound that’s distinct even in a noisy rain-swollen creek. There’s a large splash as the salmon jumps over an obstacle followed by a series of small ones as it flops rapidly through the shallow water to a resting point. Although I watched for a few minutes, I couldn’t get a count as none emerged into view. But it’s quite likely that I heard more salmon than I saw.