Fishing at the Humptulips River
Humptulips River is widely considered the center the Washington coast fall salmon fishery. Big Chinook, aggressive Coho, loads of Chum and world-class steelhead all move through this Grays Harbor County river, drawing anglers willing to make the drive for a shot at some genuinely impressive fish. From summer through winter, the river is popular with bank anglers and boat anglers alike, and offers numerous unique fishing experiences throughout the year.
Where is the Humptulips River
The Humptulips River originates at the base of the Olympic Mountains within Olympic National Forest, fed by its East and West forks, which come together just a few miles above the fish hatchery near the small community of Humptulips before the main stem continues south into Grays Harbor. It's a classic Washington coast river, running through dense timberland and forest in Grays Harbor County, with a rural, working-forest character. The lower river empties into the north side of Grays Harbor, connecting this fishery to the broader estuary system that also includes the Chehalis, Wynoochee, and Satsop rivers.
From Seattle, plan on roughly 2.5 to 3 hours to reach the Humptulips, generally down I-5 before heading west on Highway 8 and Highway 12 toward Aberdeen and Hoquiam, then north on Highway 101 along the coast toward the town of Humptulips. It's a similar drive time to Grays Harbor itself, and many anglers combine a Humptulips trip with other central coast rivers given how close they all sit to one another.
Humptulips River Map
What you can catch in the Humptulips River
The Humptulips hosts three species of Pacific salmon, along with steelhead, sea-run cutthroat, and dolly varden trout. Fall Chinook are the headline draw, with fish in the 20 to 30 pound range common and even bigger kings showing up in good years, while coho push into the mid to upper teens and provide some of the most reliable action on the whole Washington coast. Chum salmon round out the fall run. Winter steelhead are the river's other major fishery, including hatchery-origin fish available for retention through the colder months and a genuinely exceptional wild steelhead fishery later in the season, with native fish over 20 pounds caught and released regularly. Because different rules can apply on the East and West forks compared to the main stem, and because wild steelhead protections are a serious priority here, checking current WDFW regulations before keeping any fish is essential.
Crystal clear water of the upper Humptulips River, dozens of miles of river to explore!
Humptulips River Fishing Seasons
Spring is generally the quiet season on the Humptulips, with the main salmon and hatchery steelhead runs behind, and it's really the tail of the winter steelhead season.
Summer brings a change of pace, with trout fishing becoming the main attraction alongside summer steelhead showing up and providing an exciting option beginning in June. It's a quieter, more relaxed stretch of the year on the river, and a good time to explore access points and get familiar with the water before the fall salmon runs arrive in force. Smaller Steelhead Slammer Spinners and Little Cleo Spoons are the best hardware for Summer Steelhead and trout, and float fishing with a bobber and steelhead jig or soft bead is an excellent choice.
Fall is when the Humptulips earns its reputation. The salmon season typically opens September 1, and Chinook and coho flood the lower river almost immediately, with anglers regularly hooking into large kings and silvers and average days producing well into the double digits in good conditions. As the season progresses into October and November, chum join the mix, and this stretch is widely considered one of the most productive and exciting fall salmon runs on the entire Washington coast. Float fishing with a bobber and bait, back-trolling wrapped Kwikfish and Mag Lip Plugs, twitching jigs and rolling Blue Fox Vibrax Spinners are key tactics during the fall run.
Winter shifts the focus to steelhead. December and January typically offer strong hatchery steelhead fishing, while the later months of winter, running into April, are known for some of the best native catch-and-release steelhead fishing anywhere in the world, with fish over 20 pounds landed regularly. Anglers use a range of techniques through the season, from pulling diving plugs to side-drifting eggs or shrimp to running jigs through likely slots, making winter a genuinely premier stretch for dedicated steelheaders on the Olympic Peninsula's southern edge. Back-trolling Mag Lip 3.5 Plugs, fishing with a bobber and jig, drift fishing soft beads and pink worms are all tactics that catch the majority of Humptulips winter steelhead.
The lower Humptulips River meanders through the tidelands as it enters North Bay, Grays Harbor.
Best Fishing Spots on the Humptulips River
Bluff Hole, just downstream from the Humptulips Fish Hatchery and accessible off Kirkpatrick Road, is one of the most popular spots on the river during salmon season, with hatchery parking and a trail leading down to the water along Stevens Creek. The Highway 101 Access Site, more commonly known as the Hansen Road Access, sits at the end of Hansen Road on the river's east bank and offers a concrete ramp, ample parking, and a large gravel bar that holds fish at all water levels, making it a favorite for bank anglers. Ample bank access at the mouth of Stevens Creek where the Humptulips Hatchery is located. Further downstream, the Reynvaan’s and Dike boat launches provide additional bank and boat access. Much of the river's best water is boat-access only, so many serious anglers fish it from a drift boat, either with a friend or through one of the area's many guide services, to reach the most productive stretches.
Wide gravel bars, long runs, and plenty of Salmon and Steelhead draw anglers to the Humptulips River.
Fishing on the Humptulips River
Because the Humptulips supports an abundant run of salmon and an outstanding wild steelhead run, WDFW manages the river closely, and rules can differ meaningfully between the main stem and the East and West forks, so it pays to know exactly which section you're fishing. Checking the current WDFW rules page before every trip is essential, since regulations here are updated regularly and it's every angler's responsibility to know the current rules rather than assume last year's still apply. Expect company at the well-known access points during peak fall salmon season, since the Humptulips draws serious pressure for its size and quality of fish. For anglers willing to put in the drive and do their homework on current conditions and rules, the Humptulips offers some of the biggest, hardest-fighting salmon and steelhead fishing anywhere on the Washington coast.
