Whats Up w/ The Brown (Green) river?

[racfish]

Went to attempt a fishing trip on the Green.What a mess.The Snoqualmie looked great and kicked out beaucoup fish this weekend.Tokul put some out also.But the Green was very very high and nasty.I went up to FG and it was still high and muddy.They must be emptying the dam or something.It should not have been so nasty all on its own.Anyone know anything about why the Green is so bad of shape.?????

[Rich McVey]

They opened the Howard Hansen Dam. They have dropped the water level in the reservoir by 55 ft in the last 6 days. The land slide out by Flaming Geyser may be whats murking things up too.

Army CORPS OF ENGINEERS
http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/Public_Te ... ?recno=437


SEATTLE – An apparent landslide along the banks of the Green River, a few miles from Flaming Geyser Park, is diverting flows of the river.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, has dispatched flood engineers to the area to assess the situation and will work with local officials to respond.

In response, the Corps, which operates and maintains the Howard Hanson Dam along the Green River, is decreasing flows from 8,000 cubic feet per second to 7,000 cfs. The decrease in outflows from the dam will make flows on the Green at Auburn approximately 9,500 cfs.

Yesterday, during a post-flood assessment, engineers at Howard Hanson discovered a depression on the right bank, requiring the reservoir pool be brought down in order to investigate further. Engineers are currently on site beginning that assessment, which requires addressing in a timely manner as opposed to waiting.

The reservoir pool level was 1,173 feet before the start of flood water evacuation Tuesday night. The Corps needs to bring it down to 1,150 feet in order for maintenance engineers to safely address the depression issue; therefore, the higher river flows at Auburn can be expected to last until approximately Friday.

Emergency managers with King County have been briefed and this is not considered an imminent emergency. Flood Engineers from the Corps will be walking the levee system along the Green River around the clock checking for integrity issues until the dam reaches its targeted reservoir level.

The Seattle District will continue to work with local officials and will provide public updates via media alerts, on its Web site

[racfish]

Thanks Rich.I knew it was something going on.The Green usually becomes fishable way sooner after a high water then most rivers.The good thing is that fish will now get up river before the nets return in.

[gian]

good to know. I was planning on trying my first trip to the green this weekend. I just found out my company owns a warehouse on the river that I can fish from over by 116th.

I have been told that the river is mostly a 'plunking" river? It moves to slow for anything else down where I'm going. Could any of you guys clue me in as to what sort of a setup would work best down there? I'm used to throwing spinners/ corkies/ flies up stream and waiting for strikes as they float down towards me. I guess that wont work there. I was told heavy weight, almost like a drop shot rig, with the presentation suspended in the strike zone, and wait until something comes along.

Any tips/ tricks I should know about that river?

thanks

[fishing collector]

When I fished it I would use a spoon or spinner just cast and retreive. I also would cast out a pyramid weight and snap on 3ft of leader and some eggs and let them slide down the line to a stop or a swivel about 6 ft up from the lead. Let it sit. You can adjust the lengths as needed. Buzz Bombs worked well also. I know the area you are fishing from and it is a great spot.
It has been dredged so it is deepest right in the middle. Keep us posted, Steve

[Rich McVey]

And the news for the Green doesnt get any better... Hopefully any construcktion the do to repair it doesnt cloud the water much more.



King County dam compromised in recent weather

05:57 PM PST on Thursday, January 22, 2009
By GLENN FARLEY / KING 5 News
http://www.washingtonlakes.com/forum/ya ... =5817&f=15

KING COUNTY, Wash. - Fingers are crossed tonight that the Army Corps of Engineers can fix the Howard Hanson Dam, which keeps the Green River in King County from flooding.

The dam was seriously compromised in the recent severe winter weather.

Kent homeowner Ralph Zerr has always kept an eye on the Green River, but has never seen it overtop the levee. He lives across the street.

"Oh, it gives me a lot of concern," he said.

The levees also protect businesses that employ thousands in the valley.

During this month's storm, the Howard Hanson Dam held a record amount of water for days.

When it was safe, the Army Corps of Engineers started letting the water out. They spotted a 6-foot deep depression that could be a sign of trouble deep underground. The depression isn't in the dam itself, but is in an area called an abutment.

"It could be caused by many things and that's what we're trying to investigate," said Richard Smith, hydro-geologist with the Army Corps of Engineers.

The Army Corps says it's taking a conservative approach, but to allow the dam to fill up again without knowing what's going on could invite disaster. It's not something they're prepared to do.

"The Corps of Engineers has not had a dam failure," Smith said.

"The remaining month or so of flood season, that's the critical part we've got to get through right now," said Dennis Fischer, soil engineer.

[Anonymous]

The Green is a plunkers paradise from Auburn on North.From north Auburn on up is mainly a drifters river.Ive plunked the Soos Creek area but I mainly drift it. In fact from Isaac Evens Park on upwards is a drifters river.I throw spoons and spinners for salmon and occaisionally for Steelies.Most of the time yes its a drop shot set up. I use two Spin n' Glos and eggs with a 4-6 oz pyramid sinker.Lower rivers lesser weight,higher water more weight.I space my leaders which are about 18-24" long far enough away so they dont wrap eachother.Plunking isnt bad but there is some sit and watch time.I use a bell to alert me if I'm reading.I usually take reading material and some firewood to keep warm with.A lil bolay and some hot coffee and I'm good to go.I think I'm gonna go plunk the Fallcity/Carnation area if the Green is Kaput.

One other thing is if when you go to a spot where everyone is drifting its not really ethicall to plunk in the middle of drifters and vica versa to the drifters drifting a plunking hole.

[gian]

as of 3:30 today its still brown so I think I'll pass on this weekend. Have any of you had any success with jig and float on that river?

[juiced67]

just curious what is everyone setup? never fished for steelhead and want to try....give me a quick lesson....