The Wynoochee River stands as one of the premier steelhead destinations on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, flowing for 60 miles through Grays Harbor County before joining the Chehalis River system. Originating in the rugged Olympic Mountains and flowing through Olympic National Forest, this freestone river has earned its reputation as perhaps the best steelhead fishery in the state, particularly during the challenging month of February when other rivers often struggle to produce consistent action. The river's name means "shifting," reflecting the dynamic nature of its flows and the flood control challenges that led to the construction of Wynoochee Dam in 1972, which created Wynoochee Lake upstream. Despite the dam's impact on natural reproduction, significant hatchery operations maintain robust fisheries, while wild fish populations are showing encouraging signs of recovery.