Good opportunities to catch fish abound in Western Washington, but for a truly epic experience Mike Chamberlain of Ted’s Sports Center in Lynnwood suggests heading to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
“The straits, Neah Bay and Sekiu, are really outstanding,” he said. “Lots and lots of king salmon. Maybe the best fishing we’ve seen in a number of years.”
The only real drag is that kings seem to be a little smaller than normal. Few are bigger than 14 pounds, he said.
“But that seems to be the case all the way to Alaska this year,” Chamberlain said. “The salmon are smaller this year for some reason.”
SALT WATER
Crabbing: Most who try are catching something, said Mike Zittel of Zittel’s Johnson Point Marina, but experience is definitely paying off. “What’s that they say?” Zittel said. “Ten percent of the people are catching 90 percent of the fish.” The crab are also good size, he said.
Puget Sound is open to crabbing Thursdays through Mondays each week until Sept. 3.
North Sound: Chamberlain says fishing and crabbing are good in the area, and anglers are looking forward to the area opening to chinook salmon fishing on Monday. “It looks promising,” he said.
Tacoma: The staff at Point Defiance Boathouse Marina reports fishing has been best of late in the late morning and evenings. Fish are being caught near the clay banks. Jigging has proven to work best. Crabbing has been fair.
South Sound: Zittel says fishing is slow.
Westport: The most recent report filed by Westport’s Charterboat Association describes fishing off the coast as “awesome,” with most anglers landing their limits of chinook.
LAKES
American: Rainbow fishing is good. David Anderson of Bill’s Boathouse says action is better for those trolling and recommends using a worm and bobber with shrimp “or anything shrimp- flavored” at a depth of 6-10 feet. Kokanee aren’t biting.
Chelan: Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service recommends using Worden’s Lures T4 purple glow flatfish in the morning near the Bar before moving to the Trench and using Mack’s Lures Cha Cha Squidders baited with northern pikeminnow.
Goodwin: Good rainbow trout fishing right now, Chamberlain said.
Grimes: Cutthroat 20 inches and longer are biting for those using chronomids or Wooly Buggers, Jones said.
Mayfield: Fishing is picking up. Anglers are using Wedding Ring spinners tipped with shrimp, said Marshall Borsom of Ethel’s Fish Country.
Riffe: The place to be if you want to catch landlocked silvers. The fish are at a depth of 15-20 feet.
Spanaway: Use worms to catch rainbows and browns, said Bud Herlitzka of the park’s boathouse.
Stevens: Kokanee fishing is still good here.
Summit: A local angler who lives on the lake emailed this week to say the action has been outstanding. He says he’s landing triploids, rainbows and occasional browns, cutthroat and perch, too.
Tanwax: The bass aren’t biting yet, but the crappie and perch are keeping fishermen busy. Rainbow Resort staff suggests using worm and Wedding Ring for trolling or Power Bait or Power Eggs from the dock.
RIVERS
Columbia: Fishing is starting to pick up on the upper river.
Cowlitz: Borsom says steelhead are biting for those using eggs and sand shrimp and bobbers and jigs.
Skagit: Sockeye season is winding down.
Skykomish: Steelhead are still biting.
Sturgeon: Washington and Oregon fishery managers have scheduled six public meetings in July to discuss possible changes to white sturgeon fisheries. Meetings are July 17 in Portland, June 18 in Longview, June 19 in Astoria, June 24 in Raymond, July 26 in Mill Creek and July 31 in Montesano. For more information visit wdfw.wa.gov.
craig.hill@thenewstribune.com
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