3 years and no luck

[Smokepole]

Some day you will realize it's not just about catching fish.  It's about watching your kids grow up in the great outdoors.  It's about adventure, and solitude.  A couple days ago me and my kids loaded our boat with all the salmon gear to go do a little trolling.  First, though we landed on a remote beach.  Sort of lost our focus.  It was so nice out, we decided to go exporing, and spent the whole day out hiking around.

When we go hunting and fishing, we don't require much.  It's all about the experience, comradery, and the adventures of being in the great outdoors.  We love living in the Pacific Northwest because it has so much to offer, from ocean beaches, towering mountains, and dry lands.  All the fish in the sea can't stack up to that.

We consider catching fish or harvesting an animal to be a bonus.

[lostbackpacker]

I agree it's not always about the catching or hunting.  but that is what keeps new people coming back is if they do have success. 

the best option is to go with a mentor, someone who knows the lay of the land.  Or hire a guide. 

[Doc Sauce]

Wow... What a range of responses.  From "your not into it" to really good stuff.

I think I have done well to stick to it with as much commitment as I have for 3 years without anything to show for it.  I have friends from work and Church who catch fish and fill hunting tags and I easily spend 2 to 3 times the amount of time they do in the woods or by the water.  The thing that separates me from them...  they have access to private land for hunting and they all have boats.  I have been out with them before, but we did not catch anything then.  Their attitude is a good one, "oh well, better luck next time."  The downfall is that "next time" they go out, I usually have to work.

I am Acitve Navy and work Ridiculous hours.  Due to transferring, deployments, and poor investments years ago, I am in a lot more debt than I am comfortable with.  I see my kids for a couple hours each week with the number of hours I devote to work, odd jobs to cut my debt, and then my hunting and fishing.  I look at the investment of time and money into this "sport" and find that the payoff is dismal.  My kids are making the sacrifice. 

I grew up in south Louisiana and coastal North Carolina ( a little bit in Tennessee too, but did no hunting or fishing there).  I was a very accomplished fisherman in those states.  Flat black water, swamps, warm lakes and ponds, slow moving brackish water and really protected coastal areas like the inner bays behind the outer banks and the intercoastal water way.  I fished from a canoe, a kayak, the beach, and wading out in the mud... could load an ice chest with bass, chinquapin, blue gill, and perch.  Not a fan of catfish.

I have been to Point No Point and Salisbury several times.  I have counted more than 70 fisherman coming and going while I was standing on the beach, and I have seen or heard of only about 6 to 8 Salmon going home with somebody.  That is less than 10 percent success.  I stood out at Salisbury just watching and talking...  38 people, 4 hours, 3 fish...  Most all of them were throwing the same stuff.  That makes for an average of 50.6 hours per fish.   My kids were there with me.  We couldn't get on line because my kids (8 and 6) cast side arm and not overhead... I have started teaching them to cast overhead now since I see that that is the name of the game with combat fishing. 

I read the tide tables, gamefishing.com, the threads on here.  I talk with the folks fishing on the pier or the beach around me, I talk to the employees at Wholesale Sports (or Sportsmans Warehouse, or whatever it is called now).  I watch videos from fishing guides and regular folks to see what they are doing.  I read articles from biologists and watch videos from universities about Salmon and Flounder behavior...

Bearpaw is dead on accurate when he says that, compared to the money and time invested to learn it yourself, a good guide is a cheap option.  If I wasn't so dadgum broke now, I would do it.  I should have done it before.  I have considered trying to make a deal with somebody who actually catch fish to let me sit in the boat... I'll even leave all my stuff at home and not fish just for chance to watch an accomplished person bring something in. 

I haven't tried the Manchester area.  I'll give that a go.  I'll also start planning these things WITH my kids and instead of making it a fishing trip and bring our lunches, make it a picnic at the beach/park and bring the fishing rods.

I grew up really poor in south Louisiana (one of the reasons I joined the Navy) and my family was able to afford groceries because we bought very little meat.  We ate LOTS of fish.  I had thought that, with a couple years invested in learning the ropes out here, that I would at least be able to supplement my groceries... Not so.

One last thing... for those who feel as though Washington is the pinnacle of outdoor hunting and fishing, how much time have you honestly spent living in and hunting/fishing outside of this area? 

Wildmanoutdoors... thanks so much for your post.  I watch folks in boats not catching anything either.  After not catching, and not seeing anybody else be succesfull, I get the feeling that the fishing really isn't all that good unless you have a loaded boat...  What you said in your post about the south sound is what I have been observing.  I'll absolutely try where you say regarding Manchester.

O... and I would gladly settle for a doe... if I could get drawn for one!   

To those who are giving advice, thanks.  It really is hard for me to spend my time away from my family and spend money that has run short for something that is not building my family (taking me away from my kids) and not putting food on my table.  Thanks again y'all.

DS

[LndShrk]

Wow... What a range of responses.  From "your not into it" to really good stuff.

I think I have done well to stick to it with as much commitment as I have for 3 years without anything to show for it.  I have friends from work and Church who catch fish and fill hunting tags and I easily spend 2 to 3 times the amount of time they do in the woods or by the water.  The thing that separates me from them...  they have access to private land for hunting and they all have boats.  I have been out with them before, but we did not catch anything then.  Their attitude is a good one, "oh well, better luck next time."  The downfall is that "next time" they go out, I usually have to work.

I am Acitve Navy and work Ridiculous hours.  Due to transferring, deployments, and poor investments years ago, I am in a lot more debt than I am comfortable with.  I see my kids for a couple hours each week with the number of hours I devote to work, odd jobs to cut my debt, and then my hunting and fishing.  I look at the investment of time and money into this "sport" and find that the payoff is dismal.  My kids are making the sacrifice. 

I grew up in south Louisiana and coastal North Carolina ( a little bit in Tennessee too, but did no hunting or fishing there).  I was a very accomplished fisherman in those states.  Flat black water, swamps, warm lakes and ponds, slow moving brackish water and really protected coastal areas like the inner bays behind the outer banks and the intercoastal water way.  I fished from a canoe, a kayak, the beach, and wading out in the mud... could load an ice chest with bass, chinquapin, blue gill, and perch.  Not a fan of catfish.

I have been to Point No Point and Salisbury several times.  I have counted more than 70 fisherman coming and going while I was standing on the beach, and I have seen or heard of only about 6 to 8 Salmon going home with somebody.  That is less than 10 percent success.  I stood out at Salisbury just watching and talking...  38 people, 4 hours, 3 fish...  Most all of them were throwing the same stuff.  That makes for an average of 50.6 hours per fish.   My kids were there with me.  We couldn't get on line because my kids (8 and 6) cast side arm and not overhead... I have started teaching them to cast overhead now since I see that that is the name of the game with combat fishing. 

I read the tide tables, gamefishing.com, the threads on here.  I talk with the folks fishing on the pier or the beach around me, I talk to the employees at Wholesale Sports (or Sportsmans Warehouse, or whatever it is called now).  I watch videos from fishing guides and regular folks to see what they are doing.  I read articles from biologists and watch videos from universities about Salmon and Flounder behavior...

Bearpaw is dead on accurate when he says that, compared to the money and time invested to learn it yourself, a good guide is a cheap option.  If I wasn't so dadgum broke now, I would do it.  I should have done it before.  I have considered trying to make a deal with somebody who actually catch fish to let me sit in the boat... I'll even leave all my stuff at home and not fish just for chance to watch an accomplished person bring something in. 

I haven't tried the Manchester area.  I'll give that a go.  I'll also start planning these things WITH my kids and instead of making it a fishing trip and bring our lunches, make it a picnic at the beach/park and bring the fishing rods.

I grew up really poor in south Louisiana (one of the reasons I joined the Navy) and my family was able to afford groceries because we bought very little meat.  We ate LOTS of fish.  I had thought that, with a couple years invested in learning the ropes out here, that I would at least be able to supplement my groceries... Not so.

One last thing... for those who feel as though Washington is the pinnacle of outdoor hunting and fishing, how much time have you honestly spent living in and hunting/fishing outside of this area? 

Wildmanoutdoors... thanks so much for your post.  I watch folks in boats not catching anything either.  After not catching, and not seeing anybody else be succesfull, I get the feeling that the fishing really isn't all that good unless you have a loaded boat...  What you said in your post about the south sound is what I have been observing.  I'll absolutely try where you say regarding Manchester.

O... and I would gladly settle for a doe... if I could get drawn for one!   

To those who are giving advice, thanks.  It really is hard for me to spend my time away from my family and spend money that has run short for something that is not building my family (taking me away from my kids) and not putting food on my table.  Thanks again y'all.

DS

If you are fishing for subsistence then you will be disappointed.  It takes time and investment to fish the sound. I spend a bit of time on the water and will put fish in my freezers (Sometimes I even share with Jackalope since he never wants to go fishing) but It is certain that no matter how many fish I catch the expenses will always outweigh the food savings (One exception might be Halibut that stuff is spendy in the store).

If you are looking for time to spend with the kids in the outdoors on a limited budget then I would highly suggest you pick a target and gear up for that specifically and hone your skills before jumping around and trying everything. This is a Humpy year and they will be in full force in the sound rivers in a matter of Days/Weeks. They are an easy target plentiful and can be had on a budget for sure (Hint Jigs are cheaper than buzz bombs). They are not the best for freezer and BBQ but smoked they are great. Following and during the humpy run silvers (Coho) will also be running similar gear can be used for both targets.

[Holg3107]

Here is my  in as positive of a way as I can muster after reading your posts.

Fishing:
Catching salmon from the beach is extremely difficult especially for a new salmon angler. Most of the guys that I know who are successful from the beach are veterans who have put more time on the water than I can count. That being said this is a humpy year and is your best opportunity to catch a salmon from the bank. Make a day trip to the Puyallup, get in line, relax as much as possible, join the combat fishing fun and get that salmon stink off your back. It gets hot and heavy in about two weeks through mid-late September.

There are quite a few local fresh water lakes around Bremerton most all of which have largmouth bass in them. Put on a weightless 6" senko in watermelon with red flake and start working any structure you have casting access to. You will catch a bass. Save up a few hundred bucks and buy a kayak or float tube so that you can really fish some of the smaller lakes in the area. A kayak can also get you out on the sound with some experience which opens up crabbing as well as salmon/lingcod fishing. No need for a $15,000 boat when you can do it in a $300 kayak.

Hunting:

O... and I would gladly settle for a doe... if I could get drawn for one!

Stop with the negativity and the sob story. You have 3 weeks to find a buck in the areas near you, assuming you are hunting with a rifle. That should be more than enough time to locate a spike. If you are hunting archery then you just need to find a deer and have a full month early then a few weeks again in November. You are in the military, knock on a few doors and you may be surprised who will give you access, or just hunt the public land in 621 or 633 (there is plenty of it). If hunting to you starts the day the season starts then I wouldn't have a whole lot of expectations. Do some scouting, take the kids on some hikes where you want to hunt and learn the area.

One last thing... for those who feel as though Washington is the pinnacle of outdoor hunting and fishing, how much time have you honestly spent living in and hunting/fishing outside of this area? 

Comments like this aren't going to get you anywhere on here. Many of the people who have commented hunt multiple states a year and have ample knowledge that can help you out but that isn't going to happen with the way you are going about this. You won't hear anyone on here say that Washington is the pinnacle of hunting in the US... It's not, you have to bust your butt and work for your animal here. You don't hunt and fish here because it's cheaper than going to the store, it's not. You hunt and fish here because you love to hunt, fish and spend time outdoors, catching/harvesting is nothing more than a bonus. Once I kill an elk or deer all that means is that my season/day is over and its time for the work to begin.

on that note welcome to the west and good luck.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Are you holding your mouth right? 

Keep at it man, most guys don't learn 100% on their own, someone gives them tips and advice and usually shows them the ropes.

[lostbackpacker]

I am getting to where I don't enjoy fishing at all.  Correction... I don't enjoy doing this anymore.  I have been in Washington for 3 years, moved up with the Navy, and have been trying my hand at hunting and fishing.  To date, I have caught a handful of trout from a stocked lake.  No Flounder, No Pile Perch, Goodness knows No Salmon... nothing.

I read folks saying they catch tons of flounder and pile perch... as though the things are super common.  I cannot catch a single one.  I have quit taking my kids because it became so hard trying to be positive and encouraging to them when inside I "know" that no matter what we do, we aren't going to catch anything.

At this point, I do not think I am going to buy a hunting license... I'm tired of wasting money that I don't have.  I'm also not sure if I want to fish any more in Washington.   I think I have had all I can take of disappointment.

Venting Complete.

Thanks

You're welcome to come out with me anytime.

[mrmoskillz]

The journey your on will be well worth it when you reach your goal.  Stick with it!

[snowpack]

There was a place on Bangor way back in the day called the Adventure Center.  They had boats (small motorboats, kayaks, canoes and even driftboats!!!!) that you could rent for cheap.  It was run by MWR.  They also had fishing gear and crabbing gear and camper trailers/pop-up trailers, etc.  I think there was a gas station next to it.  I do know it wasn't too far from the package store.
How far are you willing to travel for stuff?  and what kind of animal/fish is at the top of the death list?
And I've hunted fished all over and fishingwise Washington is by far the most finicky of all to get all the stars in alignment to get anything.  Huntingwise it is probably in the middle of places I've been.

[Skillet]

Gotta keep at it.  But don't keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results.  If you're taking your kids out, I see the need to keep them interested.  Isn't flipping rocks on the shore to see what's under there when the fish aren't cooperative interesting?  I still love doing that...

Be resourceful.  Get a cheapo kayak or canoe or something.  Go drop pots for crab and catch flounder while you're waiting. Yes, flounder are that easy to catch if you can drift over them with a bit of bait.  Watch those kids smile when you pull that trap up, or when they reel in that fish.  That is worth any amount of effort it takes to make it happen.  Forget trying to get on the kings right now - get back to basics and keep those kids' interest in joining dad for an outing up.   

Good luck to you- 

[hunt_fish]

Also do you have access to the back area of Bangor?  Cattail Lake is really good for trout throughout the year and they had a small lake before getting to cattail lake that had bluegill and bass in it.

If you're fishing Point No Point, from my experience, if you aren't in the viscinity of the actual point, you aren't going to catch salmon.  Whenever my dad and me went, that was the only time we'd catch them

[RadSav]

Isn't flipping rocks on the shore to see what's under there when the fish aren't cooperative interesting?  I still love doing that...

Rock The Hole! 

Back in the days when we could catch sea run cuts in the upper Siletz that was a regular practice to get a mid day bite going.  Worked some serious magic with regularity    I've seen locals at the Vedder do it for Tyees too.  Plus there is something therapeutic about it on a slow afternoon

Similar to dragging anchor above a good steelhead hole mid day with clear water.  Stir it up / get 'em excited.

[Doc Sauce]

Thanks a lot.

I'm in the process of adjusting my attitude and tactics. 

I'm not so worked up over hunting because I wasn't really good at that before and I know I am learning it still.  I am a little worked up about fishing because I was good at it before, and I expect to be good at it still... not so.

I'll send a PM to those of you who have made offers to help. 

Thanks a lot...

I don't mean to sound as negative as I come across.  Frustration does that.  Had a good night sleep, had a good run this morning, got some real good replys to this...  I'm making plans for taking the kids out this weekend.  Might make a picnic and flip some rocks on the beach.

I do appreciate the replies. 

[Doc Sauce]

BTW...

I do have a canoe and I have fished out of it.  The guy I predominately go fishing with seems to be afraid of fishing out of it. . He's says the canoe is "too tippy" (17 footer with an 850 pound payload) and seems to think I need to put downriggers on it... LOL

[hntrspud]

I feel for ya. I do. I am from Idaho, and hunting BT in this state has humbled me a ton! I have been hunting 8 years with no deer to show. I, however am still positive, I have learned from some great people on this site, and have tripled the amount of animals that I see. I have adjusted my tactics to bowhunting, To widen my opportunities, gotten out of the truck and knocked on some doors. If you need someone to go in the woods with, show you what I know, we may be able to work something out. Like was said, this is a humpy year, they practically jump out of the water to you.