Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: WAnoob on February 16, 2016, 03:08:25 PM

Title: Best western rivers and times to bank fish them? Steelhead/Salmon/Trout
Post by: WAnoob on February 16, 2016, 03:08:25 PM: I lived in Alaska for 25 years and fished for a lot of species before I moved to Bellingham. I fished the Skagit last year with no fish caught and very murky water. Can anyone chime in on some good western rivers and a good time to target them from the bank? I hear the Cowlitz/Lewis river are good for all species. I don't mind driving a few hours to target fish. From what I've been reading the salmon tend to get good in the fall when in Alaska I fished for them usually from June-September.

Any help is appreciated.

I found this on fish and games website http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/salmon/whenwhere/area_pugetsound.pdf.

Is this an accurate chart in your opinion?
Title: Re: Best western rivers and times to bank fish them? Steelhead/Salmon/Trout
Post by: elkaddict652 on February 17, 2016, 09:25:28 AM: Pretty accurate as far as I can tell. Coastal rivers when open are pretty decent as well as the tributaries that run off the cowlitz and the Columbia. The coast has good fishing too if you like surf/jetty fishing
Title: Re: Best western rivers and times to bank fish them? Steelhead/Salmon/Trout
Post by: hunthard on February 17, 2016, 12:47:23 PM: The Cowlitz should be heating up in the next few weeks, try Blue Creek from the bank, can get crazy down there though.
Title: Re: Best western rivers and times to bank fish them? Steelhead/Salmon/Trout
Post by: 7mmfan on February 17, 2016, 01:08:05 PM: Quote from: hunthard on February 17, 2016, 12:47:23 PM
The Cowlitz should be heating up in the next few weeks, try Blue Creek from the bank, can get crazy down there though.

:yeah: If you don't mind fishing with lots of people, this is as good of a place as any to go catch a steelhead or two. The Olympic Peninsula rivers are also just heating up, mainly wild fish, which have to be released in most of the rivers. When these rivers are in shape, they offer a lot of good bank access on several different rivers with a great opportunity to catch fish.

Other than that, most all rivers except Columbia tributaries and the Cowlitz will close the end of March or April 15 and then open again June 1. When the Skykomish opens June 1, it can have good summer run steelhead fishing from Monroe up river to the hatchery. The Skagit from Rockport up to the mouth of the Cascade at Marblemount will be open for hatchery chinook, and can be good at times. You can always target Dolly Vardon up there when it opens as well. I don't suggest keeping those fish but they can be fun to catch.

Always always always read the regs before you head to any river. Rules not only change annually but can change on a moments notice if a run of fish isn't showing up as expected. You need to know what rivers are open, which sections of those rivers are open, and what species those sections are open for.
Title: Re: Best western rivers and times to bank fish them? Steelhead/Salmon/Trout
Post by: WAnoob on February 17, 2016, 03:30:37 PM: Thanks!

Don't mind fishing crowds, I used to combat fish all the time in Alaska on the Kenai. I don't mind it if the fishing is good!
Title: Re: Best western rivers and times to bank fish them? Steelhead/Salmon/Trout
Post by: Bullkllr on February 17, 2016, 04:21:26 PM: Quote from: WAnoob on February 17, 2016, 03:30:37 PM
Thanks!

Don't mind fishing crowds, I used to combat fish all the time in Alaska on the Kenai. I don't mind it if the fishing is good!

Well, I wouldn't expect it to be "Kenai good", but with perseverance you should get fish if that is the goal.