Post by: Parasite on February 11, 2019, 02:53:23 PM
I feel like that being based out of Olympia, I can pretty much go anywhere pretty easily, so short day trips locally should be fairly inexpensive and easy to do.
The problem is … what species and when to target them. Any ideas or general trends for January thru December? At the moment I think I'm pretty much open to anything that I can DIY. With my boat and tackle, I want to stay inshore, piers, near shore, rivers, lakes, and in the sound. Maybe one offhsore charter a year for something such as tuna or halibut.
Post by: full choke on February 11, 2019, 03:12:18 PM
This should be an interesting thread. I am eager to see what everyone's calendar would look like. :tup:
Post by: jackelope on February 11, 2019, 03:15:57 PM
What style of fishing do you prefer? Do you flyfish or is this a gear fishing mission?
Post by: Parasite on February 11, 2019, 03:33:47 PM
Gear or fly, I can do both. No big deal. Just no trolling ... God do I hate trolling.
Post by: Jpmiller on February 11, 2019, 03:46:27 PM
Post by: deerlick on February 11, 2019, 04:06:21 PM
Post by: Stein on February 11, 2019, 04:18:24 PM
1. Shrimp as many days as it's open.
2. Halibut in the sound/islands as many days as its open, weather is workable and there appears to be a reasonable chance at catching something.
3. Work in a Columbia springer trip if possible.
4. Fish 8, 9, 10 as much as possible for salmon, maybe a few trips up into 7 weather, schedule and budget dependent. Start with chinook, then silvers and pinks on odd years with good returns.
5. Take 2-3 trout trips with the kids.
6. Take 2-3 flounder trips with the kids, hopefully sneak in a few ling drifts.
7. Fill the rest of the days with crab, usually combination trips.
That could fill out 100 days pretty easily, I probably average maybe half that on a great year. I don't do much river fishing at all, usually only if we are camping somewhere.
It's about impossible to map that out weekly with the way seasons are set, but shrimp and crab are predictable. I usually hit it hard when open and then don't go for a while until the next season as opposed to getting out every Saturday. The above takes me from May through September when I put the boat away and hit archery elk then waterfowl and rifle big game.
Post by: bassquatch on February 11, 2019, 05:22:09 PM
If you're an addict like myself it gets real easy.... January 1st to December 31st = BASS!!! :chuckle:
Post by: hollymaster on February 11, 2019, 05:24:05 PM
Post by: Alchase on February 11, 2019, 05:35:04 PM
Post by: Birdgetter on February 11, 2019, 06:08:12 PM
Post by: Mfowl on February 11, 2019, 06:16:46 PM
Jan/Feb/March - steelhead/blackmouth
March/April - steelhead/spring chinook and maybe eastside bass
May - shrimp/halibut/lingcod/walleye/bass
June/July - summer chinook/crabbing/bass/walleye
August/Sept - fall chinook/tuna...maybe/ coho/ perch/ walleye
Oct/Nov - coho/perch/walleye
Dec - steelhead
Post by: huntnphool on February 11, 2019, 06:42:54 PM
Post by: metlhead on February 11, 2019, 07:30:17 PM
Post by: slavenoid on February 11, 2019, 07:38:52 PM
If your just a straight up angler...tons of options!!:yeah:
If you're an addict like myself it gets real easy.... January 1st to December 31st = BASS!!! :chuckle:
People have gotten so good at catching bass all year round you could fill every opening in your fishing schedule with Bass. Don't be fooled by their warm water reputation the big ones get caught all the time in cooler weather. My biggest fish typically come in April and early November.
Post by: Limhangerslayer on February 11, 2019, 08:54:11 PM
Interesting nobody included sturgeon.that's what I was thinking! We've had A great sturgeon season already. The three if us that fish hard together filled or six punches in three days of fishing. Or last day was 41 fish landed by noon with 6 being keepers.
Post by: huntnnw on February 11, 2019, 10:42:32 PM
Post by: Hard2handle on February 12, 2019, 09:41:37 AM
If your just a straight up angler...tons of options!!Have to admit,,,me too on that.
If you're an addict like myself it gets real easy.... January 1st to December 31st = BASS!!! :chuckle:
Post by: Sandberm on February 12, 2019, 09:57:53 AM
Post by: Dhoey07 on February 12, 2019, 10:08:53 AM
Jan-Feb - Lake Roosevelt trout, walleye and burbot
March-April - Steelhead
May-June - Springers, panfish and catfish
July-August - Sockeye, panfish and Kings
September- November - Steelhead
December - Trout
Post by: WSU on February 12, 2019, 10:55:53 AM
There’s river fishing for salmon or steelhead 12 months a year. Also, branch out into trolling and you’ll open more options!
Post by: huntnphool on February 12, 2019, 11:05:13 AM
What the hell is a bass?
There’s river fishing for salmon or steelhead 12 months a year. Also, branch out into trolling and you’ll open more options!
:chuckle:
Post by: Curly on February 12, 2019, 11:53:06 AM
Post by: WSU on February 12, 2019, 12:01:36 PM
If you hate trolling, I imagine you'd really, really hate being anchored up in a hog-line...............
I can’t bring myself to doing that. It’s hard for me to fathom tossing an anchor out in the Columbia and thinking I’m in the right spot.
Post by: Dhoey07 on February 12, 2019, 12:03:12 PM
If you hate trolling, I imagine you'd really, really hate being anchored up in a hog-line...............
I can’t bring myself to doing that. It’s hard for me to fathom tossing an anchor out in the Columbia and thinking I’m in the right spot.
Maybe you've never been in the right spot then :dunno:
Post by: WSU on February 12, 2019, 12:10:30 PM
Post by: Parasite on February 12, 2019, 12:35:52 PM
Post by: Curly on February 12, 2019, 12:54:34 PM
What's a hog line?
I much prefer trolling to be anchored up for hours on end.
You anchor up and let the current work your lures as you wait for the run of fish to come up through the spot. You usually end up with a bunch of company......other boats come in and anchor close to you.
Post by: slavenoid on February 12, 2019, 01:27:49 PM
What the hell is a bass?A bass is a fish. A fish that doesn't require man made stocking programs and politicians to lobby on its behalf. It's a fish that doesn't require toll free hotlines and a lawyer to tell you if it's legal to be fished for. Its just a fish not some expensive science experiment like some other fish I know of. :IBCOOL:
There’s river fishing for salmon or steelhead 12 months a year. Also, branch out into trolling and you’ll open more options!
Post by: MtnMuley on February 12, 2019, 01:30:45 PM
Post by: Alchase on February 12, 2019, 01:48:23 PM
What the hell is a bass?A bass is a fish. A fish that doesn't require man made stocking programs and politicians to lobby on its behalf. It's a fish that doesn't require toll free hotlines and a lawyer to tell you if it's legal to be fished for. Its just a fish not some expensive science experiment like some other fish I know of. :IBCOOL:
There’s river fishing for salmon or steelhead 12 months a year. Also, branch out into trolling and you’ll open more options!
A fish that requires a $70k boat, and twenty preset poles, only to kiss the ones you catch, and throw them back.
LOL
J/k
You should have seen the look on the faces of the bass fisherman at Loon Lake when I told them I was going to cook the 8lb 12oz large mouth I caught, totally by accident trolling for Kokanee for dinner!
Made for some fantastic fillets!
Post by: jackelope on February 12, 2019, 03:25:59 PM
What the hell is a bass?A bass is a fish. A fish that doesn't require man made stocking programs and politicians to lobby on its behalf. It's a fish that doesn't require toll free hotlines and a lawyer to tell you if it's legal to be fished for. Its just a fish not some expensive science experiment like some other fish I know of. :IBCOOL:
There’s river fishing for salmon or steelhead 12 months a year. Also, branch out into trolling and you’ll open more options!
A fish that requires a $70k boat, and twenty preset poles, only to kiss the ones you catch, and throw them back.
LOL
J/k
You should have seen the look on the faces of the bass fisherman at Loon Lake when I told them I was going to cook the 8lb 12oz large mouth I caught, totally by accident trolling for Kokanee for dinner!
Made for some fantastic fillets!
You forgot the glitter.
Post by: Alchase on February 12, 2019, 03:35:34 PM
What the hell is a bass?A bass is a fish. A fish that doesn't require man made stocking programs and politicians to lobby on its behalf. It's a fish that doesn't require toll free hotlines and a lawyer to tell you if it's legal to be fished for. Its just a fish not some expensive science experiment like some other fish I know of. :IBCOOL:
There’s river fishing for salmon or steelhead 12 months a year. Also, branch out into trolling and you’ll open more options!
A fish that requires a $70k boat, and twenty preset poles, only to kiss the ones you catch, and throw them back.
LOL
J/k
You should have seen the look on the faces of the bass fisherman at Loon Lake when I told them I was going to cook the 8lb 12oz large mouth I caught, totally by accident trolling for Kokanee for dinner!
Made for some fantastic fillets!
You forgot the glitter.
Please forgive me, I am not much of a bass fisherman
Post by: jackelope on February 12, 2019, 03:37:31 PM
What the hell is a bass?A bass is a fish. A fish that doesn't require man made stocking programs and politicians to lobby on its behalf. It's a fish that doesn't require toll free hotlines and a lawyer to tell you if it's legal to be fished for. Its just a fish not some expensive science experiment like some other fish I know of. :IBCOOL:
There’s river fishing for salmon or steelhead 12 months a year. Also, branch out into trolling and you’ll open more options!
A fish that requires a $70k boat, and twenty preset poles, only to kiss the ones you catch, and throw them back.
LOL
J/k
You should have seen the look on the faces of the bass fisherman at Loon Lake when I told them I was going to cook the 8lb 12oz large mouth I caught, totally by accident trolling for Kokanee for dinner!
Made for some fantastic fillets!
You forgot the glitter.
Please forgive me, I am not much of a bass fisherman
Me neither. But I know enough to know you can’t have a $80k bass boat without tons of glitter.
Post by: WSU on February 12, 2019, 04:47:26 PM
What the hell is a bass?A bass is a fish. A fish that doesn't require man made stocking programs and politicians to lobby on its behalf. It's a fish that doesn't require toll free hotlines and a lawyer to tell you if it's legal to be fished for. Its just a fish not some expensive science experiment like some other fish I know of. :IBCOOL:
There’s river fishing for salmon or steelhead 12 months a year. Also, branch out into trolling and you’ll open more options!
A fish that requires a $70k boat, and twenty preset poles, only to kiss the ones you catch, and throw them back.
LOL
J/k
You should have seen the look on the faces of the bass fisherman at Loon Lake when I told them I was going to cook the 8lb 12oz large mouth I caught, totally by accident trolling for Kokanee for dinner!
Made for some fantastic fillets!
You forgot the glitter.
Please forgive me, I am not much of a bass fisherman
Me neither. But I know enough to know you can’t have a $80k bass boat without tons of glitter.
All to catch and release the elusive ditch pickle.
Post by: slavenoid on February 12, 2019, 04:53:22 PM
Post by: Jpmiller on February 12, 2019, 04:58:32 PM
Post by: slavenoid on February 12, 2019, 05:09:03 PM
Post by: bassquatch on February 12, 2019, 06:58:15 PM
Do bass fisherman not eat bass? I've eaten bass and I've never tried to catch one. :dunno:
You can eat them but only out of the right water, they taste like their environment and that's typically nasty water for largies.
Smallmouth make decent fish and chips but again, needs to be the right water and like all of our fish anymore you gotta be careful about mercury levels etc..
I caught a tagged smallie on Whatcom one year and released it. Caught the same fish the following year off the same piling and it was 3/4lbs bigger, pretty cool!
I haven't harvested a bass for about ten years now, too many other better tasting fish out there.
BTW, seen plenty of salmon sleds and bay boats that run WAY north of $70k, are they really neccessary? Just sayin. We all have our splurges.
Post by: bassquatch on February 12, 2019, 07:00:04 PM
If your just a straight up angler...tons of options!!:yeah:
If you're an addict like myself it gets real easy.... January 1st to December 31st = BASS!!! :chuckle:
People have gotten so good at catching bass all year round you could fill every opening in your fishing schedule with Bass. Don't be fooled by their warm water reputation the big ones get caught all the time in cooler weather. My biggest fish typically come in April and early November.
Your April is my March but both months rock for bass! :tup:
Post by: WSU on February 12, 2019, 07:07:38 PM
Do bass fisherman not eat bass? I've eaten bass and I've never tried to catch one. :dunno:
You can eat them but only out of the right water, they taste like their environment and that's typically nasty water for largies.
Smallmouth make decent fish and chips but again, needs to be the right water and like all of our fish anymore you gotta be careful about mercury levels etc..
I caught a tagged smallie on Whatcom one year and released it. Caught the same fish the following year off the same piling and it was 3/4lbs bigger, pretty cool!
I haven't harvested a bass for about ten years now, too many other better tasting fish out there.
BTW, seen plenty of salmon sleds and bay boats that run WAY north of $70k, are they really neccessary? Just sayin. We all have our splurges.
Of course they are necessary!
Post by: MtnMuley on February 12, 2019, 07:23:17 PM
Do bass fisherman not eat bass? I've eaten bass and I've never tried to catch one. :dunno:
Yes. Most, if not all I fish with do. We fish out of $200 jon boats, from shore, innertubes, $30K boats, and $75K boats. Won thousands in tourney money, yet still enjoy a meal or two a year of 10-11" bass out of abundant waters. Nobody I fish with or ever have, tourney fisherman or not, would keep a couple pound bass and up to eat. Those are the fish that make more fish for future generations to enjoy. Same with a big rainbow out of a lake. One meal isn't worth the excitement the next guy gets to hook into that fish. Just my thoughts......
Post by: lokidog on February 12, 2019, 07:54:30 PM
My annual schedule would be (I pretty much only target salt up north any more but would like to hit a few freshwater spots)
Jan, Feb - Steelhead or Blackmouth, like to try Burbot and walleye on the east side
March, April would be Westport bottomfish, if I had a trailer, would love to get into some of those Halibut that are so readily available according to some
May, June - Spot Prawns, Lingcod, Cabezon, I'd target smallmouth and largemouth end of May early June if I needed a change of pace or went turkey hunting on the eastside, some good salmon end of June on the coast
July, August - Crab and salmon, Cabezon
September is deer season, but salmon and Cabezon when on the water
Rest of year is fishing whatever is available
Post by: Brushcrawler on February 12, 2019, 08:01:41 PM
Post by: Crunchy on February 12, 2019, 08:08:16 PM
Salmon fish rivers Sept-Oct
Little hunting Nov-Dec
Jan-Mar bored crazy
Post by: bassquatch on February 13, 2019, 03:55:43 PM
Post by: huntnnw on February 13, 2019, 10:18:49 PM
Post by: shootem on February 14, 2019, 02:58:09 AM
I've never had a bad tasting bass....
My annual schedule would be (I pretty much only target salt up north any more but would like to hit a few freshwater spots)
Jan, Feb - Steelhead or Blackmouth, like to try Burbot and walleye on the east side
March, April would be Westport bottomfish, if I had a trailer, would love to get into some of those Halibut that are so readily available according to some
May, June - Spot Prawns, Lingcod, Cabezon, I'd target smallmouth and largemouth end of May early June if I needed a change of pace or went turkey hunting on the eastside, some good salmon end of June on the coast
July, August - Crab and salmon, Cabezon
September is deer season, but salmon and Cabezon when on the water
Rest of year is fishing whatever is available
Are cabezon good eating? I've seen plenty diving but never eaten one. There are an ugly one.
Post by: Stein on February 14, 2019, 06:48:27 AM
Post by: GoldenRing270 on February 14, 2019, 07:12:13 AM
I would do a bunch of ice fishing here in Washington and I'd make a road trip over to the Midwest making my way back through Canada ice fishing as many lakes as I could for as many different species as I could.
March-mid May:
I would try to do a ton of surf perch fishing and a little bit of bass, walleye, kokanee fishing.
June-August:
I would do a bunch of backpacking in to high mountain lakes. Trying some new ones in parts of the wilderness I've never been. Probably do a bit of glassing for deer as well.
September-November: Well that's hunting season. I don't fish during hunting season but I guess I would try to plan a couple hunts up in Alaska and do some fishing in the downtime.
Post by: Angry Perch on February 14, 2019, 10:59:04 AM
I'd like to pick out one body of water and learn to catch whatever fish will bite for 1 year. Get to know that lake, reservoir, river like the back of my hand.
I like this idea. Just really get dialed in.
Post by: WSU on February 14, 2019, 12:26:38 PM
I'd like to pick out one body of water and learn to catch whatever fish will bite for 1 year. Get to know that lake, reservoir, river like the back of my hand.
I like this idea. Just really get dialed in.
Just make sure you pick a river with salmon and steelhead in it 12 months a year!
Post by: lokidog on February 14, 2019, 06:46:58 PM
You would be hard pressed to tell the difference between the rockfish species. Cabezon taste great, but the meat yield isn't huge since they have that basketball head on the front.
Cabezon are my favorite fish, taste like a fish made entirely out of lingcod cheeks. Plenty of meat when you catch the right ones....
Post by: Alchase on February 14, 2019, 07:50:13 PM
That thing is huge!
I like Cabozon, though the some make you think they have been eating some serious outflow from Hanford.
Post by: bassquatch on February 14, 2019, 07:57:37 PM
I use to fish for bass then I grew up
Sounds like it :chuckle:
Post by: lokidog on February 14, 2019, 10:23:48 PM
Wow!
That thing is huge!
I like Cabozon, though the some make you think they have been eating some serious outflow from Hanford.
30 1/2", 18lbs. My largest to date. This one had something like 13 crabs in its stomach. My dad and I landed a 14 and 16 a few years back on back to back drifts.
Post by: Stein on February 15, 2019, 07:28:48 AM
Wow!
That thing is huge!
I like Cabozon, though the some make you think they have been eating some serious outflow from Hanford.
You should see them face to face during a dive.
Post by: lokidog on February 15, 2019, 12:04:39 PM
Wow!
That thing is huge!
I like Cabozon, though the some make you think they have been eating some serious outflow from Hanford.
You should see them face to face during a dive.
I think a Cabezon is what they modeled the Creature from the Black Lagoon's face on. :chuckle: :jacked:
Post by: Stein on February 15, 2019, 01:30:50 PM
Post by: lewy on February 23, 2019, 09:17:09 AM