Monthly Events?

How about multiple lists?  WA and Oregon.  Fresh and Salt.  Gives us some options to choose from once we have the lists complete.  I'm just looking back over some of the trips I've taken over the recent years.

Spring Halibut opening at Kydaka Point near Sekiu, WA.  Probably one of the better chances we have at catching a kayak butt in WA, although we've never yanked one out of there.  Shows you how hard kayak butts are for us.

May:  Lake Cle Elum lake trout.  I really like the trip we took up there.

Nov:  Puget Sound or Hood Canal chum salmon.  Oh yeah, multiple fish days on bruiser doggies.  We still got time for this one.  I drove by one of my fav spots yesterday.  A bit early.  A few fish rolling.  Didn't even wet a line.  Raining sideways when I left home so I didn't even bring the yak and I knew I was on the wrong tide, but I needed to get out of the house for a bit.  Just chatted with the lone guy there.  He said it was slow with a few pods moving through at the high but none caught.  Many fish outside of shore casting range ... perfect for the kayak.  Oh yeah, drove by the Nasty (Nisqually) as well.  The river is rising and probably is a lot higher after last nights rains.  Lots of fishermen, no fish caught that I saw.

July/August should be Puget Sound nookies, but after this year ... 

We can hit the coast any time there is a weather window in summer.  It would be nice to have a backup plan for coast trips ... like a nearby river or lake, or a sheltered bay for crabbing or something.  In WA, there is Neah Bay.  Not sure what to do as a backup there other than surf and hike.  Ah ... there are some great rivers on the OlyPen to fish stealhead an/or salmon.

I'd really like to get a Sombrio trip in next year.  I also still have a John Day float in my sights.

Late July in Alaska???  Speaking of which, is there anyone interested in an NWKA trip to the great north?  Got a few irons in the fire ...

-Allen

Excellent start!  I'd add Minter Creek silvers and Chum to the list, thinking of doing Minter next weekend. I saw a 2002 post on the FLyFishing forum:

Actually, Case Inlet has a resident run of silvers. Have caught silver there almost all year around. Some may be wandering around, some may just be following baitfish up there and heading to Minter. Minter has some big runs of chums, kings, and silvers. Normally though, you don't start hitting the Minter runs until about October, that's when they start spooing up the channels. Fishery is in Nov/Dec. I know for years I've been drooling over Minter looking at all the silver/kings running up there in late Oct-Dec. Has been closed to all fishing on lower end. Stuck having to fish private beaches around the Peninsula. Open for chum now in Nov/Dec.

I'd agree, you'll catch alot by docks, mostly because baitfish will stack there. I have a few prime spots that baitfish will boil. When that happens I take a break, grab the rod, and strip a baitfish imitation. Usually produces a quick fishon.

Excellent start!  I'd add Minter Creek silvers and Chum to the list, thinking of doing Minter next weekend.

Very interested KT. Let me know when you're going. PolePole??

Z

Late July in Alaska???  Speaking of which, is there anyone interested in an NWKA trip to the great north?  Got a few irons in the fire ...

I am, but my ability to go might not match my interest (family and financial issues).  Still, I'd be interested in hearing what you have in mind. 

Brian

Just got a call from one of the workers at Minter Creek hatchery.  said they had an excellent king return--6,000 fish, and have already met escapement goal for silvers, about 8,000, expecting 5-6,000 more. They are expecting a LOT of chum, about 40-50,000.  He said guys who fish for silvers have found them to have "tight jaws", you've got to irritate them into striking.  Indian nets have been very effective.....

I have a friend coming into town in early December, so I'm declaring December's event to be Portland sturgeon fishing to coincide with his visit.   I'll get back to you on an exact date once I get my friends itinerary.

Maybe we can plan a steelhead fishing trip in central WA in January?

Brian 

Late winter trout fishing anyone?  Lot's of stocked trout will be planted out there whose purpose is to be caught and eaten.  I'm thinking that this would be an excellent intro event for folks who aren't quite up to the challenge of river sturgeon and steelhead fishing.

Maybe we can plan a steelhead fishing trip in central WA in January?

I'd be careful about planning anything on the water, in January, in Central WA. It might be okay, with only sub-freezing temps. With the wrong weather system, it might be sub-zero!!!

Any interest in a crab/clam trip to the oregon coast in the next few months??   I was thinking Netarts bay?  Nice state park nearby with yurts and cabins.  Lots of great clamming and the crabbing can be good in the winter.  Some fishing in the area too. I would be happy to collect the needed intel if there is any interest.

I'd be interested in collecting some inverts.  Let me know.

Brian

I will peak ahead in the tide book and see what we have to work with.  You want a good balance between water low enough to get to the prime clam areas yet not so much tidal exchange that crabbing is not good due to heavy flows. Decent weather would be nice too.  I will list a few dates and if there is interest we can build from there.

Any interest in a crab/clam trip to the oregon coast in the next few months??   I was thinking Netarts bay?  Nice state park nearby with yurts and cabins.  Lots of great clamming and the crabbing can be good in the winter.  Some fishing in the area too. I would be happy to collect the needed intel if there is any interest.

Read something on IFish about someone recently catching striped perch just off the rock jetty by the Netarts bay boat ramp.  Why not hop in the yak and target some perch?

there are some perch around. I was surprised by that report , Have fished for perch in Netarts for as long as I can remember and there are much better places to catch  perch in the bay and much better times of year. Just goes to show you never know it all.  However the "better" perch spots are near the clam and crabbing areas in the more southern part of the bay.  I like to fish sandshrimp under a steelhead sized float just off the bottom over the eel grass beds.

there are some perch around. I was surprised by that report , Have fished for perch in Netarts for as long as I can remember and there are much better places to catch  perch in the bay and much better times of year. Just goes to show you never know it all.  However the "better" perch spots are near the clam and crabbing areas in the more southern part of the bay.  I like to fish sandshrimp under a steelhead sized float just off the bottom over the eel grass beds.

How deep of water is this "better" area?

Not to sound like a smart ass but it depends on how far the tide is in ..  It can range from as little as 3-4 ft to 15 or more.  The good spots are actually DRY during a decent low tide.  Fishing under a float with a sliding bobber stop works the best since you can adjust your depth to put your offering right above the grass beds but not down in them getting tangled.  What makes a "good" spot can often be determined with a little minus tide scouting, look for open sandy patches in the grass beds then fish over top of them.   Think of sandy patches a little bigger the size of the key in basketball in the middle of a think eel grass beds.  Fish over it and if your lucky...   I also highly suggest tying your shrimp to the hook with bait wrap like the clear strechy cocoon thread, as they are bait stealers and it will give you a second chance if you miss the first bite.