Category: Puget Sound

Skagit River Update

Joe Coakley

I have floated the Skagit River each of the last three weeks in search of coho and bull trout. Some very limited success with some smaller fish landed, a few hookups with some larger fish on my 5 wt. spey rod. Yesterday and last week there were good signs of salmon moving in the river but very random takes. The section floated was from Bird’s View to Hamilton. Three weeks ago I was in a T shirt in the afternoon. Yesterday it was 36 degrees at 8 am and I wore 5 layers of clothing for much of the day. We were the only boat on the river yesterday, a good indicator the fishing is off. Clarity was 18″ at am and improved as the day continued. Looking for chums which I hear at in the Skykomish in abundance near the Sultan river confluence.

IMG_3388-1.jpg IMG_3401-0.jpg

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Salty Pinks

Ron Olsen

A great day on the Sound Sept 3 with Bill Courshon and intrepid President and Chief Guide Rodney in hot pursuit of the hordes of migrating pink salmon. This was a trip from the auction bought by Bill, with Ron in tow as guest. And no disappointment as many silver bullets responded to our casting to the leaping schools. Brought back a limit, and now smoked and ready for the table.
Super thanks to Bill and Rodney!!!!

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Chico Chum Wrapup

Chum Buddies
Chum Buddies

Tom Eng led a group on Oct 28th to Chico Creek near Bremerton.  Despite winds that gusted to 38 MPH the fishing was good at the low tide, and again near high tide.  Almost everyone found some chum.  Several people returned over the next few weeks with our last trip on Nov 11th.  We noticed the color of the chums changing from consistently silver to almost all “moldy” looking.  Probably the best fishing was the middle week with huge pods of possibly 100 fish traveling the bay presenting a perfect target for fly casters, and they readily ate our flies.  At the beginning we had the place to ourselves but by the end it was truly combat fishing with many gear casting guys, and fewer fish biting.

Chico Combat Fishing
Chico Combat Fishing
Tom's Chum
Tom’s Chum
George Chum
George Chum
Chico Creek Chum
Chico Creek Chum
Tom Bruce Chumming
Tom Bruce Chumming
Chico Rainbow
Chico Rainbow
George Fighting Chico
George Fighting Chico

 

Oct 6th Coho Olalla Outing Report

 

Olalla Coho Outing
Olalla Coho Outing

 

The outing yesterday was a great time. We had 10 from the combined groups, some on the beach and some in water crafts. We fished from 12:00- 5:00pm. Total in that area there were 16 fly fishermen and 7 gear fishermen, with no hook ups..We saw 50-60 fish jumping around, they were everywhere. I was on a boat with Phil and we tried about 20 different flies, we were casting to them, trolling and buck tailing, to give our arms a rest.  Phil looked at me at one point and said this had to be the most frustrating day, he ever had at fishing..  Pete Kaufman, from PSFF,  was at Yukon Bay and he had the same story, they had 11 fishermen…So the total for Olalla was 2 SRC and 1 Bullhead  …Yukon Bay 1- 16″ Jack… Boy what a tough day. But we had a great time, soaking up sun, and ended up at Tides Tavern for an early dinner.

Thank you all for coming out..  Terry

[Editor’s Note:  Thanks for the doughnuts, Terry!]

 

Dr. Thomas Quinn from UW will discuss Puget Sound fish movements at March meeting

 

March 27th 2012

7:00P.M.

Movement patterns of Salmon and Trout in the Puget Sound including resident Coho and Chinook, Steelhead Smolts, Cutthroat and Bull Trout

By

Thomas Quinn, PhD

Professor, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington

Tom has been a faculty member at the School of Aquatic Fisheries at the University of Washington since 1986 and professor since 2000 .His research programs are devoted to the behavior, ecology, evolution, and conservation of Salmon and Trout and their habitats, including work in Washington State, British Columbia, and Alaska. His presentation will be of benefit to anyone who loves salmon and Trout fishing especially those who enjoy fishing in saltwater