Fishing

Chasing the Elusive Burbot in the Dark of Winter

There's a certain kind of angler who willingly trades sleep, warmth, and convenience for the chance to tangle with a fish most folks have never seen, let alone pursued on purpose. If you ask me why I have spent so many nights sleeping on the lake, hunched over a glowing hole, waiting on a creature that looks sketched from a memory of someone who had once seen an eel. I will say this, burbot fishing isn't a pastime – it's a pilgrimage.

Most species reward you with a mid-day sun or an early morning bite window. Burbot prefer the dark. Truly, the dark. The kind that settles over the lake like a wool blanket, thick and muting everything else around you, except for your breath. That's when they slip across the lakebed, hunting and haunting the edges of structure, and that's when you need to be present and on top of them. 

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Preparing for burbot means dialing in gear that feels more expedition than recreational. I've come to rely typically on a Medium-Heavy rod with enough backbone to wrestle a surprised, twisting fish from 30-80ft. But enough sensitivity to detect that soft, hesitant pickup burbot are notorious for. A quality reel with a dependable drag is key; these fish, at times, will take runs and have vicious head thrashes, while spinning and twisting in a ball. Pair your reel up with a braided line and a fluorocarbon leader for minimal stretch during deep water hooksets.

The tackle box for burbot is its own mystical museum of creature baits. The uglier the bait, the better! I've noticed over the years, fishing these bottom dwellers, that GLOW is better. Everything should GLOW that you fish. From Spoons, Rattle Traps, Blade Baits, Jigs, Tubes, Curly Tail Grubs, whatever it may be, it had better be GLOW! I've spent more time charging baits with a UV light than I care to admit. But in the dark below the ice, that soft halo of light is key to helping these fish to find your offering. It can be the difference between a passing glance and a decisive strike.

The technique is nothing graceful, just constant jigging. With burbot, it's almost like putting in a day’s work. You drop your jig or spoon and bang it on the bottom several times, lifting it to pause. Keep repeating that cadence over and over, disturbing the bottom. They use the noise and vibration to home in on your offering, giving them the illusion of something rummaging in the territory. When they do bite, it's subtle -- just a faint pressure, followed by a heaviness on your line. When that burbot takes hold of your lure, you realize patience has been your best asset. 

I've been known to set up spreads of Tip Ups when I find where they are hanging out, waiting for the burbot to come to me, take a dead stick, or cut bait below the tip-up. I do prefer to stay mobile and hunt them, jigging one or two holes aggressively. If I set up camp for the night, I will drill a constellation of holes around my shack in various depths, fishing those holes throughout the night, till I find them.

Burbot are a special species, and anglers should be selective on harvest, especially depending on the body of water. What makes burbot special isn't their fight and rarity, or even their nocturnal mysteries. It's the commitment they demand. They ask you to be patient, to be uncomfortable, to embrace the cold and quiet and the uncertainty. They ask you to show up when most people are heading home. And when they finally arrive, slithering out of the dark to take your lure, it feels earned in a way few catches do. 

Get out there, enjoy the peace and quiet of the dark, as it's like nothing else. The Elusive Burbot is elusive for a reason, and it takes those mystic midnight hours to pull them up from their depths. OH, did I mention that they are really good eating?
Reel In The Memories! 
 

Are you into ice fishing? Do you have a competitive edge? Then consider fishing one of three ice fishing events happening in North Central Washington this winter.

MOLSON ICE FISHING DERBY – SIDLEY LAKE – January 17 – 8 am to 1 PM 

This is an annual event strongly supported by members of this small community just south of the border of Canada. Last year, 200 anglers participated, including 25 youth anglers.
Things kick off at the Molson Grange with a pancake breakfast for $12 from 7 to 10 AM. Sitzmark provides lunch in the grange in the early afternoon. Raffles take place for ice fishing gear and 25 different baskets with donated items and gift certificates. 
Prizes for the biggest fish, smallest fish, and for the participant who traveled the furthest are awarded here. The biggest fish is worth $500 cash and a $500 gift card to Country Store. Registration costs $15 for youth up to 12 years of age and $30 for adults. You can also add an extra $20 and win at least $300 for the heaviest weight of up to five rainbow trout. Register online at the Oroville Chamber of Commerce website.  www.orovillewachamber.com/events

BONAPARTE ICE FISHING DERBY – BONAPARTE LAKE RESORT – January 24 

This is another popular annual derby, and this will be the fourth year the event is being held.  Last year, 280 participants and another 120 lookers-on were there. There are three divisions of fish. They include the Adult Biggest Fish and an Adult Multi-species. There is also a category for the biggest fish caught by youth anglers. 

There are six species of fish in the lake (tiger trout, rainbows, brook trout, kokanee, lake trout, and smallmouth bass). The angler who weighs the biggest weight of 3 to 6 fish wins. There is a combination of ice fishing gear and cash given to winners. Last year, an ice auger was given to the biggest fish winner, and a one-man ice fishing shelter to the adult multiple species winner. Register through the Bonaparte Lake Resort Facebook page.
In addition to the resort restaurant that will be open, there will also be a number of other vendors on site. Last year, there was one vendor who was grilling up reindeer sausage for customers. There are no cabins available (they sell out a year in advance), but there are potentially some RV spots available.

CATCHING FREEDOM - OPERATION HARDWATER – BONAPARTE LAKE RESORT – January 31

Operation Catching Freedom is a non-profit that gets veterans, active-duty soldiers, and their families out for no-cost fishing trips. This will be an inaugural event and different in that there are no registration fees and no cash prizes awarded for the biggest fish, smallest fish, or any other category.
Tony Warren, the President of Operation Catching Freedom, said that he just wants veterans and the community at large to come out and go fishing. 

There is an in-person registration from 8 to 10 AM. Fishing takes place from 8 AM to 2 PM, and raffle prizes will be given away throughout the day. The event is taking place at Bonaparte Lake Resort, and there will be a BBQ for all attending between 11 AM and 1 PM. You can find further details at the Operation Catch Freedom Facebook Page.

HOW TO CATCH THEM 

Want some advice on how to catch these fish? Eric Magnuson, a well-known ice fishing angler and pro-staffer for Mack’s Lure, says, “Just like open water fishing, it’s all about forage and matching the hatch.” Magnuson continued saying, “If I notice the fish are after gorging more on bugs, I’ll tie on a 3mm or 4mm tungsten jig and tip it with plastic or a couple of maggots.  If I notice they are in more of a minnow feeding pattern, I might up my profile to a Swedish Pimple or Mack’s Sonic Baitfish spoon.”
And if that does not work, you can always tip a jig with a worm or nightcrawler, which will catch about anything. The bottom line is this: whether you just want to fish and have fun, or win cash or prizes, three great opportunities are waiting for you at North Central Washington’s Sidley Lake and Lake Bonaparte this winter.
Editor’s Note: Check out Eric Magnuson’s article on ice fishing for burbot at night on page xxx

John Kruse – www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com 
 

Winter Steelhead fishing in Washington has long been a passion for serious anglers. After all, fishing in inclement weather for a species that is hard to catch is not for the lighthearted. It takes serious motivation to pursue these fish, and for those who understand, it often becomes an obsession. With the winter steelhead season almost upon us, historically, Thanksgiving usually marks the beginning of the winter run on the Washington Coast, with opportunities inland that last deep into the spring. My rule of thumb is to start on the coast during the late fall, early winter, and move inland to the Puget Sound and SW Washington rivers in March and April.

I have many friends today who grew up steelhead fishing. Many of them are older than me and remember the days when there were lots of fish and the fish were big. Danny Cook from Wooldridge Boats told me a story of hooking a wild steelhead just below the Sultan launch on the Skykomish that tipped the scales at over 30 pounds. This was during a time when you could kill wild fish. Danny is a legend among steelheaders and has caught no less than five steelhead over 30 pounds, but the likelihood of repeating that today is not very good.

I will never forget my first steelhead trip. It was the late 1970s, and my dad decided that we were going to try fishing the Skagit River for steelhead. You see, he had a coworker who was obsessed and was willing to give my dad some tips. As a result, we planned a trip and set a date. The gear that we used was very primitive. We cut out the plastic lid of a coffee can to act as a spreader, to which we punched three holes and attached paper clips. I still have one of these today. To one paper clip, we connected the mainline. To another, we connected a short dropper to a pyramid weight. To the final paperclip, we attached a leader with a large spin-n-glo and a gob of eggs that my dad’s coworker gave to him.

We set out early on a Saturday morning with the intent to plunk a piece of private property on the Skagit. We set up camp chairs, cast out our gear, and sat down to wait for a passing fish to take our setup. It seemed like forever, but then again, I was about eight years old. When a bite finally came, it was my rod that went off. My dad yelled, and I jumped out of my camp chair to grab my rod. Once I had control of the rod, the line started to peel off the reel, and the fish was pulling me down the riverbank. Eventually, the fish found some wood and got me tangled. That was the end of my first steelhead encounter, but I will never forget it. What stood out most was the power of that fish. Unfortunately, that was the first and last time that we targeted steelhead until I became an adult, and it was the only time that I steelhead fished with my dad.

So, what has changed, and why is steelhead fishing today a shell of what it once was? The answer is simple: almost everything has changed. We don’t need to get too deep into the issues steelhead face, but let’s just say that the deck is stacked against them. To me, the greatest challenge has been fish politics. We once had robust hatchery programs that helped to sustain the populations, but most of those are now gone due to wild fish advocacy. There are still some hatchery programs, such as the Cowlitz, that offer prolific opportunities to catch and keep steelhead, both winter and summer runs. Also, the hatchery programs on the Quinault and Queets Rivers on the Olympic Peninsula offer some of the best steelhead fishing opportunities that exist today. Outside of the limited systems that have active hatchery programs, it has become a guessing game from one year to the next as to whether we will have opportunities for catch and release of wild steelhead. There may be opportunities on Washington’s coastal rivers, to the inland rivers of the Puget Sound and SW Washington, and even the interior rivers that feed the mighty Columbia.

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The good news right now is that it seems that steelhead are faring a bit better in some areas with better returns. It is a far cry from the numbers that we saw return during the period from the early 1970s to the early 2000s, but things are looking up a bit. Politics are still playing a key role in creating obstacles for steelhead, and that will not likely change, but current ocean conditions have been favorable, and the resulting returns have been up in some areas over the past few years.

When we evaluate our salmon and steelhead returns, we measure the returning fish according to a forecast and a 10-year average. For the most part, sockeye, pink, and coho salmon runs have been improving. Chum salmon runs are improving in some areas, but are still threatened. Chinook returns continue to struggle for more reasons than I wish to share, but for some reason, this species faces the most pressure of the five species of salmon. Steelhead, both winter runs and even more so for summer runs, are in a similar situation as chinook, with continuous decline. In my opinion, mirroring the broodstock programs employed on the Oregon Coast could help our steelhead populations since so many hatchery programs have been sued into submission and shut down. This alone could make a huge impact on the process of restoring our returns. Another option, an option that anglers don’t want to hear, is that we shut down river systems that are facing critical issues. This is not popular, but look at the Sauk River as an example. It was shut down for many years to recreational fishing, and the population recovered on its own to the point that we now see a somewhat consistent opportunity for catch and release. As far as 2026, that remains to be determined.

Either way, for those of us who love to chase steelhead, whether it be winter or summer runs, we will find opportunities, and we will travel wherever we need to go. For those new to the sport or considering becoming a steelheader, here are some tips and some information that I would like to share. To start, keep in mind that steelhead are more elusive than our migrating salmon runs and less predictable, making them more difficult to catch. Changes in river conditions during the wet, winter months are constant, forcing us to drop what we are doing and go when the conditions are best. We also need to change up our techniques based on river conditions. Scheduling a trip in advance can often result in disappointment when the river blows out or it gets cold, and the river drops to very low and clear conditions. This is steelhead fishing, so you must get used to it.

Most of my Steelhead fishing has been done in the rivers in from Everett north, the Chehalis Basin, the Cowlitz, and the Washington Coast, specifically the Forks area and the Quinault and Queets Rivers, within the reservation as well as Olympic National Park. There are still many options available all the way to the east in Idaho on the Snake and Clearwater rivers, so I recommend that you start with a river that interests you and is open for either retention of hatchery steelhead or catch and release of wild fish. Check the regulations for opportunities and, most importantly, some good guides who know the river well. I encourage you to spend the money to fish with a guide to learn what works and understand how to target fish in different conditions. Time is money, and the learning curve to catching these fish can be steep, so reduce the curve and spend a few days with a guide so that you can learn and then go practice what you learn on your own. Know that every guide has a different opinion and approach, so I recommend that you try a few to gain a broader perspective.

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If you are new to steelhead fishing, I recommend that you NOT go out and buy all your gear before you learn the basics. You can spend a lot of money only to find out that you didn’t need a lot of what you bought. Mirror what your guide uses, as their methods are tried and true. Watch YouTube and pay attention to fishing shows such as Northwest Fishing. You will learn a ton that will help reduce the learning curve and get you into opportunities. To start out, I do recommend that you purchase a nice pair of waders and wading boots and a jacket that is waterproof. Getting cold and wet will ruin your day in a hurry.

There are many popular techniques for catching Steelhead, such as casting or trolling plugs from the bank or shore, throwing spoons and spinners, float fishing beads, bait, jigs, and other offerings, drift fishing or bobber dogging beads, yarnies, bait, and other offerings, and much more. So many different options to choose from, and they all work. Again, keep it simple and choose 2-3 methods that you are taught, such as bobber dogging beads, float fishing jigs, and casting spinners and spoons. Many guides only use a few methods and do very well.

Now, you have learned the basics from one or more guides, you have learned how to fish a specific river system, you have purchased a handful of the gear that you need, and the time has come to go out and give it a shot. Believe me, you don’t have to go buy a drift boat to fish. There are plenty of opportunities to wade and bank fish. Also, I encourage you to continue to fish with guides if you want to boat fish or make a friend who has one. Believe it or not, many fishermen who own boats are looking for fishing buddies, so join a Facebook group to make some friends.

Also, I will emphasize again that time is money. Some of us have more time and others more money, but either way, our days on the water are limited, so it is my opinion that we should make the most of them. Pay $200-300 to fish with a guide and let them do the work. Also, they spend every day on the water, so they know where the fish will be and how to catch them. You can easily make 10-20 trips without a bite on your own if you don’t know what you are doing. With a guide, that learning curve might be eliminated, and you may catch a fish on your first trip. I can promise you this: you will never forget a steelhead that you catch. The encounters are memorable and, to me, unlike any other species encounter.

Steelhead fishing is an amazing pastime, and until you have spent some time doing it, you really don’t realize how special it is. I can say that they are very special fish, and you will never forget your first or for that matter, any Steelhead that you catch.

You can contact me on Facebook if you need additional tips or want to be connected to a guide near you. I am always happy to help and more than anything, I want you to learn and to have fun

Get outside. It’s as simple as that. If you come across Joe Pesci defending a pair of kids in a court of law, he might refer to them as “the two yutes”. Those same youth might phrase it as “touching grass”. I stretched for that one, admittedly, but you can guess which 90’s classic movie I watched recently and had a good chuckle about. The grass part is what I especially want to highlight, particularly given the changing seasons and time for many of us to shift our focus away from fishing to other activities. Don’t get me wrong, fishing in the fall and winter months can be tremendously fun and also yield quite a bite if you know what to target, where to target it, and when to do so. Some might make an argument that it's the best time to go fishing, given the abundance of baitfish swimming around and the reduced number of anglers as the temperature drops.  That aside, I’d like you instead to think about the wind on your face, the sound of birds calling one another from a distance, and the rustle of the trees and grass as animals follow their trails. Here in Montana, Fish, Wildlife & Parks' slogan, among others, is that “The outside is in us all”. Whether that be on the water fishing for dinner, hiking a trail, or hunting, we shouldn’t shy away from enjoying the outdoors even when the temperature begins to dip.

Hiking

To those fortunate enough to live near a mountain, or at least a small hill, hiking has to be one of the “go-to” activities as the calendar flips to fall and winter. Early in the fall, the air is crisp, and a light coat or even a t-shirt can be more than enough to keep you comfortable while exerting yourself up thousands of feet of elevation. Like many aspects of the outdoors, the payoff is often found in the culmination of the hike. Reaching the summit. Getting to the top. Climbing the mountain. Being able to take a few minutes to soak up the sights from a mountain peak is something that everyone should experience with some level of regularity. If not an everyday or week type of trip, certainly one that should be done annually. And what better time to do it than when the colors start to change, a light snowpack covers the foreground, and a beautiful mixture of early descending sunsets shines just perfectly on the horizon with the moisture in the air. As many of you know, I am fortunate enough to live in Montana with what are certainly thousands of trails scattered throughout the state. In just my hometown, I can take an afternoon hike up nearly 5,500 feet and over 36 trails.  It’s a palace I’ve been to many times - with my dog, with my kid, with my brother. Sometimes with a goal of reaching the top and other times just to see how far I might get and who all I might say hello to as I spend some time with the rocky gravel beneath my feet. If you have not explored a good mountain recently, take this as your sign to do so.

Hunting

I’m sure many of you circle particular days on your calendar. Birthdays, holidays, celebratory events, or sad anniversaries get a little easier as time goes on. One day regularly circled on my calendar, in fact, even added as an event on my work calendar, is opening day for bird hunting. Like clockwork, that second Saturday in October comes around, and pheasant season is open to any hunter with a 12-gauge and a good hunting dog. Similar to the hiking experience, those who partake are going to be putting some mileage on their bodies, most likely. The combined benefit of a good cardiovascular workout as you trek through varying terrain cannot be overstated. Many times during those early-season hunts when I’m not quite in shape, I’ll noticeably feel the strain in my quads and hamstrings after having kicked around cattails taller than I am for 3 hours in pursuit of a rooster. Maybe hunting small game isn’t your thing. That’s fine, too. For those who enjoy filling a freezer, the start of hunting season can mean adding some precious wild game to your diet for the coming months. Nothing quite tastes as exquisite as a good elk steak… except for maybe some elk burger. And, of course, deer are an abundant resource to be harvested along with herds and herds of pronghorns running along the freshly cut farmland.  If you’re looking for a surefire way to make or keep friends, sending some fresh venison jerky or a few pounds of frozen elk is a quick way to do it. Like the experience of hiking the mountains, hunting provides a level of solitude that cannot be matched or described unless you’re fortunate enough to experience it yourself.

The Triple Threat

The solitude and reflection, I think, are what make all three of these fall and winter activities as special as they are. Whether hiking, hunting, or, of course, fishing, we get to experience something in the moment that many others yearn for. Connection with the outdoors. Time away from the hustle and bustle of “real” life. The chance to think about how we fit into the bigger picture of life and the world. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll get to do all three in these next few months.
 

Sure, the weather outside is frightful at this time of the year, but that won’t stop thousands of anglers from skipping out on the shopping malls and opting to go trout fishing instead!

“The holidays are great to spend quality time outdoors with family and friends, avoid the mall shopping madness and maybe even catch a fish,” said Steve Caromile, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Inland Fish Program manager.

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The fishing wish list just grew twofold as WDFW hatchery crews have been busy leading up to Black Friday by shuttling 64,350 jumbo-sized rainbow trout, averaging 1 to 2 pounds apiece, into 25 lakes around the Puget Sound region and southwest Washington, as well as several Eastern Washington lakes and ponds.
The Black Friday program, created more than a decade ago by WDFW, came up with a creative way to stock thousands of rainbow trout for a late-season fishery in year-round lakes. The post-Thanksgiving holiday fishing option has been a hit for anglers looking to wet a line at a time when the choices are sparse.
In October, a good number of other year-round lakes around Washington were also planted with trout for anglers who want to head before Thanksgiving. You can find trout stocking information that is usually updated weekly by going to the WDFW webpage at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/stocking.

Black Friday trout plants include:

• Chelan County: Roses, 20,000
• Clark County: Battleground, 2,000; and Klineline, 2,000.
• Cowlitz County: Kress, 2,000.
• Island County: x-Cranberry, 4,000.
• King County: x-Alice, 1,000; x-Beaver, 2,500; and x-Green, 5,000.
• Klickitat County: Rowland, 2,000.
• Lewis County: Fort Borst Park Pond, 2,000; and South Lewis County Park Pond, 2,000.
• Pacific County: Cases Pond, 300.
• Pierce County: American, 2,000; and Tanwax, 1,350.
• Snohomish County: x-Ballinger, 3,000; x-Blackmans, 1,500; x-Gissburg Ponds, 1,500; x-Silver, 3,000; and x-Tye, 2,000.
• Thurston County: Black, 3,000; Long, 1,000; and Offutt, 1,000.
• Yakima County: I-82 Pond #4, 2,000.

(x-Around 50% of the planned trout stocking occurred in October in the noted lakes, and the remainder will be stocked in time for Black Friday)
There are four Eastern Washington lakes opening on Black Friday that were stocked with trout fry this past spring that should be averaging 8 to 10 inches, plus some other larger fish were stocked of late.

Eastern Washington lakes trout plants include:

• Stevens County: Hatch Lake, 15,000 fry stocked in May, and 600 trout averaging 1 pound apiece stocked in October; and Williams Lake, 12,000 fry stocked in May, and 1,500 trout averaging a quarter pound apiece stocked in mid-April.
• Adams/Lincoln County: Fourth of July Lake, 60,000 fry stocked in May, and 18,000 trout averaging a quarter pound apiece stocked in mid-April.

• Spokane County: Hog Canyon Lake, 20,000 fry stocked in May, 10,000 trout averaging a quarter pound apiece stocked in mid-April, and 1,600 trout averaging 1 pound apiece stocked in October.

   

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Before you go

When fishing for trout, don’t overthink the necessary fishing gear.
A basic trout rod and reel averages $50 to $90, and a higher-end set is about $100 to $200. The rod should be light and limber in the 6 to 7 foot range with a 4- to 10-pound line weight range. A medium-sized spinning reel with a capacity to hold more than 100 yards of 6- to 8-pound test fishing line will do the job right.

From the mainline, attach one or two number 8 or 9 egg sinkers with a rubber bumper just above a small barrel swivel. Avoid the cheap store-bought pre-tied 12-inch leaders that are way too short in length. Either tie your own leaders or spend a few extra dollars on pre-tied versions in 3- to 8-pound test that measure 18 to 30 inches long. A smaller size 12 or 14 egg hook is the best choice when using a moldable dough bait or nugget, salmon eggs, worm pieces, or maggots. For live bait such as a whole worm, nightcrawler, or marshmallow, the optimal hook size is a size 8 or 10 worm hook. If you use an artificial fly, the stick with a size #14 hook or smaller. A hook that is too big or exposed may scare away the fish, and one that is too small may result in fewer hook-ups. Lastly, make sure your hooks are sharp and sticky.

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Most anglers casting from the banks or in a boat will stick with the popular moldable dough baits, which come in a variety of colors, and some are shaped like a salmon egg, marshmallow, maggot, or worm. The old school baits include salmon eggs, worms/nightcrawlers, maggots, and marshmallows.
From a boat troll a gang-flasher with a hook tipped with a piece of worm, maggot, or salmon egg, along with a tiny piece of scented dough bait or a liquid scent. A small spoon or spinner also gets its fair share of bites.

From the shoreline, cast out a small-sized bobber with your bait sitting just below the surface in 3 to 8 feet of water. Others like to go deeper, where it hangs just a few feet off the bottom, where the larger-size carryover trout lurk. Recently planted trout tend to hang around near or just under the surface of the water at depths of 3 to 10 feet. Once the stocked trout acclimate, they’ll eventually spread out and move into deeper areas of the lake. Anglers often look for schools of trout right where the hatchery truck placed them, usually near the shore, boat ramp, or dock areas. 

Trout like to rise to the top of the water column to gobble up insects on the water’s surface. This is where artificial flies come into play, like a Woolly Bugger in black, dark green, or black-olive in a size 8 or 10 with a 5- or 6-foot leader. They can be cast from shore or trolled weightless close to the surface behind a boat or floating device.

A fishing license – https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/login – is required for anyone age 16 or older. A Discover Pass – https://wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/parking – is required to park a vehicle at many state lands, including the state park system, WDFW lands, and the Department of Natural Resources lands.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Boating Program – 
https://parks.wa.gov/find-activity/activity-search/boating – would also like to remind anglers to take a boater safety education course, if you haven’t already, to be prepared for spring and summer. In Washington, boaters who operate a vessel with a 15-horsepower engine or greater must carry a Boater Education Card to prove they passed an accredited boating safety education course.
 

Coastal razor clam enthusiasts should be able to find a treasure trove of bivalves this fall and winter.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers announced 47 days of tentative razor clam digs from Oct. 6 through Jan 6 for Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks beaches.

“This recreational razor clam season will see similar digging opportunities to the past two years, with a full digging schedule again for this fall,” said Bryce Blumenthal, a WDFW coastal shellfish biologist. “The tides this year will allow for clam gathering opportunity in the lead up to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, along with harvestable daylight digs for the late afternoons of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.”

Summer assessment surveys conducted by WDFW and tribal co-managers showed a relatively stable population of razor clams on all four beaches. Kalaloch Beach along the northern Olympic Peninsula coast won’t be open due to continuing issues with depressed populations of harvestable clams.

All beach openings are dependent on final approval of marine toxin testing, which usually occurs about a week or less prior to the start of each digging series. The Washington Department of Health requires two test samples taken seven to 10 days apart, and domoic acid levels must fall under the guideline level before a beach opens for digging.

Domoic acid, a natural toxin produced by certain types of marine algae, can be harmful or fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities.

Most successful digging occurs between one and two hours before the listed time of low tide. No digging is allowed before noon during digs when low tide occurs in the afternoon or evening.

Here are the tentative series of dates:

• Oct. 6, 7, 10, and 11 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; 

• and Oct. 8, 9, and 12 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis. 

• Oct. 22, 23, and 26 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; and 

• Oct. 20, 21, 24 and 25 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis.

• Nov. 3, 4, 7, and 8 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; 

• and Nov. 5, 6, and 9 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis. 

• Nov. 19, 20, and 23 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; and 

• Nov. 18, 21, and 22 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis.

• Dec. 3, 4, 7, and 8 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; and 

• Dec. 2, 5, and 6 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis. 

• Dec. 19, 20, and 23 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; and 

• Dec. 18, 21, and 22 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis. 

• Jan. 2, 3, and 6 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; and

• Dec. 31, and Jan. 1, 4, and 5 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis.

During the 2024-25 season, a total of 109 digging days at the four beaches were offered from Oct. 3 through May 15. During that time, 312,716 digger trips were made with a total harvest of 3,957,859 razor clams harvested. At Long Beach, 96,152 digger trips saw 1,253,207 razor clams harvested for an average of 12.7 clams per person; at Twin Harbors, it was 98,096 with 1,369,969 for 12.7; at Copalis, it was 66,628 with 804,903 for 11.9; and at Mocrocks, it was 51,840 with 629,781 for 12.0.

On all open beaches – Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks, and Copalis – the daily limit is 15 clams per person. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container, and all diggers must keep the first 15 clams they dig, regardless of size or condition.

“It's important that diggers keep the clams they dig to prevent wastage (includes discarding small clams, clams with broken shells, or reburying unwanted clams),” Blumenthal said. “It's not unusual to encounter some small clams, especially this early in the season.”

All diggers age 16 or older must have an applicable fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses can be purchased from WDFW’s licensing website and from hundreds of license vendors around the state. WDFW recommends buying your license before visiting coastal beach communities.

WDFW reminds beachgoers to avoid disturbing nesting snowy plovers – a small sand-colored shorebird – by staying out of the dunes and posted areas along the sandy beach coastline. Snowy plover nests are nearly invisible, and it is vital to give birds the space to live and thrive during the nesting period, especially along the southern end of Twin Harbors, known as Midway Beach, and north of Second Avenue in Ocean City to the north end of Copalis Beach and the north end of Long Beach. Avoid leaving leftover food or trash on the beach and picnic areas, keep pets on a leash, stay out of dunes, and avoid areas marked with posted signs.

When driving on the beach, please respect the 25-mph speed limit and enter only at designated access points. Stay on the hard-packed sand near the high tide line to avoid crushing clam beds, buried female Dungeness crab, and snowy plover nests. The 2025-26 Razor Clam Management Plan will be available soon on the WDFW’s website. WDFW welcomes public input on proposed razor clam schedules and considers this feedback when finalizing each season’s digs. Public comments may be emailed to razorclams@dfw.wa.gov. For more information, refer to the WDFW's razor clam webpage at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/razor-clams.

Look for decent October trout fishing

It’s beginning to feel a lot like autumn as temperatures drop, the sun fades away much sooner, leaves are falling, and trout have become active in many statewide lakes.

While the bulk of trout plants occurred back in spring, many of those fish are still waiting to be caught, and some have grown larger in size, plus WDFW hatcheries continue to add more fish into lakes. The seasonal lakes remain open for trout fishing through Oct. 31, while others are open for year-round.

Some fair to good seasonal westside lakes include Pine, Wilderness, Langlois, Toad, Margaret, Whatcom, Steel, Summit, Bosworth, Ki, Storm, McMurray, Sixteen, Erie, Silver (Whatcom County), and Padden.

The top lakes east of the Cascades are Jameson in Douglas; Ellen in Ferry; Starvation in Stevens; Wapato in Chelan; Pearrygin; and Conconully Lake and Reservoir in Okanogan. You can track trout plants on the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/stocking/trout-plants.

To sweeten the deal, WDFW’s Trout Derby continues to offer anglers a chance to catch a tagged fish and win a prize through Oct. 31.

The derby – which began in late-April – features more than 100 lakes planted with fish that have an orange tag attached near their dorsal fin. If you catch one, be sure to keep the tag to claim your prize. For derby details, go to https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby.

Heading into November, WDFW hatchery staff will be busy leading up to Black Friday by stocking thousands of jumbo rainbow trout, weighing up to three pounds apiece and measuring longer than 14 inches, in lakes covering an area from the Puget Sound region to southwest Washington, as well as a few eastern Washington lakes and ponds.

The Black Friday program, created more than a decade ago by WDFW, looked at ways to raise thousands of rainbow trout for a late-season fishery in select year-round lakes. This post-Thanksgiving fishery has been a hit among anglers looking for options to go fishing at a time when choices are skinny.

Before heading out the door, be sure to check for lakes that are open or closed, and regulations at https://wdfw.wa.gov/.

For many anglers, panfish are the first fish we've caught, and for good reason. Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, and other panfish are plentiful, cooperative, and can be enjoyed as a delicious meal. Yet, despite their reputation as "Beginner Fish", experienced anglers know that panfishing can be as technical and rewarding as any pursuit in freshwater fishing. With the right strategies and tactics, you can consistently put more fish in the boat or on the ice, no matter the season. 

In this article, I will break down the keys to successful panfishing, from understanding their behavior to fine-tuning your presentation. 

Know your Body of Water and Species you’re fishing. 

"Panfish" is a catch-all term for several species, most notably bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, and both black and white crappie. While they all share similarities, each has its own quirks, which can help you understand how to approach each one on the water. 

• Bluegill & Sunfish: Aggressive feeders that relate closely to weed edges and shallow flats, especially in the warm months. 

•Crappie: More structure-oriented, often suspended over deeper basins, or schooling up around brush piles. I also target large Marina docks and boats. 

•Perch: Typically roam a little more, especially in winter, but will still relate to breaks, deeper weedlines, and especially sandy muddy flats where they gorge themselves on bloodworms.

Knowing the tendencies and behaviors of your target species will help you decide where to fish and what tactics to use.

Seasonal Patterns

Understanding how panfish move through the seasons is the foundation of consistent success. 

•Spring: As water warms into the 50s, panfish start to move shallow to begin their spawn. Bluegill and Sunfish fan out nests in shallow bays, creating mine fields of circle beds, while Crappie will hold on to brush piles and structure a little longer before moving shallow. 

•Summer: After spawning, Bluegill will typically remain in the shallows around their spawning grounds, if there's good cover. While the Crappie tend to move a little deeper, and when I say deeper, I'm referring to 15'-17'.  This is prime time for early morning and late evening action near the weed edges. 

•Fall: Cooling water pushes baitfish and panfish towards deeper structure. When crappie form large schools over deep basins, fan casting and bobbers come in handy. Perch will be found chasing baitfish on steep breaks and roaming the flats.

•Winter: Panfish will typically group tightly in the winter, and you can get into large schools when found. I will target the last remaining deep weed edges for Bluegill and Pumpkinseed, and hit them on the deep, muddy flats for the hungry Perch. The most difficult, and rewarding, is fishing the suspended Crappie, finding the 2'-3' just below the ice, cruising deep basins. 

Locating Panfish 

The most successful anglers spend more time finding fish than fishing empty water. Key tools and techniques to locate panfish include:

•Electronics: Sonar or Forward-Facing Sonar can reveal schools and depth preferences in seconds. In open water, Crappie are typically suspended while the Perch and Bluegill hug cover or bottom. Electronics will show you these behaviors of these fish in real-time.

•Visual Cues: In shallow or clean water, polarized glasses can help spot so much. Beds, weed edges, stumps, brush piles, deep ledges, and fish.

•Structure: Focus on those weed edges, fallen timber, brush piles, docks, and submerged humps. 

•Mobility: Don't linger in that "Empty" water; if the fish aren't there, you have to move. Use those Electronics as you move spots, marking schools of fish or looking for that structure we've talked about. From the boat to the ice, this is what it takes to find 'em! 

Tackle and Gear Selection 

Panfish gear doesn't have to be complicated, but it should match the presentation. 

•Rods: Light or ultra-light spinning rods (5'-7' feet) offer the sensitivity to detect soft bites. For ice fishing, I like the same action in a (24"-32" Inch) rod.

•Reels: Small 100-200 series reels with a good, smooth drag and bearing system are ideal. 

•Line: I typically will run 2lb-6lb monofilament or fluorocarbon for most situations.  Braid with a flouro leader works well when fishing deeper water, like 30'-50' feet at Curlew for those Jumbo Perch.

•Hooks and Jigs: Size 8-12 hooks for bait such as worms, maggots, or mealworms. These baits are Bluegill's favorites, while Crappie will indulge under a Slip bobber. 

•Slip Bobber: A slip bobber will allow you to precisely control the depths of your bait, adjusting until you're right above the fish. Critical for suspended Crappie.  

Live, real baits work in all seasons but can make the difference for finicky fish. 

Artificial Lures & Presentations

Artificial baits often outfish live baits when fish are aggressive, or when you need to cover water quickly.  

•Small Plastics: Tube jigs, curly tails, and micro swim baits mimic small prey and can be fished fast or slow. 

•Spoons: Flashy and effective, especially for Perch and Crappie under the ice. Use subtle jigging motions to trigger bites. 

•Panfish on a Fly: Don't be timid about pulling out the Fly gear on these shallow bedding fish, or a beaded head fly under a bobber, or under the ice. Possibilities are endless!

Experiment with different sizes, profiles, and colors. Staying more in the natural hues (White, Brown, Olive) or bright colors such as (Pink, and Chartreuse) excel in catching limits. Oh, and remember... "It doesn't matter what color it is as long as it's Gold"!

Presentation Tips

The way you present your baits is often more important than what's on the hook.

•Match the Mood: Aggressive fish respond to faster retrieves or sharper jigging. Neutral or negative fish may want a slower retrieve or movement about the water column. 

•Depth Control: In suspended situations, keep your bait just above the fish, as most panfish feed upward. This is where the Electronics come into play, while you can see the fish and your bait.  

•Pause and Hold: Especially in cold water, when fish are not as active. Pausing your bait can trigger strikes from hesitant fish. Often, we ice anglers will always have a "Dead Stick" fishing not too far from us. 

Adjustments for Ice Fishing 

Winter panfishing demands extra precision and extra clothing. 

•Drill in Grids: I like to drill a grid pattern of holes over a flat or structure. Typically, I drill 15-30 holes before I start dropping lines.

•Downsize: Smaller baits and light lines are necessary. Tungsten baits are my go-to, as I can fish them fast and get down to depths quickly. Minimize the gear you bring to lighten the load in your sled you're dragging behind you. 

•Stay Mobile: Panfish roam, and staying on top of them is key to steady action. Electronics are especially valuable here, letting you watch fish react to your bait in real time.

Conservation & Ethics

While panfish are abundant, local populations can be impacted by heavy harvest, especially large breeding fish.

•Practice Selective Harvest: Keep enough for a meal, but release the larger ones when you can, to maintain healthy genetics 

•Know the Regulations: Size and bag limits vary State to State, and sometimes by body of water.

•Handle with Care: Use a wet hand when unhooking and handling fish in the cold temps. I try to minimize the time I lay a fish on the ice, as fish don’t have eyelids, so you can damage the eyes, not just the skin. Minimizing air exposure will help the survival of the fish you plan on releasing.  

One of the best things about panfishing is its accessibility.  Whether it's from the dock, boat, or ice, you can enjoy success.  It's the Gateway to introduce kids and beginners into fishing, fast action, frequent bites, and plenty of smiles. But for a handful of us seasoned anglers, panfish offers a challenge. Finding the biggest Crappie in the lake or coaxing a wary Bluegill from its bed takes skill, patience, and attention to detail. 

My final thought is this. If you approach panfishing with the same strategic mindset you would for Bass, Walleye, or Trout, you'll quickly discover that these "small fish" can be very rewarding. Whether you're filling a bucket for a fish fry or targeting Trophy Class Slabs, the combination of smart location choices, precise presentations, and seasonal awareness will keep your rod bent all year long!

And don't forget to "Reel in Those Memories"!

Squid fishing in the Puget Sound is becoming an increasingly popular resource for anglers of all ages and skill levels. Squid are a relaxing, low-pressure fishery and can be targeted successfully on nearly any budget. And you don’t even need a boat; in fact, some of the most successful squid fishermen only fish from shore. This piece will give you some understanding of where, when, and how to fish squid in the Puget Sound.

We will start with the rules and regulations for squid. You will need a shellfish license. I always recommend that everyone just get the Fish WA license, because with that, you are covered for everything, but squid can be covered simply under shellfish. The season and bag limits for squid are very simple. 

Squid is open year-round, and the bag limit is 10 pounds per person. This is a lot of squid. I rarely stay and fish out a whole limit, but I always make sure to have a scale handy to make sure I don’t overfish! The only other relevant rule is that you can fish with a maximum of 4 squid jigs on your line at a time. I typically use two. If you are within these rules, you should be all good to get out there!

Next, let’s talk about where. Squid can be found in nearly all waters of the Puget Sound, from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, all the way to Tacoma. Depending on the time of year, they will be more prevalent than others. The general rule is that squid start showing up in the Port Angeles area around September and migrate down to Tacoma through January and February. This is not a hard and fast rule, but they generally follow that pattern. 

There are people who catch squid every single day from the Les Davis pier in Tacoma. I, however, do not have that expertise. Some hot spots to check out are the Port Angeles City Pier, the Edmonds Pier, Pier 70 area in Seattle, Seacrest Marina Pier, and Les David Pier in Tacoma. There are several Facebook groups dedicated to squid fishing, and you can usually find out where the squid are from the number of success posts.

When to fish for squid is fairly widespread. There are some people that find success all year long from the same pier. But in general, squid fishing is best, and the squid themselves are largest, in the winter months. I usually start fishing for squid in about November and will fish regularly through February. Earlier in the season, I will usually fish closer to Edmonds, and then the deeper we go into winter, I will move further south and usually end my season closer to Tacoma. If I intend to fish from the pier, I will almost always fish at night. Sometimes I will arrive at 1 or 2 in the morning and fish until sunrise. If I am fishing from a boat, I will often fish in the morning or evening, but almost never at night. 

Lastly, how do we fish for squid? Squid can be caught from shore or from a boat, so we will break down how, based on this distinction. Fishing from shore is the most popular and simplest method. You will need your own bucket and a long, sensitive rod (I would say no less than 9’). 9-foot, 5-weight fly rods are growing in popularity due to their sensitivity, and you can rest your arms on the pier and not have a long butt section getting in the way of your jigging action. 

Generally, people will set up their rods with braided line about 20–30-pound test, with a corky on the mainline to act as an indicator so you can tell where your line is in relation to others. You will also want to have your squid jigs tied on with monofilament that is about 12-15-pound test. I really like to use one weighted Fisherman’s Gold squid jig in green or pink with another unweighted Fisherman’s Gold jig above that. 

The current and tide will impact whether I am going to use half, three-quarter, or one-ounce jigs. The optional part of your kit is a light. There will generally be people on the dock who have lights. If you don’t have a light, you can try to get close to them, but be respectful of their space and bring your own if you want to fish right under a light for your whole session. When you are all rigged up, you will want to cast out and let your jig sink. I usually let mine go to the bottom to start, and I will slowly work the jig back towards me and up the water column using slow jigs with pauses at the top.

To detect a strike, you can usually feel either an increase or a decrease in the weight on your line. A big hookset isn’t required, but a fast set and an increase in your retrieve are enough to keep them pinned on the jig. Strike detection will take some time. If you see someone on the dock really crushing them, be nice and try to learn what they are doing, and maybe ask some questions. My experience has been that if you treat people with respect, they will treat you with respect and usually give you some pointers on how to do better.

If you are going to fish from a boat, the kit is mostly the same, but I usually use a 9’ or 9’6” spinning rod instead of a fly rod. Because you are not limited to how far you can cast from the pier, I will typically drive around slowly and look for a haze near the bottom on my fish finder in roughly 80-120 feet of water. I will then drop my anchor and fish on top of the squid. Because it is light out, they are almost always on the bottom. I will use the same jigging technique, but in a more vertical motion.      

So, now you have the what, when, and how of catching squid in the Puget Sound. Give it a try this winter, and instead of waiting for calamari at a restaurant, you’ll be able to serve it up right in your own home.

If you ask me my favorite fishery of the year, I will always tell you that winter steelhead fishing is king! There is a romance to steelhead fishing in the winter that is unlike anything else, and I can’t get enough of it. A very close second is fishing for Coho salmon in our many rivers around the Puget Sound and along the Washington Coast.

Coho salmon begin entering our river systems in the early fall, generally from mid-late August, depending on rain. The migrations vary by river, but in some cases continue through January. The peak time to target these fish is from late September into late November. Since 2025 is a pink return year, I expect that the Coho will likely push in just a bit later to avoid the massive influx of pinks. We have over 7,000,000 pinks forecasted to return to the Puget Sound this year. You can always find both species in a system at the same time, but I don’t believe that they like to compete for water, and hence, the Coho tend to avoid the pinks as best they can. For this reason, I have found that early run Coho are often found in less common water when the pinks are in. Think center of the river in the current and on the soft edges.

The best thing about fishing for Coho is that they tend to be very predictable. You are going to find them holding up in softer water, staging for their final push to their spawning grounds. As one group moves out of a hole and upstream, another will travel up and fill in. This will continue as fresh fish enter the river system and continue to migrate upstream. For this reason, I have found that Coho are much more predictable and easier to target than species such as spring Chinook or winter Steelhead. The advantage of Coho fishing is that we often experience greater numbers of encounters, get to fight many fish, and often restock our freezers for the winter.

It is important to note that during the fall, you may find Chinook, summer Steelhead, Pinks, Coho, and even Chums in the same system. Depending on the river, you may be able to keep multiple species and, in some cases, even unmarked fish. Make sure that you read the regulations closely and comply with all rules related to gear restrictions and retention.

Coho can be finicky and may not bite at times, but by nature, they are very aggressive and territorial. It might take a bit to get one to bite, but once you do, it is usually game on for a while. The nice thing with Coho is that you can employ many techniques to target and catch them. It is fun to anchor in a slot and pull plugs. There is nothing quite like the takedown on a plug to get your heart pumping. This is a great technique for those who are looking for a relaxing day on the water. Note that fishing plugs generally means that you are fishing the traveling lanes, not the soft pockets of holding water.

Some prefer to use bait. For years, cured eggs drift-fished was the go-to technique. There are so many options today that you don’t see bait used as much. Some are even switching from bait to beads as they work very well and can be drift fished, bobber dogged, and even used under a float. Speaking of floats, fishing jigs like we do for Steelhead is another fun and proven method to target Coho in slow-moving water. Again, a jig takedown under a float makes for an epic fight.

Currently, I see more anglers targeting Coho in holding water by casting presentations at them. My favorite technique is to throw spinners, but depending on the river system, Wiggle Warts, Dick Nite’s behind an inline weight, or with a dropper, spoons, Wicked Lures, homemade hoochie spinners, and jigs all work very well. The technique that is really catching on is twitching jigs. A twitching jig is a bit heavier than a normal jig, weighing anywhere from 3/8 to 1 oz. They come in a variety of colors and are deadly for Coho. To twitch, you simply cast your jig towards your target and let it sink towards the bottom. Twitch up on the rod from about 30 degrees to 75 degrees and reel ¼ to 1 turn as you drop the rod tip. The speed of your retrieve will dictate your depth in the water column. Note that twitching will work in water as shallow as 2 feet and is deadly effective in deep pools. The takedown when twitching is unmistakable and often very violent. The only drawback to twitching is that it does tend to tire you out, so plan to mix it up throughout the day.

For newbies, I highly recommend that you book with a guide for your first few trips. Learn the tricks from them on where to find fish and which technique to use to target them based on the water you are fishing. Try the river systems in the North Sound, such as the Snohomish, Skagit, or Nooksack systems. Try the SW Washington rivers, such as the Cowlitz or Lewis. Target the rivers feeding into Grays Harbor and the Chehalis system. Some of the largest Coho can be found in this region. For a real adventure, try the rivers on the coast from the Humptulips all the way up to the Quileute system near Forks. I know that the lower Quinault can be a ton of fun when fished with a tribal guide.

I have always said that the fishing in an odd year for pinks is a great way to get the kids interested, since they will catch a lot of fish. Coho are not much different in that they tend to be plentiful and are often not hard to catch. The advantage of catching coho is that they make great table fare once they enter the river. Some might even say that they taste better after they have been in fresh water for a bit.

Give it a try and get out this year! Learn a new river system. Try a “new to you” technique. Most of all, have fun!

What Anglers Can Expect While Fishing Washington's Saltwater Frontier 

It was mid-June, and we rolled into Neah Bay just before evening. Our scenery was fishing boats packed into the marina and the heavy smell of fireworks, as the local kids ran the waterfront. Surrounded by lush rainforest and steep cliffs, the village sat within the Makah Reservation and served as a hub for recreational and tribal fishing. June marks the start of the busiest season here. As waters warm and baitfish like sand lance, herring, and anchovies flood the area, predators follow in force. From the protected inshore waters of the Strait to the jagged pinnacles and kelp beds offshore of Cape Flattery, anglers have options for nearly every style of saltwater fishing imaginable. So we got some sleep, cause early the next morning we had a meeting at the dock with Captain Fred Walker of SeaWalker Charters. 

Waking up early to the smells and sounds of the harbor is something I love. Walking down to the boat, seeing all the hustle and bustle so early, watching everyone load gear, and exchanging stories will get you excited for the day. Finding the "SeaWalker" boat was easy, and the captain and deckhand were eager and ready to go. Our captain for the day was Captain Fred Walker, and he had one of the cleanest and most organized boats and operations, which immediately put us at ease, knowing we were in good hands. Not to mention he's been fishing these waters for over 30 years. The top-notch Kingfisher boat was loaded with the highest quality of gear. From the Tanacom electric reels to the Custom Prolite Rods, we had everything from mooching, trolling, and bottom fishing covered. And he and his deckhand, Max, take safety very seriously, and the success comes with it. 

●Lingcod And Rockfish 

As we motored out, we were anywhere from 50-60 miles from shore and had everything prepared for the long day. Neah Bay is legendary for bottomfish, and June is prime time. Lingcod are aggressive and plentiful, often lurking around rocky reefs, underwater pinnacles, and kelp edges. These toothy predators just hammer the jigs, or whatever offerings you're presenting, with equal enthusiasm. It's not unusual for anglers to catch their 2 keeper-sized lings in a day, along with a chance at a true trophy over 30lbs. Rockfish, both black and yelloweye, fill out the action, providing near consistent bites for those dropping smaller spoons and jigs into the schools, making them furious while filling limits quickly. With daily limits generous compared to other parts, anglers can usually count on a cooler of rockfish to complement those lingcods. 

●Halibut 

By June, Washington's Halibut season is still underway, though regulations shift year to year. When opened, halibut is a major draw. Neah Bay is one of the few places in the state where anglers can run relatively short distances offshore to productive halibut grounds. Places like Swiftsure Bank and areas West of Tatoosh Island hold halibut ranging from 20lbs "chickens" to "barn door" halibut topping 100+ pounds. Fishing for halibut here is not only an exercise for the body, but an exercise in patience and persistence. Heavy lead and big baits waiting for the unmistakable thump of a halibut inhaling your offering. The payoff, however, is unmatched table fair and a true trophy to catch. Couldn't be more thankful for Captain Fred having them Tanacom 750 reels on board to winch up these flatfish from the depths of 380ft-500ft.

●Salmon 

June is often the month when salmon begin filtering into the region. Chinook (Kings) are the headliners, while the main summer salmon season in Neah Bay typically kicks off later in July.  Early arrivals show up in June, especially along kelp lines and nearshore structure, where we seemed to find ours. These early-season Kings are strong, chrome bright, and are prized by many anglers. Mooching can be a very exciting way to fish; having the knuckle-busting action can be just part of the fun. Coho may also be appearing offshore, although they are usually more prevalent in July and August. For those lucky enough to hook up in June, Coho provide acrobatic fights, and a taste you'll return for. 

(Also, don't forget the opportunity for Albacore Tuna in late June, depending on water temps)

●Tactics And Techniques 

•Bottomfish: Most anglers target lingcod and rockfish by jigging heavy spoons or jigs tipped with bait or soft plastics near rocky structure. Larger, similar profiles work very well for lingcod. GPS and electronics definitely help you stay directly on productive reefs and rocky structures. 

•Halibut: Halibut set-ups typically consist of a stout rod, like the Prolites we used specifically for the bottom fishing. Heavy-duty reel, like a Tanacom, is ideal for the depths, matched with a quality braided line. Often drifting over humps and flats, bouncing pipe jigs and larger offerings, tipped with herring, squid, scents, drawing in fish at depths of 200-500 feet.  

•Salmon: When targeting salmon, trolling is the go-to method. Downriggers with flashers and hoochies, spoons, or herring rigs dominate the setup. Inshore, mooching with different offerings can be deadly, particularly when schools of bait are thick near kelp lines. Definitely a "Knuckle Busting" Mooching reel can be so fun, and very sporty at times. 

●Conditions And Weather 

June weather at Neah Bay can be notoriously unpredictable. Anglers should expect anything from flat calm seas to fog, rain, and possible stiff winds. Mornings are often the calmest,  as wind typically builds in the afternoon.  Having the flexibility to fish on shorter notice, when the forecast cooperates, can make or break a trip. Fog can be a factor; the Strait and nearshore waters can sock in with heavy fog, making it invaluable for navigating, even with GPS and radar. Always plan for safety, as the Pacific can turn hostile quickly. Being on a guide’s boat, such as the SeaWalker, and knowing it was equipped with the best crew and safety gear, makes the trip so much more enjoyable.  

●Regulations And Access 

Neah Bay is subject to both Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) regulations and tribal considerations. Seasons for halibut and salmon can change annually,  even for bottomfish. So anglers must review the most current rules and regulations before making the trip. Size limits, bag limits, and barbless hook requirements are strictly enforced. Access also requires awareness, as you are on a reservation. As a visitor,  always respect the policies and rules of the tribe. And while launching and returning to the Big Salmon marina, there is a cleaning station to clean your catch daily. Or pay a couple bucks to have a couple locals do it for you. 

Fishing Neah Bay in June is an adventure into one of the richest marine environments on the West Coast. With stunning scenery from the rugged cliffs of Cape Flattery, the westernmost point in the contiguous United States, to the pristine beaches and rainforest nearby. Wildlife is abundant, and so many bald eagles share the water with anglers. 

The community itself is small and welcoming, with local lodging, camping, and the Makah Cultural and Research Center offers a window into the rich history of the Makah people and the many years of fishing. It's a place where the Pacific reveals both its bounty and its raw power. A destination where every trip feels like an expedition, and every fish tells a story. For those who are looking to make the trek, expect long days on the water, a cooler of catches, and the memories you reeled in at Washington's Saltwater Frontier. 

●Tips For Success 

1. Book lodging early; June is popular, and options are limited 

2. Hire a charter for your first trip. Water can be intimidating, and a good captain like Fred Walker with SeaWalker Charters would be my choice.

3. Pack for all weather. Layered clothing, rain gear, deck boots, waterproof bag or backpack.  

4. Stay Flexible - weather and seas dictate much of the fishing.  Having a couple of backup days built into the trip always helps. 

5. Pack snacks, drinks, meds, and motion sickness medication.  Not all charters cover a lunch, but most will have water on board.  

6. Know the rules and regulations, as they can change yearly, and enforcement can be strict 

7. Have fun, and respect the boat and the operation going on around you.

8. And most of all, "Reel In The Memories"!