Fed by glaciers on Mount Baker, the Nooksack River flows through Whatcom County to Bellingham Bay and ranks among the North Sound’s most productive salmon and steelhead rivers. Its North, Middle and South forks join near Deming, each with its own character, and the whole system is only about 1.5 to 2 hours from Seattle.
Seattle Fishing Company’s guide explains that fall is the main event. Salmon seasons usually open around September 1, with coho and Chinook showing first near Ferndale before moving up toward Deming, and pinks arriving in odd years. The river’s excellent chum run builds from mid-October into December, and winter steelhead fish well from December through March. Spring has recently been closed for conservation.
Top access includes the North Fork along Mount Baker Highway, the Saxon Road area on the South Fork for fall coho, and the lower river near Ferndale. The guide recommends Dick Nite spoons and twitching jigs for coho and pinks, bobbers with roe for Chinook, and purple or cerise jigs for chum. With plenty of private land along the banks and frequently changing rules, stick to public access and check regulations before every trip.
Read the full post here: Fishing the Nooksack River
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