A major Chehalis basin tributary, the Satsop River offers strong fall salmon and winter steelhead fishing with far fewer crowds than its better-known neighbors. Its East and West Forks wind through Olympic Peninsula timber country, and because the river is free-flowing and rain-fed, levels rise and fall quickly. It’s about 2 to 2.5 hours from …
Chum Salmon
Guide to Wynoochee River fishing
Flowing about 60 miles from the Olympic Mountains to the Chehalis River near Montesano, the Wynoochee is a clear, cold, dam-regulated river that often stays fishable after storms blow out its neighbors. It’s roughly 2 to 2.5 hours from Seattle and pairs easily with the Satsop or Chehalis on the same trip. Seattle Fishing Company’s …
Complete Guide to fishing the Skykomish River
Fast, boulder-filled and full of classic runs, the Skykomish River forms near Index and flows about 29 miles past Gold Bar and Sultan before joining the Snoqualmie near Monroe. Just 45 minutes to an hour from Seattle, the “Sky” is one of the region’s most famous steelhead rivers, with Highway 2 providing easy access. Seattle …
Fishing on the Nooksack River
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. …
Fishing on the Snohomish River
Formed where the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers meet near Monroe, the Snohomish River flows northwest to Possession Sound at Everett and ranks among the most accessible salmon fisheries in the Puget Sound region. It’s only 35 to 45 minutes from Seattle, and its wide, tidal lower river draws everyone from bank anglers to guided jet …
Guide to fishing on the Skagit River
As the largest river flowing into Puget Sound, the Skagit stretches about 150 miles from British Columbia through the North Cascades to Skagit Bay near Mount Vernon. The lower river is only an hour north of Seattle, and the wild upper valley near Concrete, Rockport and Marblemount is just a bit farther via the North …
Our complete guide to fishing the Humptulips River
Flowing out of the Olympic National Forest into the north side of Grays Harbor, the Humptulips River is often called the heart of the Washington coast’s fall salmon fishery. It’s about 2.5 to 3 hours from Seattle, and it pairs well with other nearby central coast rivers for a multi-river trip. Seattle Fishing Company’s guide …
Our guide to fishing the Chehalis River
As the largest river system on the Washington Coast, the Chehalis flows more than 125 miles from the Willapa Hills to Grays Harbor at Aberdeen, fed by productive tributaries like the Wynoochee, Satsop and Skookumchuck. The upper river is just 1.5 to 2 hours from Seattle, making it one of the easiest big rivers to …
Guide to fishing on the Puyallup River
Born on the glaciers of Mount Rainier, the Puyallup River runs about 45 miles to Tacoma’s Commencement Bay and ranks among the most accessible salmon rivers near Seattle. The lower river is just 35 to 40 minutes away, making it an easy after-work option. Because it’s glacier-fed, though, it can turn high and milky quickly, …
Guide to fishing on the Green River
Flowing roughly 65 miles out of the Cascade foothills before becoming the Duwamish, the Green River is one of the most convenient salmon and steelhead fisheries near Seattle. The lower river around Auburn and Kent is about a half-hour drive from the city, while the dramatic upper gorge near Enumclaw and Black Diamond is about …
Beginner’s Guide to Tying a Simple Marabou Salmon Twitching Jig
Twitching jigs for salmon was once unheard of, now it has become one of the most mainstream techniques on the rivers of the Pacific Northwest. If you have tried this technique and want to give tying your own jigs a shot, this post is for you. While most of the guys that tie their own …
Beginner’s Guide to Tying a Simple Marabou Salmon Twitching JigRead More
Chum Salmon – Underdog of the River
Chum Salmon are an abundant salmon species in their northern range, and are a valuable commercial catch in marine areas. As they migrate back to their natal spawning rivers, they tend to concentrate in the tidal areas and lower in the river systems and offer anglers a chance to get in some great fishing. They …
Quick Guide to Rigging and Wrapping Kwikfish and Maglip Plugs
Salmon anglers on rivers large and small love fishing with plugs! I use the back trolling and anchor fishing plug techniques out of my drift boat all season long. My personal favorites are the Luhr Jensen Kwikfish and Yakima Baits Maglip plugs. Although fishing with plugs can be fairly straightforward, I have a few key …
Quick Guide to Rigging and Wrapping Kwikfish and Maglip PlugsRead More
5 Proven Methods for Chum Salmon Fishing in Rivers
I’ve spent plenty of days on the river chasing Chum Salmon, and the purpose of this post is to share the best techniques on how to catch them. Chum are abundant on many rivers in Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. These fish gain plenty of spawning aggression as soon as they enter the river, …
Chico Creek and Gorst Creek Bank Fishing Closure
WDFW has decided to close bank fishing options in the Chico Creek and Gorst Creek tideland areas as of October 30, 2020 until further notice. This impacts a popular bank fishing area for Chum Salmon fishing on the Kitsap Peninsula. Date: October 30, 2020 Purpose: The purpose of this rule is to close salmon fishing …
Puget Sound’s Beaches – Salmon Fishing from Shore
When I stand on the shores of Puget Sound, I feel like a lucky man to live in a place so filled with natural beauty and great fishing. Salmon flood into Puget Sound throughout our summer months. Before I bought my boat, I spent many a day shorebound. Casting towards that dream of landing a …
Possession Bar Salmon Fishing
Possession Bar Salmon Fishing near Whidbey Island, Washington Possession Bar is one of the most storied salmon fishing areas in all of Puget Sound. In essence, this massive shelf is an underwater extension of Whidbey Island. The tides push heavy against it, as it is located where Admiralty Inlet, Possession Sound and Central Puget Sound …
My All Time Favorite Chum Salmon Lures for River Fishing
One of my favorite things to do in the fall is to fish for Chum Salmon on the rivers near my home. These brutish salmon have the aggression and strength to make a day of fishing both easy and exciting. I don’t consider them great table fare, but there is nothing wrong with a day …
My All Time Favorite Chum Salmon Lures for River FishingRead More
Humptulips River Salmon Fishing Primer
The Humptulips River is one of Western Washington’s most popular fall salmon rivers, and for good reason. Even before the first fall rains cause salmon to flood upstream in the rising coastal rivers, Chinook (King), Coho (Silver) and Chum (Dog) salmon begin to stage in the tidewater stretch near the mouth of the Humptulips River. …
Snohomish River Salmon Fishing
Snohomish River Offers Great Salmon Fishing! Just beyond the rolling suburban hills of Seattle lies the Snohomish River, which hosts some of the best salmon fishing anywhere in Washington State. Snohomish River salmon fishing is a passtime that anyone in the Everett and Seattle areas to get into fishing in their backyard. The Snohomish River …
