Kokanee Fishing - Lake Stevens

Though overall, the kokanee fishery at Lake Stevens has slowed for the vast majority of anglers fishing this popular lake there still are some really nice catches being landed. With the warming water and the increase in water skiers and PFC use the successful fishermen have been finding better results by fishing deeper. Some of the more productive anglers have been pushing the 50 foot zone. As far as the tackle goes it has been much the same as it was earlier.

We have been seeing good kokanee catches coming out of a number of other local waters most notably Lake Cavanaugh and Lake Samish.

If you have a spare morning on this holiday weekend you just might want to go chase a few kokanee for something to do.

Skykomish Chinook Fishery Closed As Of July 6th

The Chinook fishery on the Skykomish will be closed as of July 6th as the collection of brood stock at the Wallace hatchery facility is below their goal of 3,200 fish. At present they have 547! The fishery may reopen if they are able to fulfill the brood stock requirements.

New Tomic Plug Colors - Pilchard / Sardine Series

Tomic Plugs from Gold River B.C. Canada has come out with a series of Tomic plugs and spoons to imitate the Pilchards (Pacific Sardines) that have become so prevalent in the offshore fisheries off the west coast of Vancouver Island and the Washington and Oregon coast. These finishes came out late last year and immediately became a mainstay item for many of Vancouver Islands salmon guides fishing the west coast. So if you are planing a trip to the island for salmon this summer you just might want to stop by and pick up a couple to have in your tackle box.

Grimes Lake - Lahonton Cutthroat

Jeff Witkowski from Big Dog Fishing Guide Service e mailed me today to give me a report from Grimes Lake and the Lahonton cutthroat fishery. He mentioned that the fishery was considerably slower this year as far as numbers went but the average sized fish is considerably larger, which for a lot of us is a plus. He mentioned that black chironimids and bead-head pheasant tail nymphs were the ticket to success. Included is a nice photo that Jeff sent along with a respective cutthroat.

Don't forget that on Thursday July 1st the upper section of the Columbia opens for salmon fishing and with a 3 fish limit on the kings and an additional 3 fish limit on sockeye should lend for some fairly hefty bag limits. (If you have been watching the dam counts recently you would know that there is great potential for some outstanding fishing.)

Jeff is quite knowledgeable on this upper Columbia fishery and produces well, If you would like to book a trip with Jeff you can contact him below.

Jeff Witkowski
PO Box 1904
Chelan, WA 98816
(509) 860-7345
jeffwitkowski@yahoo.com

We will be looking forward to seeing some pictures from Jeff in the near future from this outstanding fishery.

King Salmon - Marine Area 7 - San Juans

This Thursday, July 1st, marks the opener of salmon season in the San Juans for the summer season. This is a date that every salmon fisherman that fishes the islands looks forward to, as this is king salmon time! From the opener until the end of September every angler will be searching out those mature Chinook that are making their way to their natal streams. With kings making their way to the Frazer, Skagit, Samish, Nooksack as well as fish that are making their way to Puget Sound streams there will be many opportunities to intercept Chinook on their way home.

Where would I be for the opener? For me, the west side of San Juan Island is where I would be for the first few days. The reports out of Victoria and Sooke have not been to bad for anglers targeting fish headed for the Frazer. With a good flood tide first thing in the morning these fish will will be riding the tide and hit the west side of San Juan Island and spots like Eagle Point, Pile Point and Lime Kiln are all prime points to focus your attention.

As these fish are migrants, I would start out fishing the 30 - 50 foot depth zone whether you are motor mooching or downrigger fishing. I would be fishing a green or blue sized herring either plug cut or whole and focusing my presentation on areas where you have some tidal conflicts (rips) where bait fish will be compacted into relatively tight areas. As the day goes on and the light intensity increases I would drop down into the water column are fish a tad bit deeper. Watch that sounder and fish the bottom depths of your bait schools. These are migrant fish and are not always hugging the bottom!

Tides are great for the opener with good early morning flood tides and good late incoming tides (that is if you can stay out that late).

Don't forget that this area is open for a single Chinook limit, hatchery fish only with a 22" minimum size limit. Make sure to read your WDFW pamphlet for the regulations for area 7 before heading out.

Wish you luck over this holiday weekend!

Green Sized Herring - Puget Sound Vacum Packed

We received our first shipment of this season's Puget Sounds Bait Company green sized Vacum Packed herring. This is a very good starved out bait. We received just a few cases at the present time. We will have another batch coming in a few more weeks.

If you are wanting some good bait for the upcoming San Juan (Marine Area 7), Sekiu and Pillar Point (Marine Area 6) and Marine Area 5 ( East Juan De Fuca Strait) which will open up on July 1st , make sure to drop by and get you supply before we run out. Please make sure to read your regulations before venturing out as they are very complex!

Sol Duc - Sockeye - Steelhead - Kings

Kim and Dale spent this past weekend on the Sol Duc fishing and managed to conect to a wide diversity of Northwest Salmonids. They managed to conect to sockeye, summer steelhead and a nice spring Chinnok. Though the sockeye are small they were dime bright, fought well and made for some excellent table fare.

Port Alberni - Sockeye Salmon

Talked with one of the Canadian customers this afternoon from Port Alberni and he mentions that the sockeye fishing was very good at the present time. He was out this AM and landed seven in just an hour and a half. The fish are a little on the small side, weighing just 4-5 pounds on average. What they lack in size they do make up for on the table.

Trolling shallow (15 - 20 feet) and slow with a 224 UV mini hoochie behind a red Hot Spot on a short 18 - 20 inch leader was the secret to success.

The China Creek area of Port Alberni Inlet is a good place to focus a start.

Limit is still set at just two a day per person at the present time.

Father's Day - Sunday

Don't forget about Dad this Sunday! Make sure to stop by and say Hi! Better yet, if you are able to get him out fishing do such!

Anyway, for all of you out there, "Have a good Father's Day!"

Reiter Ponds - Skykomish River - Snohomish River

Though the Reiter Ponds section of the river has slowed considerably since last Saturday's opener there are still fish being caught. We have been hearing of perhaps 6 to 10 a day being landed in the hatchery section of the river on a daily basis the past few days. Not a ball of fire but at least good enough fishing to make it worthwhile spending a few hours pitching your favorite offering.

We have also been getting good reports out of the middle and lower sections of the river with a good mix of steelhead and Chinook. Most of the guys fishing this section of the river have been boaters.

In the Snohomish we have also been hearing of some good summer run catches from the plunkers fishing the bar areas, such as Crab or Douglas Bars.