Hi all, I am coming into my second year in the state in a couple months and have decided my one goal for 2025 is to learn to fish salmon. All the reading I have done has told me that pinks are going to be running this coming season, which boosts the chances at first catches.

I am not someone who has done fishing on oceans or rivers before, and haven't fished in general for probably 15 years. I have only done bobber and worm fishing back in East Texas for catfish, bass (small and large mouth), crappy, and perch.

I have done a lot of video watching, reading, window shopping rod and reels, thinking about what methods I would prefer to try first, so on and so forth. But, I really need a hands on experience to really "get" it, I think. I keep hearing from my washington native friends, folks in youtube videos, etc that they don't really fish the same as cats and bass feel wise on the rod. Though at this point I couldn't tell you how any other fish feels either, haha.

Long story short: Is there any good place to hound a willing angler or two, or maybe a guide that might be helpful just to teach a returning angler? I plan to sniff around Everett, possibly Edmonds for good public shore spots so I figure there might be a better than good chance someone might be willing to teach a newbie to salmon fishing the hands on bits. If nothing else I can look for guides/teachers yall recommend.

Thanks in advance and here's to a good upcoming season as this year's runs come to a close!

So a few weeks ago we bought a sled, and were itching to get it out and at least get familiarized with with it.

We were going for Alder Lake today. The TPU website says the boat launch is open, but the water looked awfully shallow. It was past the end of the ramp and even going out a ways looked too shallow to launch.

We were considering Riffe, but that’s also seeming like it might be the same story and it’s quite a bit further drive for us.

I’m less looking for fishing spots and more looking for a place to motor around and see how this thing handles. I’d like to wet a line and feel a wiggle, but at this point that part would be a bonus.

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions? The closer to Olympia/Tacoma the better.

Thank you.

any decent spots around kitsap/mason county? just getting back into fishing and a bit lost. if not, what fish should i be looking for? fresh or salt. thanks!

Haven’t been out in awhile and itching to get the boat out just in area 10. I can obviously see what’s open right now on the app but what’s actually worth going for? Black Cod (Sablefish) is my favorite fish we have and I catch them accidentally sometimes while going for salmon, any tips on targeting them?

Is it possible to actually catch a sturgeon out here somewhere?

Not looking to necessarily keep anything just want to get out there.

And no flounder.

I posted on this sub a few weeks ago looking for tips and advice on planning a fishing trip while we visited the Seattle area.

We found a fishing guide and set up the trip for last Sunday, a day after we flew into Seattle. Unfortunately, the night before our trip, the guide had to cancel because his entire household came down with a bad stomach bug. Undeterred, we rescheduled for Thursday and hoped for good conditions.

Unfortunately, we got the exact opposite of that as a bomb cyclone hit the area a few days later. Truth be told, the area we stayed in outside of Seattle never got anything worse than a couple of strong gusts of wind and some rain but by the time Thursday came around, the Satsop was what I learned is called “blown out” and conditions were going to be terrible for fishing - our guide even offered to refund our deposit the night before if we wanted to cancel.

Despite some bad luck on the trip, which included driving 2 and a half hours so my wife could see snow, winding up on a forest development road thanks to Waze where we got stuck and almost slid off a ravine that dropped about 200 feet off the mountain, we decided to keep our trip booked and headed out the next morning.

Our guide was absolutely amazing and knocked it out of the park. With the rough conditions, we opted to troll the river as he thought that would be our best bet. Within 30 minutes of being out there, we hooked on to this monster and I got to help my 5 year old reel him in. It was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget and hopefully he won’t either.

We wound up catching 1 more Coho and a few chum but even if we hadn’t of caught anything else, this one made the entire trip worth it. I’m definitely hooked after this trip and we can’t wait to come back again, hopefully to some better weather conditions.

Thanks again to anyone who offered recommendations and best of luck out there.

Hello everyone
Never fished in seattle before, what species can i encounter during late December?

Hey yall,

I'm new to fishing and was wondering if I could eat anything from Lake Cassidy. I've tried to find information online but I can't. If it's a bad idea are there any nearby lakes that are safe to catch and eat?

Has anyone ever trolled for steelhead in puget sound or in hood canal? I see on the wdfw app it’s open for steelhead year round in all the marine areas around me and am wondering if there’s any boat tactics I could use to catch them not in rivers and still in the salt. Thanks.

Hey, I have fished for salmon but looking to fish the rivers for steelhead in the spring and summer when the salmon runs are low. Anyone know any specific rivers? I have looked and only saw the Columbia river and I live in the King county (Seattle Area).

Pulled out with my pole cab anytime tell me what kind it is?? Or what’s price or not?

Pardon my ignorance on the topic: I’m a full-time mom to a kid who is into fishing. He watches YouTube tutorials, picks books in the library, talks about it a lot- and I have never held a fishing rod in my life so I’m completely helpless. Is there a school for that? Some fishing coach? How does this work

I live in greater seattle and want suggestions on where i should go should go salmon fishing with a group of friends (8 people including me). (Requirements, camping, river, within 2 hours 30 minutes).

Any suggestions on what rigs to use based on the locations would be nice.

We will be going in the summer, and somewhere picturesque is preferable.

Thanks :)

Bit of an unusual ask, I started fishing a few months ago as my pup is in his senior years and we can no longer hike far. I thought fishing would give us both the time to spend outdoors, and have something to do while he sniffs and chills about with the benefit of course of a potential meal. He does still want to be out and involved but his arthritis is severely limiting his range. I've ordered a stroller / crate for him that he can retreat to when he's tired.

Would love if folks are willing to share dog-friendly, shore spots that might be relatively easy to get to within 90 minutes of Seattle? Hoping to give him the same outdoor enrichments he used to have with his better days.

EDIT: To anyone reading the exchange below, kindly consider that I'm grieving my dog's imminent passing. The person below used this opportunity to talk about themselves and their rambunctious (and poorly trained) dogs while pretending to be 'helpful' - they were not.

Kind, helpful responses are appreciated.

Hey guys, I'm going out for the first time today in search of Salmon on the green. I am having some doubts about my 6'6 quantum qx 24 babaitcaster being able to handle it alright.

Here's its specs: Retrieve Right Length 6'6 Power Medium Gear Ratio 6.1:1 Line Capacity 14/120 Ball Bearings 2+1 Max Drag 15 lbs. Recovery 23" Per Turn Action Fast Braid Capacity 30/170 Line Weight 6-12 lbs. Lure Weight 1/4 - 5/8 oz.

Is that good for catching a salmon? I really appreciate, have a great day

Hey all. I am newish to Washington and wanting to give ice fishing a try this winter. I was wondering if anybody new lakes that I could go to during the winter in whatcom or skagit county. Also what time of year the ice would be at its thickest. Thanks for the help.

As the title states, where can I go trout fishing now near Spokane. Did alot of planted trout in the "winter" down in Southern Commiefornia and want to give it a try up here now. Shore fishing primarily, maybe a float tube were allowed. Also, what is the go-tos up here? powerbait, lures, minijigs?

Hey all, just got my license to fish with appropriate shellfish addition. Live in Steilacoom and have seen people dig at Sunnyside Beach in previous months (with great success), and I’m wondering what is the legal season to dig clams so I can get on it and start harvesting?

Anyone been out to the Edmonds pier for squid recently? I know Seattle is good and and I've heard Tacoma is good as well.

Hey all, I'd love to try out netty fishing and don't know if there is one near by. Does anyone know a good jetty to fish around Everett-Marysville ish area?

I just moved to the Bothel area and wanted to know if there was any decent spots to fish near by? I am only experienced with fishing small stock trout and bass. So I am excited for this new experience! Any input would be appreciated!

Hello all. I have added a page to my website that documents the status of rivers in Washington that I have been visiting recently. I thought this could be something that is useful to our community, without hotspotting. Take a look if you like:
https://brightwaterfishing.com/reports

Thank you to this subreddit for all the advice and to the two nice fellows there that gave me really helpful tips as I fought it. It was an awesome experience, and the fight had my arms crazy tired. The past three months of getting skunked now feel well worth it!

Looking for fishing guide recommendations and price points for steelhead February 2025. I’d like to book a day out for two anywhere between the Cowlitz and Tacoma. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Hey guys,

I’ll try not to make this a novel. Since 2012 I’ve been pretty much predominantly fly fishing for trout in rivers save for some high lake trips where I used gear. It’s not that salmon didn’t interest me, it’s the combat fishing that kept me from being really interested.

Well, we just put a deposit down on a sled.

I have exactly zero gear for this endeavor. Luckily I’ve got some time to buy what I need.

I would love to hear some suggestions on rods to start out with. I have ~15 fly rods, so I know that I’ll eventually end up buying more when I get some experience under my belt and figure out what I like and don’t like.

I’m less concerned with make, and more on length/ /weight/action. Not that I’m not interested in some good “bang for your buck” brands….

If you wouldn’t mind throwing me 2-4 suggestions to get started with, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

How far up the river along highway 2 would people consider too far to catch salmon that will still taste decent. Went out to the Skymomish today and Chum were along the bank finishing thier life cycle so that seemed to far?