Tides

[BothellBikeGuy]

I tried the advice received from Robbo on Saturday AM show and launched my kayak at Mukilteo this AM. What a great way to start out the New Year! I loved fishing jigs in the Kayak - it was a no muss method and much easier than trying to troll. The hardest part was staying over the fish. I only managed a few bites in the few hrs I had but had a great time.

Now if I only understood how to fish the tides:) Can someone lay out the basics?

Thanks!

[Robbo]

Glad you were able to get out BBG As far as the tides go treat the Puget Sound like it's a huge river. When the tide comes in the current heads south and when it goes out the current heads back north again. Most of the time bait will stack up on the backside of points that jut out into the sound and the fish won't be too far behind. Underwater bumps and shoals do the same thing...you just can't see it on the surface. The next time you're out watch for the rips on the down current side of a point....think river and fish that don't want to fight the current. Pick up John Martinis's book that has all the charts in it, research which tide certain areas fish best, and you're in bidness. Put the pieces of the puzzle together and you'll start schwacking some feesh man

[Smalma]

BBG -
Is see that you may be from the Bothell area. Another location you might consider for kayak fishing that I did not hear mentioned on Saturday's show is Shilshoe in Seattle. See guys fishing from kayaks ther pretty regualrly. A little more protected from south winds. Try in the area of the green can off Meadow point. That can is just outside of a shallow area. If you fish from just east of the can to maybe 150 yards to the west you will be in the prime depths (80 to 150 feet). Depending on the current wind you can pretty easily fish for a 1/4 or so either direction (I prefer the north side).

The nice thing about fishing nrear a bouy is that you have a visaul reference as to your location and if you get bit is pretty straight forward to get back on top of that spot. Look to fish the tide changes; for starters might consider the last of incoming tide. While at times the fish may be suspend I would pound the bottom pretty hard with them. Believe that area is open through the end of January (check your regs). With resident coho in July, kings in late July and Auagust, ocean coho in late August and September, pinks on odd years in August and "blackmouth" from mid October thur January yuo have a chance to find a little more consistent fishing. In the summer you will have lots of company.

As always watch the weather and times -be safe and tightl ines
Curt

[Nelly]

As always Smalma, you're right on the money!
We didn't mention Shilshole Bay/Meadow Pt. And we certainly should of.
It's way closer than Mukilteo for our friend BBG and I really like the buoy as a visual reference idea.
In addition, the huge anchor chains host something of a miniature ecosystem!
You never know what they will attract!

[Smalma]

BBG -
Another fishery that is even closer to your home that seems to tailor made for a kayak is the Lake Washington and its cutthroat.

A number of launches as well as shoreline parks (for example Mathews beach) where you can launch your kayak. I would think a light outfit with 10# main line a 2 ounce cresent sinker, 6 foot leader of 8# and a small cut plug fished behind the kayak should be dynamite. Vary yoiur troll a bit by pausing and allowing the cut plug to spin down a ways and then start your troll again. The shorter leader will help in landing the fish. Another trolling appoach would be a leaded line with 30 feet of 10# mono. At the end of the mona attach a 4 inch dodger followed by a wedding ring spinner and a piece of night crawler on 30 inch leader, Retie your spinner on 10# with double# 4 hooks. You can replace the dodger/spinner combo with a thin blade spoon such as a needle fish. (something in the 1.5 ro 2 inch range). Those cutthroat feed a lot on smelt, sticklebacks, and young perch so you want a spoon that suggests the colors of that forage - a frog pattern is not a bad place to start.

Just another example of the huge variety of fishing opportunities in this state.

Tigth lines
Curt

[BothellBikeGuy]

Thanks a bunch guys! I never thought I could get stressed out by too many fishing opportunites & not enough time:) My next opportunity to fish won't come till the end of the month:(

Robbo, the river analogy helps big time - I'm pretty sure I've been fighting the current everytime I go out.

[BothellBikeGuy]

What do you all know about Richmond beach? Dougs boats mentioned there and I just looked at the map & its a straght line west from Bothell - might be my new home waters:)