The first place I ever used a downrigger was here in Possession Sound. Having grown up in this area, I've spent more than my fair share of time fishing these waters. Although portions of 8-2 are open during the summer, most notably the Tulalip "bubble" fishery outside of Tulalip Bay, the longest opportunity we have […]
Throughout all this talk of budget cuts, ocean survival and La Nina the fact remains that the hatchery steelhead are on their way! Here's why I'm looking at this year's hatchery runs more positively that the last couple years: This fall there were less coho salmon "in front" of the returning hatchery steelies leaving the possibility […]
Fishing buddy Steve Maris and I hit the Olympic Peninsula bright and squirrely on Tuesday morning in search of an elk. We drove for three hours in the dark, launched the driftboat on river "X" at sunup in a what-the-hell-are-we-doing-here rain storm and then floated downstream, poking our way into alder bottoms and potential elk […]
The calendar still says "2010" but the 2011 Northwest Salmon Derby Series is now officially underway! The Bayside Marine Salmon Derby served as the lid lifter for the 2011 edition of the 16-stop Derby Series. A event-record 276 anglers came out, answered the challenge and responded by taking the largest chinook in the 19-year history of […]
John Whitlatch from Reel Adventures put Ray into this Methow steelhead BY RAY GOMBISKI. Exactly one year ago I was invited on a centerpin trip with John Whitlatch of Reel Adventures. John is a premier guide on the Kenai River in Alaska and for years has touted the centerpins effectiveness for steelhead. One trip was […]
Way back when I was a young fisherman, the waters of Puget Sound to the east of Whidbey Island were referred to by my saltwater mentors as the “inside”. Once one ventured to the west of the largest island in the continental United States you were said to be “outside”. These days in my way […]
The following satellite photograph could have been utilized by Sebastian Junger in his best seller "The Perfect Storm" What looks like a swift boot to the balls of the Pacific Northwest is the very strong rotation of a dandy low pressure system that is pretty well organized and poised to do a dump run on our rivers. […]
Most of the gasoline blends you'll find nowadays contain an additive called E10 (Ethanol) that only has as shelf life about 45 to 60 days. If your boat is operated thru the winter months and you're keeping fresh fuel in it constantly the E10 shouldn't cause too many problems. If steps aren't taken to properly […]
Finally…someone that speaks my language! Check out the hilarious video below from Beattie Productions produced for the Drake Flyfishing Magazine Video Awards. I just couldn't leave this one alone…perfecto!
Guide Bill Meyer with a dime brite silver salmon caught on a twitched jig. Twitching marabou, zonker strip, and hoochie-skirted jigs for fall coho has proven to be a deadly technique on the rivers of Western Washington for fickle, lock-jawed silvers. 1/8 to as large as 1/2 ounce jigs in sizes 1/0 and 2/0 are […]
