SFR Leweston/ Clarkston Seems nice

Sorta fishing-related
I am so grateful for the input here folks. I have never even seen a steelhead. Catching one is not a high priority for me, but I would like to see one. Small stream fishing and the Smallmouth fishery is more my speed.
Rattlesnakes,.... I have had many close calls with them in the Southwest. A coiled up rattler can sketch me out for days. Best thing about Anacortes ..no venomous snakes!
Lewiston is an easy drive to visit my family near Spokane (a huge plus), seems to have somewhat "milder" weather, affordable housing,, and a ton of fishing and rockhounding opportunities. Again I thank everyone for their input. Any additional input, as always, is much appreciated.
 
You're spot on with smallmouth fishing. Use the retention ponds along the snake, they're full of smallies ready to be targeted on the fly. There are snakes in the rip rap that border them.
As for the smell, do some prevailing wind research and don't live downwind and close to the mill. Literally everything people are saying about the mill is true of Tacoma, Vancouver, bellingham (formerly) and frankly any major dairy town is a hell of a lot worse. I got the choice of of eau de manure pond at home or heaters run by the steam of an evaporated milk plant at school.

People still trip over themselves to move to Lynden, and I promise the smell was worse circa 97.
 
You can drive to CRAB couple hours. Couple arrrs. Where the biggest browns float down the stream after a port a potty tipped over
 
Thanks Pink Nighty. You tube videos and AI research are helpful, but "local knowledge" is always pure gold. This thread is choke full of "leads" for me to further research. "Use the retention ponds along the snake" is one such example... I plan on doing as much "research" into this area as possible before actually checking into my hotel room. Thanks again
 
I wouldn't make any future decisions based on Steelhead. I'm still in but no way I'd recommend getting into the game now. It's a dying sport. The CW is a very tough river to start on as well.

There is some great trout fishing "near" there. It can take some serious time to get to some places fairly "close" to Lewiston.

Just go and check it out.
 
For decades I have been told of the Steelhead. All of it discouraging. Long ago, I knew the locals of the Nojo River in Ca. They would use the eggs from the previous years catch. They would watch the water color and they would rarely catch one. A city slicker like me had no chance.
I moved close to the Skagit River 9 years ago with a notion of maybe catching a Steelhead. I was educated to the extent (discouraged to the extent) that I felt it was not worth the effort..not impossible...just not worth the effort.
For me it seems better left for the pros.... 50 years ago I would have jumped in with two feet.
That being said, it appears that trout fishing and Smallmouth fishing in streams within a one or two hour drive from Lewiston would be heaven on Earth. Obviously I have a lot to learn about being an outdoorsman in Lewiston...Any input is much appreciated.
 
Hey Jim, a longtime visitor to Lewiston here. Breakfasts head to Hazels in Clarkston. Tacos Cece is legit good, we also used to gather at El Sombrero (family owned Mexican joint with good drinks). Lewiston also used to have a good BBQ joint we used to frequent but I forget the name. Smallmouth fishing is great on the Snake and Grande Ronde in the summer. The smell depends on activity at the mill and the wind direction. As others have commented, lots of towns have the same issue. Any major medical issues, you'll be heading to Spokane. It is HOT in the summer, but at least it's a dry hot. People are generally friendly. Steelhead (the reason I've been going over there since 1990) are far less and the people chasing them far more than when I started going over. At one point I planned to relocate there when I retired. Feel free to PM if you have any specific questions.
 
In looking, always, for new dirt to buy and places to move/escape to i have come to realize there is no perfect place. My wife and I have set 5 basic criteria when looking (the list does shift sometimes moving a criteria up from the 6-10 category).

What we have found is there is no prefect place, so it is more does the new place meet 3-4 out of 5, and what is your motivating really for moving. Improvement/Escape, Family/Fun, Future/Fortune. We have also accepted that we will have at least 1 to 2 more moves in our lives, ultimately into a senior home Good willing.

I am currently watching a house/ peppery that meets 4 out of 5... 1) Water front, 2) Smaller Acreage 3) Big Shop/Garage 4) Root Cellar 5) Outside of Washington... we just don't want to have to move in a couple years because of more taxes (not political, there is just a threshold)

Good luck with you decision
 
Dang. I sure appreciate the input. Taco Ce Ce..oh hell yeah! I truly have liked living in Anacortes for the last ten years, but honestly, I have become bored with this town.
Lewiston seems to offer so many new experiences. Taco shops, burger joints, fishing holes, camping spots, interesting rock hounding opportunities etc.. I can always crank up the air conditioner and watch TV when it is hot. And I like the milder winters and (especially) the less wind found at places further north. Thanks again for any input, Jim
 
I have some family (and some property) in Sprague. I always liked that town. The lake fishing is truly amazing in that area.. But when I started to research the "Banana Belt" in Lewiston, I was instantly intrigued. The wind in Sprague is brutal. A simple picnic at the lake can become an exhausting challenge.
In just a few months I will immerse myself in whatever the Lewiston area has to offer...I can't wait.
 
To simulate being in Lewiston and to see if being there for an extended period will be tolerable, shove a cat turd up each nostril and leave them in place for the same amount of time that you will be spending in and around Lewiston. It’s the only way to be sure.
 
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