Early March destinations?

[WestSeattleBrett]

Longtime lurker, first time poster.

My wife and kid are going away for a long weekend in early March. I'm staring at 4 days of fishing, which is an embarrassment of riches as a father with a young kid.

Where would you go? Typically, this time of year I may hit the South Sound for some cutties and steamer clams. But now the world is my oyster!

I was just gifted Hobie Passport 12. Would you take it out on Westside lakes and calm Sound days to tune it in? Or would you hit some eastside lakes and maybe go after some stocker triploids while cold weather camping? Maybe you'd go on the hunt for springers down south with some gear?

If you had your druthers, what would you do?

Thanks in advance, all. I come here daily when bored at work and dreaming of tight lines.

 

[mcswny]

Longtime lurker, first time poster.

My wife and kid are going away for a long weekend in early March. I'm staring at 4 days of fishing, which is an embarrassment of riches as a father with a young kid.

Where would you go? Typically, this time of year I may hit the South Sound for some cutties and steamer clams. But now the world is my oyster!

I was just gifted Hobie Passport 12. Would you take it out on Westside lakes and calm Sound days to tune it in? Or would you hit some eastside lakes and maybe go after some stocker triploids while cold weather camping? Maybe you'd go on the hunt for springers down south with some gear?

If you had your druthers, what would you do?

Thanks in advance, all. I come here daily when bored at work and dreaming of tight lines.

A bit of a drive, but Central Oregon can be pretty amazing in March. Or could be awful. Or it could be both. Or it could be both at the same time.

Regardless, I'll be fishing Central Oregon in early march

 

[Islander]

Welcome, when I lived in Washington a “classic” opener was to hit Lenice in eastern Washington. Sometimes it was amazing and sometimes so so, but always a fun time. It can be cold though, so watch the forecast if you go.
@Scott Salzer are you going this year?

 

[Coach Potter]

Early March could have some big bugs popping on moving water...skwala's

 

[WestSeattleBrett]

Thanks everyone! I hadn't even given much thought to moving water, because I thought it's a tad early. Now I have even more to think about!

 

[Divad]

I’d check the east side, as Coach Porter said Skwala’s might be about and at least some other bugs. Yak, Naches (if open) etc.

Deception Pass area would be fun too, could do a lot of beach fishing and some good lakes.

 

[Coach Potter]

I remember when my kids were little and my wife would take them somewhere for a few days...It's like you won the lottery.

If I had 4 days to fish and I lived where you live I would roll out at 3:00 am and be in ID by 8:30 am and fishing by 9:00 am. At dark (don't waste fishing time driving in the light) I would drive another hour and a half and be in St. Regis, MT. I'd fish the Regis or Clark fork for a day. If it's good fish it another day. If it sucks drive back to ID (you get an hour back with the time change) and fish that water again for the next day and a half.

I would do that tomorrow if I could!

 

[Coach Potter]

Thanks everyone! I hadn't even given much thought to moving water, because I thought it's a tad early. Now I have even more to think about!

It's never too early to catch fish on a river. Unless it's frozen you can always catch fish...been catching them all winter.

 

[mcswny]

I remember when my kids were little and my wife would take them somewhere for a few days...It's like you won the lottery.

When this happens i get "this is a perfect opportunity for you to re finish the hardwood floors"

 

[Coach Potter]

When this happens i get "this is a perfect opportunity for you to re finish the hardwood floors"

That made me laugh when I read it...out loud

 

[Scott Salzer]

I be going east this year. Not sure where yet. Yes it can be cold. I do know that there is one lake that you can't launch when it is 17 degrees..... Well, I could have launched over the ice but doubt I could get back up on the ice to get back in.

 

[iveofione]

I be going east this year. Not sure where yet. Yes it can be cold. I do know that there is one lake that you can't launch when it is 17 degrees..... Well, I could have launched over the ice but doubt I could get back up on the ice to get back in.

I can tell that episode still stings!

 

[dep]

plenty of eastside lake options and cheap hotels.
the kayak would work great - just don't go too fast.

 

[Matt Paluch]

We have lots of water here in Grant County that either opens March 1 or is year-round. Growing up, I would always head over to Lenice or Nunnally for my first early spring trip. Lenore can be good - it's been hit or miss over the past 10 years, but you have a chance at really big fish and cutthroat are really cooperative. Rocky Ford is available if the lakes aren't doing so well for you, too. Even though I live here, I'd still choose to fish here over just about anywhere else in the country in early spring.

 

[wetline dave]

There are a lot of year around lakes on the west side that could be explored and the chance of a nice holdover is decent. I have caught some really nice fish in March on the west side.

The Yak can turn out some nice fish though often it is a nymphing game and Pat's rubber legs are not a bad option. Tan and partridge or light olive and partridge wet flies are good too as are size 16 and 18 Adams fished wet and swung. A size 8 or 10 elk hair cadis will work for skwalas.

Dave