Ideas for an August trip

My significant other is heading out of town and it leaves me with the opportunity for an extended fishing trip August 20 - 23rd.

I'm pondering my options and wanted to check to see if folks here had any good ideas!

Obviously by then we may be surrounded by wildfires with rivers reduced to a trickle but I'll be positive that won't be the case.

I'm based in Federal Way and I'm a trout guy primarily, but I've been chasing Steelhead the past couple of years.

From what I can tell Steelhead at that time of year would be a trip to either the Clearwater or Deschutes. It's early season so is it really worth it? Guess they could be mixed with some trout fishing too?

Other options that'd be appealing to me would be picking an area in the state to do some blue line/general river fishing for trout (caveats above obviously apply).
I've fished the Forks area for steelhead so possibly revisiting this time of year would be kinda fun.
Possibly the North Cascades or Southern WA as other options.

I haven't really looked at the river systems in WA in any detail yet and thought I'd check here to see if anyone had any "you must do this" or "please avoid at all costs" advice.

Thanks in advance!

 

[DimeBrite]

Yakima River or central Cascades high lakes.

 

[Brian in OR.]

Should be some steel in the lower Deschutes.....

 

[Merle]

If it were me, I would try to get a campsite at at one of the "Fort" state parks and target Admiralty Inlet migratory coho from the various beaches.

 

[stillreleasing]

I would keep my options open until a week or two out and then drive to the waters which are fishing the best.

 

[srickaby99]

If it were me, I would try to get a campsite at at one of the "Fort" state parks and target Admiralty Inlet migratory coho from the various beaches.

Thanks for sharing, that's a cool option esp. if the rivers are all reduced to a trickle. Can also hit up some SRC action too!

 

[Burt Dagger]

Thanks for sharing, that's a cool option esp. if the rivers are all reduced to a trickle. Can also hit up some SRC action too!

It’s a good time. Roll out of the tent and fish the daybreak hours, take a nap, do some low-prospect afternoon wet wading and casting, go get some coffee then hit it hard again until sunset. Depending on the State Park, you might have to suffer through hours of “the sound of freedom” overhead every day, though.

 

[chrome/22]

I've been in your boots. Gave up on the late summer freshwater trickles and went offshore for salmon. Lapush usually, but have done a few charters out of Neah. Even rented a boat out of Sekio once during a pink year

That or fish the tide changes on the lower Quilliute you can use the Dicky river boat launch for egress / ingress if you have a little boat like a water master or personal watercraft you can fish the tides. Just have sea lions & seals for competition

 

[troutpocket]

Depending on your willingness to drive, the high lakes in BC, OR, ID, and the Rockies offer good fishing and nice scenery that time of year. Lakes above 5000’ should be good in late August.

 

[Wadin' Boot]

That or fish the tide changes on the lower Quilliute you can use the Dicky river boat launch for egress / ingress if you have a little boat like a water master or personal watercraft you can fish the tides. Just have sea lions & seals for competition

Chrome as i was looking at the regs for Quillayute for july (not August) it has this:

July 16-July 31

Bait or lure must be suspended below a float.

Does that mean if you're fly fishing you have to use a bobber/indicator?

 

[Coach Potter]

I know of a guy who touched a steelhead on the Clearwater opener this year…August is early but…

 

[Hoofer]

I think it’s a pink year up on the northern Vancouver Island beaches, which is a nice trip through some great country.

 

[DryFly82]

If you don’t mind packing in a float tube/waders or a raft the high lakes are a great option. Late summer can be a great time because the mosquitos are done for the year and the berries will be everywhere.

 

[skyriver]

Another vote for lower Deschutes steel

 

[Yard Sale]

The Deschutes is already hitting high 60s at Moody and it hasn't even been that hot yet. In another month that will be in the 70s. If you do go there please bring a thermometer and don't expect to fish after noon.

 

[DerekWhipple]

Even though it started open this year, we still have to hit numbers on the Deschutes to have a season. If we don't hit the July numbers, it's closed until the end of August and then you need enough July+August numbers to have a season in the fall.

 

[Yard Sale]

Even though it started open this year, we still have to hit numbers on the Deschutes to have a season. If we don't hit the July numbers, it's closed until the end of August and then you need enough July+August numbers to have a season in the fall.

Good point. Its early but the counts aren't good so far.....

 

[DerekWhipple]

Wild fish numbers really need to start skyrocketing for August to be open.

 

[Dave Boyle]

I think it’s a pink year up on the northern Vancouver Island beaches, which is a nice trip through some great country.

I was up in Canada on a trip in June and all the folks I met were just wonderful given the political daftness. I had to find a place with phone reception and so parked off a boneyard. This tough looking dude appeared, big hair and beard and all camoed up and I expected a ‘roasting’ for being on his yard. Turns out he thought I was lost re USA plates and he’s came to help. I said “naw, it’s my birthday and chatting with the missus…” he said “sorry, came to help as I thought you were another lost American re your plates and wanted to help, and btw happy birthday dude” just quite simply wonderful.

Not sure that would happen in lots of places re outsiders.

Dave

 

[RCF]

Canadiens are great people all around. Have never had any issues with them, nor them with me, in multiple visits in last 10 years.