WA state tour fishing intel

T

Teves7

Freshly Spawned
Distinguished anglers,

I am going to be in WA for 10 days starting on 10/3. Base locations will be:

Packwood
Bellingham
Port angeles
Moclips

I have found it relatively difficult to ascertain much fishing intel, and what I have heard has not been super encouraging for these areas. If anyone could give me any reassurance or direction for finding some trout or other salmonids in those areas, I’d be extremely grateful. I’d expect the blue lining to be pretty good, and I’ve heard that much, but is catching 4-10” trout all I have to look forward to this time of year?

Tight lines, and thanks in advance!!
 
He hit me up elsewhere and I gave him the jaded ex-Washingtonian laundry list reasons he won't catch fish. Hopefully the lot of you will be more helpful :D
 
There are lots of 4-10” small stream trout in the mountains around Packwood. They start to sorta shut down in October in the high country, but as long as flows don’t spike, you should be able to catch some out of the little blue lines. You could also look to the streams on the other side of White Pass. The dry side can be a bit more productive.
Check seasons and fish the salt for salmon around Bellingham and PA. Visit the fly shops in those towns before you go out for flies and guidance. They are both very good—Waters West and The Confluence.
 
Matt B said:
There are lots of 4-10” small stream trout in the mountains around Packwood. They start to sorta shut down in October in the high country, but as long as flows don’t spike, you should be able to catch some out of the little blue lines. You could also look to the streams on the other side of White Pass. The dry side can be a bit more productive.
Check seasons and fish the salt for salmon around Bellingham and PA. Visit the fly shops in those towns before you go out for flies and guidance. They are both very good—Waters West and The Confluence.
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Thanks! I was looking today at some larger tribs to the cowlitz, and thinking those would be pretty good. Coal creek, cispus, johnson creek, willame, butler. There’s gotta be fish, and probably some good ones, in there, no?
 
Teves7 said:
Thanks! I was looking today at some larger tribs to the cowlitz, and thinking those would be pretty good. Coal creek, cispus, johnson creek, willame, butler. There’s gotta be fish, and probably some good ones, in there, no?
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I’ve only ever fished a fork of one of those that you named, but I think you are right. That’s the joy of blue lining—exploring and learning and discovering.

There are some glacial silty streams up that way so just something to be aware of.
 
If you're into salmon fishing, Bellingham in october could be worse. Skagit and nooksack, all the normal salmon stuff, plus the humpzzz
 
Teves7 said:
What do you think i should bring gear wise? 8 wt w sink tip, euro rod, and 9’5 wt?
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Leave the euro and 5wt, bring the 8 wt float and tip, I actually prefer a floater because a couple feet down is plenty and I want a jiggy action. A 1" fly with tinsel for a tail, cactus chenille body, pink bead is my go to for frog water, 1/16oz marabou jig in faster, deeper water. Whatever colors look offensive.
 
Teves7 said:
What do you think i should bring gear wise? 8 wt w sink tip, euro rod, and 9’5 wt?
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^I agree with that 8 weight re. the salmon. But for trout fishing the blue lines of the Cascades, a 9' 5 weight will work just fine, but something like a 7' to 8'6" 3 weight or 4 weight might be even more fun. IDK jack about euro rods.
 
Matt B said:
^I agree with that 8 weight re. the salmon. But for trout fishing the blue lines of the Cascades, a 9' 5 weight will work just fine, but something like a 7' to 8'6" 3 weight or 4 weight might be even more fun. IDK jack about euro rods.
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I have not had it and wished I did enough times now to just always have the euro rod, even if I don’t end up using it. Sometimes it seems like it’s the only way to catch fish on new water for me.
 
You could always run down to Blue Creek. The searun CT should be there. There is also the creek that goes through Morton (cant remember name) that has good fishing once you get a little out of town.
 
Phil Fravel said:
You could always run down to Blue Creek. The searun CT should be there. There is also the creek that goes through Morton (cant remember name) that has good fishing once you get a little out of town.
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Not a bad idea. For someone who may not know: "Blue Creek" is the hatchery on the Cowlitz. You fish the Cowlitz proper there at the public access area. Not exactly a serene nature experience, but there should be quite a few willing sea run cutthroat piling in.
 
Teves7 said:
Distinguished anglers,

I am going to be in WA for 10 days starting on 10/3. Base locations will be:

Packwood
Bellingham
Port angeles
Moclips

I have found it relatively difficult to ascertain much fishing intel, and what I have heard has not been super encouraging for these areas. If anyone could give me any reassurance or direction for finding some trout or other salmonids in those areas, I’d be extremely grateful. I’d expect the blue lining to be pretty good, and I’ve heard that much, but is catching 4-10” trout all I have to look forward to this time of year?

Tight lines, and thanks in advance!!
Click to expand...
Where are you coming from?
 
Moclips is a bit of a drive from most of the fishing on the coast, but there are definitely opportunities for salmon within 30-45 minutes.

Something nearby you COULD do is to find a Quinault guide who does fly fishing on the Lower Quinault River. (Taholah, the main tribal village, is right up the road from Moclips.) It's on the reservation, so you need a tribal guide to fish the Lower. I've never witnessed it myself, but I've heard it can be very productive, and October is about as good as your timing could get for that.

To the South are the Copalis and Humptulips rivers. Copalis is strictly a shore fishery, limited to small areas in the town of Copalis Crossing and the estuary (which can be accessed on foot throught the nearby state park). It's a neat place to spend a few hours, but the walk to the mouth is pretty long, and the fishing is very tide-dependent and difficult to time. Nice place to get away from crowds and enjoy a lot of solitude on the beach. You could also try for surf perch from the beach in Moclips with your 8-wt.

The Humptulips is generally crowded, and I don't recommend it for fly fishing, but it's got salmon.
 
If you travel down the Pacific coast from Port Angeles to Moclips, there will be a few coho in the lower end of the big rivers and lots of beautiful scenery.
 
Any advice on targeting bull trout? I have materials to tie big white flashy articulated streamers, but maybe they’re just gorging themselves on eggs?
 
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