Pink Salmon Trip Date

[SouthernTransplant]

My dad wants to come up from the south and experience the pink Salmon run. I've been tasked with doing some research on the dates and fishing methods. I confess to being a bass fisherman and a recent transplant to the Northwest of I know little.

What would be the best dates for him to come for say a 2 week trip? I have heard the last two weeks of August and I've also been told the first two weeks of Sept. Which is it or is another time better?

Also, what is better? River fishing or ocean fishing for pinks?

He would like to eat some but will be mostly sport fishing-catch and release. Any help would be appreciated but the dates to purchase tickets come first in our priority as the time is approaching quickly.

[Larry3215]

Many of the rivers are now closed to fishing because of the drought. More may close as the summer goes on, so I would not plan on river fishing.

Here is a map that is updated weekly by the WDFW on where Pink fishing is best. They also give some basic gear tips and suggestions for boat and bank fishing.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/salmon/pink//mapping.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can also check out Tom Nelsons Salmon University for more tips.

http://salmonuniversity.com/archives/818" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good luck!

[Mike Carey]

Or, review the reports here.

OK, for saltwater the best couple weeks, IMO, would be mid to late August for Area 9 and 8.2, which are prime staging areas prior to pinks running up the Snohomish river system.

Here's the BEST way to get all the information you need on saltwater fishing from this site for pinks:

1) Go to the top black menu tab. Select Reports, then "Saltwater Reports". Now go to the Index below and select Reports Area 8.2 (do the same following steps for Area 9 as they are both heavily fished saltwater locations).
2) this is the KEY for using this site to the fullest. Above the Area 8.2 (or 9) reports is a box section that has various filters. Select the dates to 8/1/13 to 8/30/13. Pinks run in odd years so this will give you prime saltwater reports from 2 years ago, the last run. For Species select "Pink salmon"
3) Click Search. You will now see results for that two week period. Do the same for Area 9.
*All those reports will be rated 1 to 5 stars. Look for trends. Read the reports to get some ideas on where and what guys used. You'll see the ratings improving as you get to the middle/end of the month for the saltwater.

OK, now for rivers. Use the same method as above.

1)Black menu bar, then Reports, then "River Reports". Select "Snohomish River" (2nd on the list)
2) Set the date from 8/21/13 to 9/30/13. Set species to Pink Salmon. Click "Search"
You're going to see a LOT more river reports than saltwater reports because more guys have access to the river.
*The Snohomish system is NOT one of the closed systems. The Skykomish (flows into the Snohomish) is.

A little research will give you a wealth of information, way more than generic sites. You'll be able to read actual fishing reports from members of this site, including hotspot locations. Feel free to check in with more questions and good luck on a great two weeks of fishing!

[spoonman]

For table fare, they are much better tasting when caught out in the salt.

[Diverdoyle]

it would help us to know what body of water are you going to focus on . upper puget sound south sound middle .. fresh or salt . area willing to travel to all these options now a days ... but to narrow it down you have faster access to fish closer you are to the straight cause that where they come in to salt is always better then river on any salmon / steel . i would advise to try an focus on a strong silver return river rather then pinks. We all know the pinks will be in ever where but raise your chances at catching something that has more fight and better table fare but if the bite is off you always have pinks to catch

[countryboy87]

Ill be fishing the skagit exclusively and would be more than willing to have you both tag along.. skagit is best fishing 3rd week of August on .But you can catch them starting August 1st.. Plus always the chance of a late king or even a sturgeon..