Northwest Fishing Reports

I love saltwater fishing for Pinks!
From a boat at Whidbey, Cattle Point, Eagle, Lime Kiln, Humpy Hollow & Shipwreck & Possession, etc......lots of fun.
I fish Snohomish, Skagit, Fraser, Harrison, etc. rivers, too.
I notice that I catch almost 4 times as many fish in the rivers, during their peak times, versus the peak times for saltwater pink fisheries.
In the lower Skagit the fish were just as strong as saltwater, arguably. Upstream a long ways, uh, not so much.

25 pinks for our boat/day is about our maximum hooked in the saltwater over the many years. But 80 to 100/boat/day is common when the conditions are right in the rivers during the peak of the pink run. The fish are more concentrated in rivers, and with a fast boat we cruise around until we find the massive rising schools. Rivers can be more hit and miss, however (if water clarity is real real low.) But if it's too windy, the open saltwater can spell "death".

Do you guys find that to be true as well, or not?

true

Sure, IMO one of the key words there is "concentrated".

Take 100 goldfish, a butterfly net and 5 minutes. How many would you be able to net if they were in a full sized swimming pool compared to the same number/time in a bathtub.

Very well stated. I enjoy both methods of fishing. I consider rivers to be much more sport, and saltwater to offer the best quality for the table.

Gringo Pescador wrote:Sure, IMO one of the key words there is "concentrated".

Take 100 goldfish, a butterfly net and 5 minutes. How many would you be able to net if they were in a full sized swimming pool compared to the same number/time in a bathtub.

So true.
BTW, 10 minutes ago I just coincidentally was watching the Snohomish River pink salmon video done in 2011....by YOU! (3/8 oz. jig you tied + "50/50" Dick Nite.) Small world.

The "50/50" Dick Nite appeared to be white and orange, is that what you mean by "50/50"? I was thinking of the silver/brass as "50/50", but I don't know. Your thoughts, we fish it in a couple of days?

Mike Carey wrote:Very well stated. I enjoy both methods of fishing. I consider rivers to be much more sport, and saltwater to offer the best quality for the table.

Well said. We did have super fresh pink in the Skagit in August about 1 mile up from the salt water, though, but sometimes the pinks are so gnarly that if I tried to feed one to my dog he'd probably just look up at me and say "seriously, dude?"

Hey, wait a sec, you also look reeeel familiar to me.....wait, you were in that video TOO....am I going crazy (hehe.) Actually, your written advice of "go light" at the end of that video I just put in my Snohomish fishing notes. How light do you mean, 6 pound, 8 pound?

I find that pinks in the saltwater are a "10". But when I want to turn it up to "11", I hit the rivers. Sometimes ya just gotta turn it up to "11".

bigfishguy wrote:I find that pinks in the saltwater are a "10". But when I want to turn it up to "11", I hit the rivers. Sometimes ya just gotta turn it up to "11".

Ha Ha Ha

Go light would be 8 pound leaders to the thin blade spoons (BTW, I had great success with .67 Danielson brand generics)

Kinda scratchy out in the salt today. Monday in the fog and Wednesday last week, my fishing buddy and I went 4 by 4, 4 Silvers and 4 Pinks and done by 9:00. Fished by myself today in MA 9. Dropped the gear at 7 and picked it up at 2:15. Fished the Wreck in close and way out, Browns Bay and almost to Edmonds. Two Pinks and one Silver. Slowed down a lot. Fishchecker said the average was only 1 1/2 per boat. I didn't see many nets. Need it to rain again, get some fresh runs. The Pinks may be about done but the Silvers are just starting, I hope!

Salt pinks are much better for eating, but much less fun pulling in a fish with a big dodger on a downrigger rod. Considering that our goal for a full boat is to break 100, which we've been doing more often than not, I'll take the river, I don't need fish to eat~! We've busted 10 lbs a couple of times already, looking for the next humpzilla! And those coho are coming, we pulled another one out of the Sky today.

bigfishguy wrote:

Gringo Pescador wrote:Sure, IMO one of the key words there is "concentrated".

Take 100 goldfish, a butterfly net and 5 minutes. How many would you be able to net if they were in a full sized swimming pool compared to the same number/time in a bathtub.

So true.
BTW, 10 minutes ago I just coincidentally was watching the Snohomish River pink salmon video done in 2011....by YOU! (3/8 oz. jig you tied + "50/50" Dick Nite.) Small world.

The "50/50" Dick Nite appeared to be white and orange, is that what you mean by "50/50"? I was thinking of the silver/brass as "50/50", but I don't know. Your thoughts, we fish it in a couple of days?

Glad you enjoyed the video, that was a fun day on the water. The jigs I tend to use in the rivers are 1/4 oz and the 3/8 oz for the salt. I use 10# green braid tied right to the jig.

50/50 are the 1/2 nickle 1/2 brass and I fish em with 10-12# mainline to a swivel and 8# floro leader (about 5 feet) to the Dick Nite. At the swivel I tie a weight (usually 3/8 to 1/2 oz) on a dropper line (just leader line) about 12-16" long. Cast it out and reel it in r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w. Some don't use the dropper and just go lighter on their weight but I like to know that my spoon is just above the bottom. Do what works for you.

Gringo Pescador wrote:

bigfishguy wrote:

Gringo Pescador wrote:Sure, IMO one of the key words there is "concentrated".

Take 100 goldfish, a butterfly net and 5 minutes. How many would you be able to net if they were in a full sized swimming pool compared to the same number/time in a bathtub.

So true.
BTW, 10 minutes ago I just coincidentally was watching the Snohomish River pink salmon video done in 2011....by YOU! (3/8 oz. jig you tied + "50/50" Dick Nite.) Small world.

The "50/50" Dick Nite appeared to be white and orange, is that what you mean by "50/50"? I was thinking of the silver/brass as "50/50", but I don't know. Your thoughts, we fish it in a couple of days?

Glad you enjoyed the video, that was a fun day on the water. The jigs I tend to use in the rivers are 1/4 oz and the 3/8 oz for the salt. I use 10# green braid tied right to the jig.

50/50 are the 1/2 nickle 1/2 brass and I fish em with 10-12# mainline to a swivel and 8# floro leader (about 5 feet) to the Dick Nite. At the swivel I tie a weight (usually 3/8 to 1/2 oz) on a dropper line (just leader line) about 12-16" long. Cast it out and reel it in r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w. Some don't use the dropper and just go lighter on their weight but I like to know that my spoon is just above the bottom. Do what works for you.

Heading out soon, so I really appreciate the advice!

Your advice is EXACTLY in line with what other top rods have said, so I'm pretty sure it's spot on. Great info on this web site.