Northwest Fishing Reports

Has or does anyone fish this secion of the river?

SAMMAMISH RIVER (Slough) (King Co.) from 68th Ave. NE Bridge to Lake Sammamish.

I know its selective gear and no internal combustion motors.

Where is the best place to access the river for some bank fishing?

I used to live on the slough in Kenmore back in the 70's. Since its really a dredged ditch your options are limited. The outside edges of of the bends, around the old pilings, and where creeks dump in are the best places. Access is really easy now with the paved trail along the sloughs length.

There are a few areas that offer some access to the slough. The 85th street bridge in Redmond has good access, no wading required, and there are a few spots inside Marymoore park that are good as well. The major deterrent along the majority of the slough is the steep bank. If you are really bent on fishing it, bring some waders, rope and a good ground anchor to help you access the water safely. As wolverine mentioned, the river offers little holding water and overhead cover, you'll want to try any bridges and bends you can find. As a bonus you get to keep any pikeminnows and suckers you catch, they make good crab/crayfish bait.

I'll probably be looking at the area from 124th up to 405. LOCAL was the idea. I could go drop a line and be back home within 5-10 minutes when done.

Kinda hoping there will be some cleared areas along that strech where one can stand. From what Ive seen so far, this section does not get the pressure that most other rivers in the area does and looks a bit rugged along the bank. (No blue tarp shelters)

My wife and I are thinking about a lil bike trip up the trail to scope things out.

I used to fish the Sammamish river many years ago. I dont know how much of it is open if any for game fish.I used to collect a s... load of Crawdads from there. I used crawdad tails for steelheading and ate the rest..Check to see if its open for gamefish.

Last time I fished the slough was about 25 years ago. Back when you could keep fish. I caught a 28 pound and a 25 pound king. That was the best day of fishing I think I have every had. I landed more than 20 fish. Caught kings, silvers and a couple of sockeye. Counn't believe how good the fishing was. I lost one king that was huge. I figue it was well over 30#.
There used to be a good hole up river of the bridge entrance to Marymoor park. Right at the bend. It was about 10 to 12 feet deep, every where else is only about 2 feet. That is the hole I caught all those fish that day. With all the changes in the river in front of Marymoor I don't know if the hole is still there. But if it is I would try that spot.
Oh and it is open for selective gear C&R.

SAMMAMISH RIVER (Slough) (King Co.) from 68th Ave. NE Bridge to Lake Sammamish
All species - selective gear rules. Internal combustion motors prohibited.
TROUT Jan. 1-Aug. 31 Catch-and-release.
Other Game Fish Jan. 1-Aug. 31 Statewide min. size/daily limit.

Saw a few bass in there one day while riding down from Redmond to where it dumps into Lake Washington. At one time it might have been full of trout and dollies. Maybe after the big dredging that was destroyed. At that time it was a free flowing stream, they needed to dredge it to move lumber and contain flooding.:rambo:

racfish wrote:I used to fish the Sammamish river many years ago. I dont know how much of it is open if any for game fish.I used to collect a s... load of Crawdads from there. I used crawdad tails for steelheading and ate the rest..Check to see if its open for gamefish.

Thats a bonus. Love them little critters. :chef:

What runs come up the river? Anything expected this season?

Remember, there is a state wide season on crayfish and right now it is closed. Should be back open May 2nd.

Arent crayfish Dormant right now anyways? I think they have a Hibernation season. I very seldom if any ever caught in the winter.I usually start June for setting a pot. I think they like water to be around 54 degrees. I wouldnt swear on any of that. We'd set pots near the RR tressle with a can of catfood then go drink a couple and come back to very full pots. Now this was a good 20 years ago.The Samamish gets everything probably except steelhead. Those the state give the Sea-Lions.

racfish wrote:Arent crayfish Dormant right now anyways? I think they have a Hibernation season. I very seldom if any ever caught in the winter.I usually start June for setting a pot. I think they like water to be around 54 degrees. I wouldnt swear on any of that. We'd set pots near the RR tressle with a can of catfood then go drink a couple and come back to very full pots. Now this was a good 20 years ago.The Samamish gets everything probably except steelhead. Those the state give the Sea-Lions.

I'm sure they are still a little active in the winter. The last smallie that I caught had a few hardshell crayfish for lunch prior to attacking my lure. I believe that the season is closed, late fall through early spring, to allow time for mating and spawning to take place without harvest pressure.

If you are going to set crayfish pots in the slough and plan on going elsewhere while they soak make sure that you sink them completely out of sight. Pots have a habit of growing legs and walking away and used elsewhere with someone elses name on it.

Yea, I'll be waiting till the season opens...


Not sure on the plan of attack just yet. Set the pots up stream of where Im fishing but wont be to far. Lots will depend on the pressure there on days Im out as well. Even though the fishing reports dont indicate much, I have to believe the area gets fished fairly well.

Hello! I live 2 blocks away from the sammamish river trail and have caught 2 small cutthroats, a coupl bows,a few squawfish, perch, and largemouth bass, all on light spoons with a slow retreaval. Does anyone know any GOOD bait, i have used halibut trimmings with one crayfish in 2 pots, I saw more than I caught. Any fishing/crayfish reccomendations would be greatly appreciated since I am 12 years old and am new to the Sammamish slough.

fullstringer98 wrote:Hello! I live 2 blocks away from the sammamish river trail and have caught 2 small cutthroats, a coupl bows,a few squawfish, perch, and largemouth bass, all on light spoons with a slow retreaval. One day when mt cutthroat was on the stringer, a large crayfish came up and nibbled at it, does anyone know any GOOD bait, i have used halibut trimmings with one crayfish in 2 pots, I saw more than I caught. Any fishing/crayfish reccomendations would be greatly appreciated since I am 12 years old and am new to the Sammamish slough.

Howdy, I replied in the other thread.

I'll probably start out with canned cat food, chicken or turkey maybe.

http://washingtonlakes.com/forum/yaf_po ... spx#126901

Does anyone have a map showing where the dividing lines are or a quick sketch

What do you mean by "dividing lines"?