Fishing for salmon in Washington means going after five species of salmon in three kinds of water with countless combinations of lures, bait, line and style. An atlas could be made of the many spots anglers have found good for salmon fishing. You can have it complicated, competitive or simple and serene. But anyway you choose, Washington is good for salmon fishermen.
The Season
Learning how to fish for salmon is a much less complicated process than understanding when it is legal to do so. The State of Washington and the entire Northeast undergoes a complicated annual process called, "North of Falcon." This is a series of meetings between interested parties such as local, state, Federal and tribal governments to satisfy the laws of all, protect the salmon and make sure everybody gets some. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website has the schedules posted.
Spawning
Coho and chum salmon are in Puget Sound and coastal streams. They can even be found in tributary streams in some urban areas. The chinook spawn in the Columbia, Snake or other large rivers or streams. They spawn where the water flow is high on both sides of the Cascade Range. Look for pink salmon also in large streams and rivers, but closer to the saltwater. Their fry like to move to the saltwater immediately after emerging. Sockey are found in lakes such as Lake Washington, Baker of Lake Wenatchee among others.
Tips for Chinook and Coho Salmon
Chinook like to stay near underwater rock or earth formations such as ledges or rocks that will have a food source. If you start fishing before light, you can fish near the surface, but when the sun strengthens go fish as a deeper depth. Coho salmon are less likely to stick near structures and will be more in the open water. They stay mostly in the top 50 feet of water.
Tips for Pink Salmon, Sockeye and Chum
Pink salmon show up in Puget Sound, but only in odd numbered years. Look for them between 20 and 60 feet below surface, and down to 90 feet if it is hot. Start fishing for sockeye early in the morning. Before about 7 a.m. drop down to 50 or 60 feet below surface. As the morning grows later, go five feet deeper every half hour. In saltwater look for chum from surface to 60 feet below. They will be there or above. In freshwater they will be as low as you can go.
Methods
Saltwater fishing in Washington is usually done by drift fishing; letting the water move the boat. This is best in areas crowded with fish. The other method, trolling, means the boat is constantly on the move. This is best for areas with sparse fish. In freshwater Washington fishermen cast from shore or boat.
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