Northwest Fishing Reports

Curious what in the way of clams, goeducks, or crabs can be had from the beach or dock on Hood Canal. In the Dosewalips State Park area? Even salmon or cutthroat fishing opportunities?

River fishing for trout? Lake's having trout or bass? I am not sure what I will have time for, will be there for 2 days. I have not been to this area before. Google maps shows the Dosewalips, and Duckabush rivers near by.

A couple of no name ponds, and a lake in the pleasant cove area. Anyone familiar with the either no name lake or pond?

The time frame would be second week of July. Any and all help would be fantastic!

One thing I love about fishing saltwater is 90% of the time you catch something. From bullheads to ratfish,to sandsharks to flounder. Fried flounder is awesome. With saltwater youre getting action whether you fish from shore or a boat.

racfish wrote:One thing I love about fishing saltwater is 90% of the time you catch something. From bullheads to ratfish,to sandsharks to flounder. Fried flounder is awesome. With saltwater youre getting action whether you fish from shore or a boat.

Normally, that would be the case. But check this out for the Hood Canal:

TROUT Year-round Catch-and-release except up to 2 hatchery STEELHEAD may be retained.
STURGEON June 1-June 30
Sept. 1-Oct. 15 Year-round Min. size 38" fork length. Max. size 54" fork length. Daily limit 1. Release GREEN STURGEON.
Catch-and-release.
MACKEREL Year-round CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.
HERRING, SMELT, ANCHOVY,SARDINE, and SAND LANCE Year-round CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.
PACIFIC HALIBUT Year-round CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.
BOTTOMFISH Year-round CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.
LINGCOD Year-round CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.
SURFPERCH Year-round CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.
ROCKFISH Year-round CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.
PACIFIC COD, POLLOCK, HAKE,and WOLF-EEL Year-round CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.
SIXGILL, SEVENGILL, and THRESHER SHARKS Year-round Closed to fishing for, retaining, or possessing. SIXGILL SHARK may not be removed from the water.
CABEZON Year-round CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.
OTHER FOOD FISH Year-round CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.
ALL OTHER FISH Year-round CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.

I am pretty sure flat fish and bullhead/skulpin fit in the category of "OTHER FISH" and "OTHER FOOD FISH". They would be off limits too!

That leaves Salmon. Which is fine, but where from the beach?

Also due to these bottom fish restrictions, lakes and rivers need to be an option. Thanks!

Wow. I looked in my Google maps Birdseye view and there just arent lakes showing up. The 2 main bodies of water are the Duckabush and Dosiwallips rivers. I'll look at my off roading maps when I get home.

Thanks for the effort Racfish! I wonder how early the pinks would be in the area in mid July?

MotoBoat wrote:...
I am pretty sure flat fish and bullhead/skulpin fit in the category of "OTHER FISH" and "OTHER FOOD FISH". They would be off limits too!

...

All flatfish (with the exception of halibut) and the major species of sculpins are defined as "Bottomfish" in the regs, and so would fall within the aggregate 15 fish limit in other marine areas of Puget Sound (but closed to retention in Hood Canal, and aggregate limit of 12 on the Pacific coast). FYI

Shad_Eating_Grin wrote:

MotoBoat wrote:...
I am pretty sure flat fish and bullhead/skulpin fit in the category of "OTHER FISH" and "OTHER FOOD FISH". They would be off limits too!

...

All flatfish (with the exception of halibut) and the major species of sculpins are defined as "Bottomfish" in the regs, and so would fall within the aggregate 15 fish limit in other marine areas of Puget Sound (but closed to retention in Hood Canal, and aggregate limit of 12 on the Pacific coast). FYI

And, for Hood Canal "CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing. In my case "fishing for" is as clear cut as it gets.

The more I thing about it. With the large run of Pinks this year I am leaning toward the fly rod, and using some homegrown flies. That are getting old!

Is salmon open? They're under the food fish category.

Mordalphus wrote:Is salmon open? They're under the food fish category.

SPECIES SEASON ADDITIONAL RULES area 12

SALMON: South of Ayock Point July 1-Oct. 15 CHINOOK - min. size 22". Other SALMON species - no min. size. Daily limit 4
(combined). Up to 2 CHINOOK may be retained. Release wild CHINOOK and CHUM.

Salmon in area 12 ( hood canal) opens for retention on July 1. I will be in the area midway into July. Pinks come close to shore in the mornings.

Still hoping for some fresh water options tho.

2nd week of july, go to the hoodsport hatchery. There should be tons of pinks in by then.

There are no commercial crabbers in the hood canal, so crabbing is spectacular. If you have a boat and some pots, definitely make that a "to-do." You might find some pinks heading for Hoodsport. If you have some fly rods the rivers around those parts, are awesome flyfishing. Also there is a waterfall by brinnon called rocky brook falls. It is only a quarter mile hike to the base of it, it is definitely a must see. There are some large trout hanging around at the base of it as well. There is also another waterfall between Brinnon and Quilicene as well that has a park on it, I think its called falls view.

there's the Hamahama and believe it or not all the little creeks that run into it hold trout ... check the regs .... Elk Lake, Jefferson lake, and the Lenas if your up for a short hike up the hill ... and the Mildreds if your feeling narly!! .... dont know if there's a Ranger station in Hoodsport but if it's still there they'd know the scoop ... if the Hamahama 'n creeks are open the mean little trout that live there are a blast ... my fav tactic is to use a mini spin'n rod 2lb test and flies ... some with a lil wire for weight some not ... a small snap swivel is usualy enuf to cast across the river lol ... there's 100s of holes right along the road ... hike'n up Lena Creek is cool because of the pic opportunities and Jefferson too ... Jefferson can be accessed from the main road or at the bridge on the upto the lake road ... i'll try 'n find a pic i took years ago ... spin'n rod lay'n against a rock a trout lay'n in the water with a lil black nat in it's mouth, behind it a pool of of the clearest bluest water you ever saw and a water fall ... was awwwwsome .. the other pic is the same one crop'd differtly and you can see it's not a 4lb trout and by comparring the height of the guy fish'n farther up the pool the huge waterfall is about 10 ft lolol ... if you do go up there be sure and drive to the end of the road (Mildreds Trail head) just for the scenery ... and keep your eyes open for the beaver pond on your left on the way up ... i havent been upto those lakes in decades ... if you go i'd love to hear a report bk ... GL ... DOG

FishBaitThe2nd wrote:2nd week of july, go to the hoodsport hatchery. There should be tons of pinks in by then.

Sounds like a good option. Am looking for something not to crowded. Less people, is more along what I am looking for. Would this be the case?

schu7498 wrote:There are no commercial crabbers in the hood canal, so crabbing is spectacular. If you have a boat and some pots, definitely make that a "to-do." You might find some pinks heading for Hoodsport. If you have some fly rods the rivers around those parts, are awesome flyfishing. Also there is a waterfall by brinnon called rocky brook falls. It is only a quarter mile hike to the base of it, it is definitely a must see. There are some large trout hanging around at the base of it as well. There is also another waterfall between Brinnon and Quilicene as well that has a park on it, I think its called falls view.

I won't have boat in tow. Might have float tube but that is not likely either. How about crabbing from a pier or from shore? I know crabbing from shore is a stretch. But, considered one of those traps connected to fishing rod. And flinging it out for a crab or three...........LOL!

I will say, the waterfall is peaking my interest. That hike and find type adventure I find to be fun. Especially if trout are included in a waterfall sighting!

"Thank you for that.

'OL GREY DOG wrote:there's the Hamahama and believe it or not all the little creeks that run into it hold trout ... check the regs .... Elk Lake, Jefferson lake, and the Lenas if your up for a short hike up the hill ... and the Mildreds if your feeling narly!! .... dont know if there's a Ranger station in Hoodsport but if it's still there they'd know the scoop ... if the Hamahama 'n creeks are open the mean little trout that live there are a blast ... my fav tactic is to use a mini spin'n rod 2lb test and flies ... some with a lil wire for weight some not ... a small snap swivel is usualy enuf to cast across the river lol ... there's 100s of holes right along the road ... hike'n up Lena Creek is cool because of the pic opportunities and Jefferson too ... Jefferson can be accessed from the main road or at the bridge on the upto the lake road ... i'll try 'n find a pic i took years ago ... spin'n rod lay'n against a rock a trout lay'n in the water with a lil black nat in it's mouth, behind it a pool of of the clearest bluest water you ever saw and a water fall ... was awwwwsome .. the other pic is the same one crop'd differtly and you can see it's not a 4lb trout and by comparring the height of the guy fish'n farther up the pool the huge waterfall is about 10 ft lolol ... if you do go up there be sure and drive to the end of the road (Mildreds Trail head) just for the scenery ... and keep your eyes open for the beaver pond on your left on the way up ... i havent been upto those lakes in decades ... if you go i'd love to hear a report bk ... GL ... DOG

Again, this is sparking some attention from my adventurous side. I bit of hunting around on Satalite maps. Revealed the forest service roads leading to the lakes mentioned. I came across a pond or lake called "Goober". Anything in the way of a trout in there? I think the "Mildreds would be a stretch for this trip. But thanks for presenting options that reach this limit. I would not have previously considered these lakes. Due to my lack of knowledge.

All of a sudden, this trip has gone from hum drum. To pretty excited! Rac, FB2. dawg. schu thanks for sharing your knowledge of the area. Please do not hesitate to add any further options that you would do when there. That will give me time to hunt around on maps, discovering the location of the lakes, rivers, waterfalls.....ect! Before arriving.

Hoodsport has a public dock that people throw crab pots off of and do good, and youd probably do even better throwing a crab snare out deeper. If you are going to be camping during a minus tide , if you find any eel grass beds while beach combing youll find lots of red rock crab hiding. Youll find service roads paralleling the lena creek and hamma hamma making for easy access for fly fishing.

Duckabush and Dosewalupps are awesome for searun cutthroat. Fished those quite a bit.

MotoBoat wrote:

FishBaitThe2nd wrote:2nd week of july, go to the hoodsport hatchery. There should be tons of pinks in by then.

Sounds like a good option. Am looking for something not to crowded. Less people, is more along what I am looking for. Would this be the case?

depends on the day. Some days there might be quite a few people, some days very few.

Jigs, and corky/yarn. Im gonna try some blue foxes and spoons this year, but jigs/corky and yarn is what most use.

schu7498 wrote:Hoodsport has a public dock that people throw crab pots off of and do good, and youd probably do even better throwing a crab snare out deeper. If you are going to be camping during a minus tide , if you find any eel grass beds while beach combing youll find lots of red rock crab hiding. Youll find service roads paralleling the lena creek and hamma hamma making for easy access for fly fishing.

Do you recall how close the Hatchery is to the public dock?

Looking forwards to locating the two falls you mentioned. Not to mention, introducing myself to Mr and Mrs. trout...lol!