Westport for the Weekend

Well- I guess I'm off to Westport for the upcoming weekend, so I 'll be loading up the yak and the fly gear.  Given my total skunk on the derby day(tough I did have that nice blackie off the flystick on Sturday), I am may bring along one of my older spinning or bait casting set-ups as a back-up plan!

Anyway,  I haven't fished out of Westport, so if anybody has any advice or recomeendations, I would love to hear it.  My initial plan is to launch between the small "surf" jetties if the surf isn't too large, and fish along the south Jetty.  I may venture outside the jetty, but only if the tide and weather look cooperative.

Hey Allen- what size was that wetsuit you loaned me out at Snow Creek?  I can't for the life of me remember if it was a M of L, and I want to pick one of those up before heading out to the coast.  Let me know!

Thanks,

Pete

I don't think you'll have to go outside the jetty unless you're looking for kings in which case you might have to go way outside.    There should be ok fishing for blacks.  If it's nice and you get a chance, fish the jetty at sunset or right at sunrise.  The blacks come in shallow to feed in the low light conditions.  I used to fish off the jetties quite a bit.  Also, don't overlook the finger jetties.  Some decent fish hold there as well.

I don't think the Grays Harbor is open to salmon yet.  However, the westport boat basin bubble fishery is.  You'll have to check to see if the coho have come into the basin yet.  You might still have some fun on those fly rods if they are there.

I think the wetsuit was an XL ... it looked a little big on you too.

-Allen

 I haven't Kayak fished Westport but I love that place.  I have had very good success catching, greenling, cabazon and other type fish off the jetties using sand shrimp.  One of my favorite things to do is to throw crab pots from the docks in the marina, I would love to bring the kayak next time I do this to put the traps just a little bit further out.  I have never failed to catch a limit of dungness there. 

Aaron

Pete, have you ever fly fished the surf for perch?

-Allen

Hi Allen-

Yes, and I have had pretty good success on the Grayland beaches. I ususally use my 6wt with orange Crazy Charlie patterns.  I have a couple of Sand Crab patterns that I bought from Jay Murakoshi  ( http://www.fliesunlimited.com/), but I haven't hooked up yet with any surf perch on these yet.

The Seattle times had a little feature on Willapa Bay recently, and it got me to thinking- Surf Perch and Salmon? 

Pete

Pete, how did your trip to Westport go?

Willapa Bay, huh?  Fishin-T was talking about a trip there.  He went last year and if I remember correctly, he got beat up a bit.

-Allen

Beat up on Willapa Bay?  Was Fishin-T talking smack to the local trash? I used to run down to Willapa when I lived in Olympia, years ago. I had a 12' wood pram and a Johnson 9.9 in those days, and I took them everywhere. Pretty good current, especially on the ebb. (I lost some crab traps, once) Otherwise it's usually pretty flat. I think it would be a good place for kayaks.

My Westport trip really didn't come off as planned, as I didn't take my boat with me.  I did manage 2 surf perch off the beach in front of the Walsh Motel in Grayland, so the trip wasn't a total bust.  I have heard that the silvers are just now starting to show up in Grays Harbor, so I don't feel too bad about not getting out on the boat.

Given recent reports, it may be picking up for silver fishing in general.  The Fort Warden float may be productive!

Pete