Local Rivers

Usually during salmon season im a bank combat fisherman elbowing my way in just to get a chance to throw some weight. Usually on such rivers as the nisqually, puyallop, skookumchuck, and the skokomish rivers. But now.... I have a kayak  . Im hoping to be able to fish the mouths of these rivers or the sound but i dont know where to go or things of that nature. Anyone have any advice or would anyone wanna meet up and go sometime once the fish get in? Im thinking about going to hoodsport this next weekend.

  Hi Joshua,
 Welcome to the world of kayak fishing. It can be a crazy and exciting world as you will soon find out. Reading through many of the posts on NWKA can help shorten the learning curve and get you on the water not only safely but also effectively.
 I noticed that you didn't get many responses to your inquiry about river fishing --- so I thought I would try to help out.
 The Willapa River system (including North River, Smith Creek, the Palix, and Nasselle Rivers) offers some of the best river fishing in Washington. And some of the most liberal limits when it comes to salmon. Most of the creeks here -- you can keep at least 3 and in some 4 adult salmon. Check page 46 in the regulation booklet.
 Yelm is 83 miles from Raymond so you would have a bit of a drive to get here but the fishing can make it worthwhile. I have a few acres just outside of Raymond and would open my doors for an overnighter if you'd like to try a multi-day trip to make it more worthwhile.
 The Willapa River opens up this Saturday August 1st, but I already have commitments for this weekend. However-- being retired-- I can fish pretty much any day of the week. And I'll probably be going out there next Monday.
 I have no idea what kind of "work" scheduale you have... but if you'd like to give any of the Willapa waters a try I can help point you in the right direction, show you some of the launches, and maybe even help you get into some salmon. There are a lot of opportunities down this way--- and never any combat fishing like you will have in Pugetopolis.

 Let me know if this might be something you'd be interested in and we can make it happen. I have showed this fishery to several NWKA people but I try to keep it kinda low profile so it doesn't get too crazy. But all those that have given it a try come back for more.
 Stay in touch and let's hope for a good run this year. I know some people are already catching fish out in Willapa Bay so the next few months should only get better.

   Mark Collett

 edit--- Oh Shit ! This was meant to be a PM......
            oh well.....it's out there now.
            Reports will be forthcoming.

Oh wow yea that would be amazing I would just have to convince my wife that I need to go. Sometimes that can be challanging. I work mon, tues, and thursdays from 2pm until 1am so weekdays are hard for me but friday, saturday, and sundays are good. Thank you for taking the time to write a reply and make an offer like that. Hopefully I can get one of those inflatable kayak racks for my car so I can get around. Currently I just pull it on a cart to the lake I live on.

The Chehalis River would be a good place to start out. It's often busy when the fish are in but there are very few consequences if you mess up and the flow this time of year is low enough in volume that paddling upstream is doable. Plus the Chehalis does get decent runs of salmon. I don't imagine there are any in there right now but soon enough. Just south of Montesano where highway 107 crosses the river, on the north side there is a launch site on state land. That's a decent spot to go. I've fished the Nisqually but only once and we didn't fish near the mouth of the river. We did something like the tank crossing to the Nisqually Road. Although we got into some moldy chum, spunky Coho and trout I don't think it will be very active yet either. Good luck.

  Hi Joshua,
 Welcome to the world of kayak fishing. It can be a crazy and exciting world as you will soon find out. Reading through many of the posts on NWKA can help shorten the learning curve and get you on the water not only safely but also effectively.
 I noticed that you didn't get many responses to your inquiry about river fishing --- so I thought I would try to help out.
 The Willapa River system (including North River, Smith Creek, the Palix, and Nasselle Rivers) offers some of the best river fishing in Washington. And some of the most liberal limits when it comes to salmon. Most of the creeks here -- you can keep at least 3 and in some 4 adult salmon. Check page 46 in the regulation booklet.
 Yelm is 83 miles from Raymond so you would have a bit of a drive to get here but the fishing can make it worthwhile. I have a few acres just outside of Raymond and would open my doors for an overnighter if you'd like to try a multi-day trip to make it more worthwhile.
 The Willapa River opens up this Saturday August 1st, but I already have commitments for this weekend. However-- being retired-- I can fish pretty much any day of the week. And I'll probably be going out there next Monday.
 I have no idea what kind of "work" scheduale you have... but if you'd like to give any of the Willapa waters a try I can help point you in the right direction, show you some of the launches, and maybe even help you get into some salmon. There are a lot of opportunities down this way--- and never any combat fishing like you will have in Pugetopolis.

 Let me know if this might be something you'd be interested in and we can make it happen. I have showed this fishery to several NWKA people but I try to keep it kinda low profile so it doesn't get too crazy. But all those that have given it a try come back for more.
 Stay in touch and let's hope for a good run this year. I know some people are already catching fish out in Willapa Bay so the next few months should only get better.

   Mark Collett

 edit--- Oh Shit ! This was meant to be a PM......
            oh well.....it's out there now.
            Reports will be forthcoming.

What does an out of state license and salmon tag run Mr. Collett?
Not meant to be a pm! Boy you really let the fish off the stringer on that one.

 Yeah.. but that's okay. It is a cool fishery that is underutilized. And most folks don't talk it up... very hush hush.

  Here is a link to WDFW site for license fees.
 https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/wdfw/licenses_fees.html

  You can get one day combo license for $20.15
                    two day                            $28.95
                     three day                          $35.55
                     annual combo                     $124.65

  Hope that will help your planning..
  Come on up if you get a chance Shannon. I'd be happy to show you around up here. Maybe I'll put a chainsaw in your hands and let you do some carving.