Brinnon/ Dosewallips S. P.

Many of us South Sounders have been to the Hoodsport Hatchery Combat Zone. We all know how that can turn out.

Been doing some map scouting and went a little farther north. Found Brinnon/ Dosewallips State Park and it looks like a nice place to launch from and ambush the salmon before they get too harassed by the rest of the Canal fishermen.

Any of you old timers have an opinion of that area you;d like to share??

Many of us South Sounders have been to the Hoodsport Hatchery Combat Zone. We all know how that can turn out.

Been doing some map scouting and went a little farther north. Found Brinnon/ Dosewallips State Park and it looks like a nice place to launch from and ambush the salmon before they get too harassed by the rest of the Canal fishermen.

Any of you old timers have an opinion of that area you;d like to share??

Are you talking about the Dose' River itself, or launching out in the "mud" bay?  Either one would kick my ass for sure.  I use to camp at that State Park for years as a kid.  In fact, I already put it down as a GoTo location for next years Spring Break with my kiddos. 

Back to the river.  In the heat of summer, that water flowing by the campground is aqua green, cold as ice, and better suited for a creek yak.  Fun catching trout from the bank though!

This is how I remember it looking. 

guess i should have been more specific; i'm really thinking about launching from the area into your " mud bay" and over into the canal proper to catch the fish as they clear the end of that peninsula to it's east.

i know we will have to deal with sub base bangor b.s., but thats ok, i dont want to go up that far, i thnk there'd be plenty of deep channel straight out from the park that salmon would take advantage of.

remember, this was a map recon only on my part. i've yet to go over there.. but i like the idea of a bankie trout fishery as a back up plan..

With a set of Wheeleez you shouldn't have much problem getting out through that bay.  Use to have to walk through a jungle trail forever, and then traverse the mud channels that are slick as pig snot.  Since then, they put in a nice parking lot on the east side of the river that gets you closer, but I still think you'll have to deal with a few of those mud channels before you are in the clear.   

Upside is that you could collect your share of oysters and steamers during the low low tide timing.  The low tide exposes HUGE oyster and clam beds.   We would shuck the oysters right there (illegal to take the shells), and get our limits of clams.  7 of us in the family and lots of seafood for dinner.    Now that brings back a memorable picture that my mom has somewhere.  Something like 40ish crab, 20 something pile perch, tubs of shucked oysters, and buckets and buckets of steamers all in one shot.  Made a big enough feast that night, that we invited our whole circle of neighbors at the campground over for dinner.

I love that area!

Here's that parking lot. And you can see the trail heading off into the woods on the SE corner.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=47.690992,-122.896784&spn=0.001639,0.005493&t=h&z=18

Then the trail pops back out in the upper right corner of this shot. 
Goes by a lookout tower (bird watcher's nest  ) and travels out to the bay.  From the aerial shots, it looks like there are little foot bridges in place over the mud channels. 

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=47.688558,-122.892589&spn=0.001639,0.005493&t=h&z=18

I'd suggest seeing if someone that lives in that area could do a walkabout for ya during both high and low tides, and get some photo/video of the terrain.

Craig, thanx for sharing. sounds like there's a lot of good memories for you there.

i'm hoping that Huntin Hick, is still a member and answers the PM i sent him. he lives close to there and can probably fill that info gap in fairly well for me. it's just a short drive up the road for him.

also, i'm jonsein for a small road trip, just to get away from where i am. so i might still spend the gas money and drive over and see for myself. if it turns out not to be doable from paddle craft from that angle, i'll look to the opposite shore. there has to be a good channel some place that we can catch those buggers coming in ahead of the hatchery crowd.

anyone else have suggestions or ideas?? 

How about Sequim Salty? That isn't too far of a jaunt south from Sequim is it?