Lake Whatcom, Bellingham

Took the new, new 'yak out last night for her maiden voyage.  No leakage this time! SCORE!  I've been wanting to hit the Kokanees (fish, not beer) and smallies in the lake for awhile now, and they're starting to real get their bite on.

Went out to purchase a deep six before I went and found something way lighter, called a Jet Diver.  Its non adjustable, so I bought a 30' and a 20' version.  I hooked up the 20' to a black and silver matt dodger with a wedding ring tipped with corn.  Had nothing for awhile, then the fish starting surfacing and jumping like crazy...reeled in so I wasn't as deep and paddled through a fish splash.  Fish took it hook, line, and dodger.  Nice 13" rainbow.  I usually catch and release, but I thought I would keep this one to show off as my first catch out of my boat (and they're tasty to boot!)

Maybe i'll keep this post updated, cause I'm not sure there are any other Lake Whatcom fisherman on this board.

JER

I used to fish Whatcom when I was a student at WWU, in the early 80s. Mostly caught silvers and some large (but wormy) cutthroat. Used a little spin-n-glow, red w/ white wings, behind a tiny dodger. When it was too windy, I'd do a lot of sailing.

Ah ha!  Another Bellinghamster!  Whew.  Thought I was alone. 

As far as fresh water lakes, I've fished Fazon, Samish, Padden and played on Whatcom, though I haven't fished it yet. I'm a bass fisherman from way back, so I tend to fish cover.  I did have some decent luck on the little bitty largemouth in the puddle known as Fazon just trolling a traditional 3" Rapala.

I've lived in and around the Whatcom and Skagit counties for about 15 years, so I'm going to try and tap my resources for the silvers this year.  The lower end of the Skagit opens for salmon on Sept. 1 and I plan on putting in on Fir Island (there's a parking access where the main channel of the Skagit splits) and checking out the mouth of the North fork of the Skagit. I'll be pulling out in LaConner, actually.  At least that's the plan so far.  Not really sure how I'm going to approach the river end of things.  I'm not in a river 'yak, so I might just hightail it to the mouth of the river and let the sonar find a good fish bearing hole.  Don't let me forget to rig up a good anchor first!  As a matter of fact, there are some really pristine areas to pull the 'yaks out of the water and plunk it if necessary.

Anybody interested in coordinating, PM me.

I actually grew up in LaConner. I was thinking about hitting some rivers this year, but most likely just from shore. I'm gonna look into trying Terrel and Silver lake for some bass, but have had great luck in whatcome(read: 19.5" smallmouth, will post pic when I get it)

Jer

Hey all. I'm another Bellinghamster (just returned to my hometown after a few years abroad).

Ashamed to say I was at Whatcom the other morning and caught nada. Maybe it was the recent cold snap, but probably it was just me. Flipped a Pop'R and dropped a Carolina-rigged grub around the pilings off Bloedel Donovan boat launch. Got some brief interest in the Pop'R out in front of Old Mill Village, but that was it. A helpful soul at the pier told me I should be fishing deeper water.

Have any of you guys had luck at Terrell this year?

had zero luck yesterday with crank baits(always been a garuntee for me) or trolling with wedding rings (again, usually have no problem finding trout and perch that way). I've been wanting to find terell for a while now. I just read weedsare so bad that boats are having trouble! Lucky us! Girlfriend is out of town for the week...totally hitting up terell this week multiple days!

Same report here for Lake Whatcom on 8/30.  I did a little "blind" fishing as I didn't take my electronics.  It was such a nice day so I thought I'd get in some more self-rescue practice.  I fished about the same way, trolling a variety of plugs and spinners, to no avail.  Threw some Senko's at the cliff faces, but the wind made reading a gentle strike near impossible.  I may not be out on Whatcom on the weekends, but might be out in the afternoons.

I may need to find a fishing partner for the bay in order to keep the WAF happy.  A friend of the family lost his life 'yak surfing in the sound last year.  He didn't leash himself to the 'yak. It was tough on my boy to see one of his friends lose his dad, so I am taking the safest route I can in order to set a good example and keep them at peace.  I may not make it out into the bay this year at all unless I get more time to "practice."

So, if you are in Bellingham, keep your eyes open for an '87 Toyota pickup, red, Thule rack. There's a Hobie decal on the back cab window, and whenever possible there's a Hobie AI strapped to the rack! I dont' usually carry the sail gear, but sometimes I do. There is a rough but short, nice launch site on the eastern shore, near the county park, if you know how to find it.  Much better fishing turf IMHO.  I'll know more next time I'm out and have the electronics hooked up.

Good Fishing, Everybody!

I'm gonna try and find that launch. Always looking for better spots. Usually can't get out until late afternoon, then I'm limited to how far I can go due to sunset.
I'll keep an eye out for your truck

Jer

Thanks guys, I feel better about getting skunked at Whatcom, knowing it can happen to better fishermen than I. I got a freezer full of trout but I'm still pretty clueless when it comes to bass (having fun learning, though).

Better get out on Terrell before they start shooting...

When does air fishing season start (hunting)?  I forgot about that, never been out there, but did read they use it for hunting in the fall.

Also, where is this boat launch on the east shore of whatcom?

JER

When does air fishing season start (hunting)?

Boats are banned from Terrell from the "First Saturday after Labor Day through the following Friday, and Oct. 1-Jan. 31," according to the WDFW rule book.

calling it a boat launch is stretching the definition considerably, to be honest.  It's a small parking lot that has a short (maybe 100ft) tight path through the salal bushes.  I'm able to put the cart under the stern of the 'yak and just barely pull it through the brambles and onto the beach.  It's a very nicely sheltered little inlet and a part of the lake that would take a long time to reach via any of the other launches.  It also has a stump field and a few docks right near by.  Makes it easier to find when pulling out.  I hate finding narrow paths in the bushes from the water.

If you know how to find the park that's on Northshore, go past it and you'll find the access road on a corner. It is park property but looks like it's down a private gravel road.  There is a house at the end of the gravel road, but the parking access in on the right, before you can even see the house.  It's gated, but I haven't been out past dusk to see if they lock it.

do you have more info on this? kinda new to this and was told not a good idea to leash oneself to a yak.