Any spots/tactics for Nisqually?

Polyangler - thank you! Looks like I got it - for example for today I have to go out ~4AM and go back ~12PM - is it right?

Polyangler - thank you! Looks like I got it - for example for today I have to go out ~4AM and go back ~12PM - is it right?

It'd be more like 0400-0800'ish give or take a few. When the flood really starts to push you'll have a tough time holding bottom. Plus the fish really spread out once the flat has a couple feet of water over it.

Happy to help!

Something I forgot to mention was a navigation aid or two. Fog sets in fast an thick there in the winter. GPS is really nice to have, but a compass is a necessary bare minimum! Especially with the multi-directional current, its Easy to loose your bearing!

Beware of the North wind and outgoing tide.  Duck hunt out there all the time, and that is when you get the big waves.
Fun stuff.

Something I forgot to mention was a navigation aid or two. Fog sets in fast an thick there in the winter. GPS is really nice to have, but a compass is a necessary bare minimum! Especially with the multi-directional current, its Easy to loose your bearing!

Polyangler - thank you! I have an Lowrance HDI with chart plotter and Navionics maps. But I realized that I do not have any lights, so need to buy something. Usually I do not fish at night, but at 4AM I guess will pretty dark. I am wondering is lights will attract any dangerous animals like these sea lions? Do they attack people?

I only launch at 0400 for salmon and ducks. Tides advance 50 min a day, so it shouldn't be hard to fish days when you don't have to launch in the dark. A standard head lamp is sufficient for pre dawn launches though.

Something I forgot to mention was a navigation aid or two. Fog sets in fast an thick there in the winter. GPS is really nice to have, but a compass is a necessary bare minimum! Especially with the multi-directional current, its Easy to loose your bearing!

Polyangler - thank you! I have an Lowrance HDI with chart plotter and Navionics maps. But I realized that I do not have any lights, so need to buy something. Usually I do not fish at night, but at 4AM I guess will pretty dark. I am wondering is lights will attract any dangerous animals like these sea lions? Do they attack people?

don't think there has been any reported attacks on humans by sea lions or seals there, Eugene. Use headlamp, go further for safety and put a white stern light up. Quiet as that area is, it still sometimes will have large vessel traffic going into Olympia. U still have marine VHF , yes?

Thank you guys! Yes, running lights that was I thinking about, I guess need them to identity me on the water.

WR - thank you! Stern light is a good idea. And I do not have VHF

Not to get anyone in trouble but I've never had very much trouble with the tides out there. I usually will use the flats to move against the tide on peak current flows sometimes in .5-2ft of water. The shoals are pretty visible, I just avoid them.   I'm also in a big fast boat though, Tarpon 160.

Seals and sealion are pretty docile/stupid...

Seals and sealion are pretty docile/stupid...

omg! Look slike he is stuck there (( BTW - nice picture!

Not to get anyone in trouble but I've never had very much trouble with the tides out there. I usually will use the flats to move against the tide on peak current flows sometimes in .5-2ft of water. The shoals are pretty visible, I just avoid them.   I'm also in a big fast boat though, Tarpon 160.

Seals and sealion are pretty docile/stupid...

The sealions get more aggressive in the winter too. Not sure if it's a mating thing or what. A big steller bull repeatedly launched his full body out of the water less than 3' away from fungunnin's kayak last year in a display of aggression. There's lots of salmon there right now, so they're fat and lazy. Once the chum run is over their mood will change.