Where would you live in Washington to be close to good fishing?

Hello, I'm thinking of moving to Washington sometime this year or next.  My mom used to live in Seattle and finally got me to head up PNW way last year.  Me and the wife started in Crater Lake and went all the way up to Port Hardy, on Vancouver Island, for a couple of days of salmon fishing.  We loved it and plan to move somewhere in Washington west of the cascades.  I'm pretty flexible as to where we live, but would like to have at least a little bit of land, an acre or so, to live on.  My main priority is fishing.  I want to be on the water, mainly salt but also streams or rivers, and spend plenty of time fishing.  I kind of like Vashon, but don't want to be hours away from good fishing.  Whidbey or Camano is a possiblity as is just renting a place somewhere and looking for a little vacation cottage in the San Juans.  Bellingham is also a possibility, but I think the wife wants to be a little closer to Seattle.  Me, I just want to fish until my arms fall off. 

My vote would be San Juans.

You would love fishing the San Juans but wife would be more comfortable in a larger urban setting-- which leaves Bellingham as the solution.  Nice size city; and close to both Vancouver BC and Seattle.   
Rob.

Anacortes might do, too. Close to salt and the islands, but not needing a ferry ride to hit a river.

I'd be tempted by the Port Angeles/Sequim area, too, but that might be too far from Seattle, for your wife.

Bellingham is the bomb! The Nooksack is awful pretty this time of year.

Mt Baker Hard Core still rules!

If you are wanting land, proximity to civilization, rivers and salt I would suggest the Lake Stevens/Marysville area or maybe Mukilteo.  Getting an acre of land anywhere near Seattle is going to cost you a small fortune.  Camano is good so long as you don't mind a teenage snot-nosed punk stealing your stuff from time to time 

How far are you willing to drive to fish your preferred spots?

south of seattle would work to the Puget sound around Browns point in tacoma has good fishing. and theres lots of small lakes around.


SG

Bellingham is the bomb! The Nooksack is awful pretty this time of year.

nooksack ?

skagit county is probably the most value per dollar in real estate...

south of seattle would work to the Puget sound around Browns point in tacoma has good fishing. and theres lots of small lakes around.


SG

I agree with Squidgirl. There must be 10 lakes within 20 miles of me and Marine area 13 is not far.   

It won't be a surprise to my wife or I if we end up in the Bellingham/Mt Vernon area in the next 5 years. We both love the closeness to the mountains and water.

Jay

Sorry, but unless you need proximity to the AF/Army base I would probably avoid the county I live in.  Yes, it has the advantage of being 45 to 90 minutes from Seattle area, the sound, some lakes, the bases, but you pay for this in a big way with crime and traffic.

Just take a drive around in the rural areas - if you see every driveway gated off and a proliferation of no-trespassing signs, well that should tell you something about the community and their attitude toward others.

I live way the hell in the south side of this unnamed county.

I'm on Vashon Island, I live less than a mile from the boat launch at Dockton Park, area 11 fishing for Kings is open most of the year----a couple of one month closures in january and May.  Vashon is smack dab in the heart of good saltwater fishing---but a hour away by ferry and car from Lake Washington, which is huge and holds smallmouth, perch, landlocked silvers, (kokanee), LMB, and is seriously underfished.  From my home on Vashon (2.5 acres, new doublewide $300,000) I can launch in 10 minutes, and it's a 1/2 hour  paddle (pedal in my Hobie) from mouth of Quartermaster Harbor to Point Defiance----probably the best salmon fishing in area 11  with a large amount of unrestricted fishing time.  Vashon has very warm and friendly community spirit and is totally rural. Good schools, low crime. But no bridge, so you need ferry tolerance. 
  The Strait of San Juan  is great, but mostly closed for catch and eat during peak run times. Sequim and Port Angeles are desirable in terms of cost of living and "livableness", truly gorgeous setting. Port Townsend lovely but pricey.
 The San Juans are gorgeous, and excellent fishing, but isolated and you are a slave to the ferry system, Looooong wait times in summer.  Bellingham/Ferndale/Mt Vernon area sort of a sleeper---good fishing and nice environment.  And Bellingham is close to great river fishing for spring kings and winter steelehead. Tacoma /Federal Way some crime problems in some areas.   Seattle (Elliott Bay) fishing has reduced season, but West Seattle is a nice place to live, good boat lunch there for kayak fishing, but area 10 not open year-round.
Bainbridge Island  and Southworth are served by the ferry system and 2 bridges, and are less expensive to buy property.  Friend of mine just bought a 2200 square ft house on the salt with a dock (!!!) for $389,000 around Silverdale.  Gig Harbor is pretty and livable, maybe pricey but close water access to area 11.. Carr Inlet has Minter Creek hatchery, lots of kings and silvers in Carr Inlet in summer. Also cheaper land prices on the Key Peninsula, and on the Olympic Peninsula in general.  Right now is a pretty good time to buy as home prices are down in the area.
   How do you plan to earn a living, or are you retired or independent?  Do you have plenty of cash from a home sale?  Expect to pay about $500,000 and up for acreage with home in the Seattle/Federal Way Tacoma area, and that is not waterfront acreage! Less in rural King/Pierce counties.  Do you need an urban setting, or is rural preferred??? Do you have kids in school?
   Except for Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish, no decent lakes in the metro areas, most of the good lakes are on the east side of the mountains. If you're into snowy winters, Spokane near lots of lake fishing, but no salt water.
  On balance, if I were just moving here, I'd pick Vashon if I wanted quiet rural island life with saltwater access for salmon, and Bellingham for an urban area with access to both saltwater bay and lake and river fishing. If I had to live in a big city, I'd pick Portland---MUCH nicer than Seattle.

Sorry, but unless you need proximity to the AF/Army base I would probably avoid the county I live in.  Yes, it has the advantage of being 45 to 90 minutes from Seattle area, the sound, some lakes, the bases, but you pay for this in a big way with crime and traffic.

Just take a drive around in the rural areas - if you see every driveway gated off and a proliferation of no-trespassing signs, well that should tell you something about the community and their attitude toward others.

I live way the hell in the south side of this unnamed county.

It is to bad the Tweekers have move out our way. I plan on retirering near Mossyrock. There is tweekers out there ,but they behave because they know every home has a gun.
 

tweekers?   I had to look it up (I'm a naive old fart):
People who abuse Meth regularly are known as 'tweakers'.  Tweakers often behave or react violently.  Keep in mind, the tweaker may not have slept in three to fifteen days and may be irritable and paranoid.  If the tweaker is also using alcohol or other drugs, the danger may be intensified.

The tweaker craves more Meth, but no dosage will help recreate the first rush.  This may cause frustration and leads to unpredictable behavior and violence.  To support their habits, tweakers often participate in spur-of-the-moment crimes, such as purse snatching or burglaries.

Tweakers are often involved in domestic disputes and automobile accidents.  They may also be present at raves or parties.  They may at first appear to be normal.  A closer look will reveal eye movement ten times faster than normal, a voice with a slight quiver and jerky movements.

If you notice that someone is tweaking, be careful how you handle the situation.  Keep in mind these six safety tips for approaching a tweaker:
   1. Keep your distance.  Coming too close can be perceived as threatening. 
   2. No bright lights.  The tweaker is paranoid and bright lights may cause them to react violently.
   3. Slow your speech, lower your voice.
    4. Slow your movements.  The tweaker is paranoid and may misunderstand your movements.
   5. Keep your hands visible, or they may feel threatened and become violent.
   6. Keep the tweaker talking.  A tweaker who falls silent can be extremely dangerous.  Silence often means that his paranoid thoughts have taken over reality, and anyone present can become part of the tweaker's paranoid delusions.

Sorry, but unless you need proximity to the AF/Army base I would probably avoid the county I live in.  Yes, it has the advantage of being 45 to 90 minutes from Seattle area, the sound, some lakes, the bases, but you pay for this in a big way with crime and traffic.

Just take a drive around in the rural areas - if you see every driveway gated off and a proliferation of no-trespassing signs, well that should tell you something about the community and their attitude toward others.

I live way the hell in the south side of this unnamed county.

I sure was in a bad mood this morning.   This county has alot of good about it too... lower cost of living than Seattle, lots of small farms in the south and east part of the county, greatest change in elevation anywhere in the lower 48, what are probably two of the most popular military bases around for retirees, great library system - to name a few.