Northwest Fishing Reports

my friend invited me to go fish the kings that run up the samish in about a month. I was just wondering what kind of rod and what lb line you would recommend for this. I here they run 10-30lb

That should be fun lite line. I went two years ago, and there were TONS of fish, and yes BIG ONES to boot. I saw multiple people with their two fish limits, around 12-15lbs. and some biguns, 20+. It will be combat fishing for sure if the fish are there. Check the regs man, there is a new rule about non-stationary lures....some new weird thing, but be aware, I have insider info that says they WILL be enforcing it this year. I'll PM you about what i know works, and you should let me know when you'll be there, maybe we'll see each other....

you'll want a good medium/med. large sized rod and reel.....whatever your personal preference is for LARGE river fish. If they start to run down stream you can usually walk with them so not to much line will be out. But at low tide, the river at some places will only be 15' across....you can actually watch the salmon swim right by you lure!!! Be prepared with rubber boots (lot of mud at low tide near the mouth) and being 10 ft. from the next angler!! (depending on where you go, i guess)

I've seen all those guys down there. How the heck do you fish in such tight quarters? It looks one part intimidating and two parts annoying.

STATIONARY GEAR RESTRICTION
The line, weight, lure, or bait must be moving
(not stationary) while in the water.

Is it to prevent snagging? I heard there are many flossers down there. I'm not trying to offend anybody, just what I've heard. I'm new to salmon fishing and have yet to pop my cherry, but I'm looking forward to it this year. Is the Samish worth checking out?

noclothes1 wrote:I've seen all those guys down there. How the heck do you fish in such tight quarters?

RESPECTFULLY.

I'm no expert, and i know not everyone does it, but thats what i do. I'd rather get skunked and be respectful than get a fish and be the jerk that everyone hates....

Anyway, it is tough at times. From what i saw, if you have fished it a few times, you might get a fish. If it is your first time, don't expect much, just a good learning experience. But, i'll probably be there, although i HATE combat fishing. I'll probably go on like a Tuesday at 4:00 am, and hope for the best. Very intimidating and annoying noclothes1, but you should try it at least once, since it's close. Once you see one of those kings swimming in 2 ft. water (low tide), you won't want to leave!!

oh yeah....the lower river changes dramatically with the tides....

noclothes1 wrote:
Is it to prevent snagging? I heard there are many flossers down there. I'm not trying to offend anybody, just what I've heard. I'm new to salmon fishing and have yet to pop my cherry, but I'm looking forward to it this year. Is the Samish worth checking out?

Yes. Tons of them. Flossers/snaggers. You heard right. Believe it or not, they do bite their, and 6/0 treble hooks aren't on their appetite.

Yep the Samish can be very crowded at times becasue it is a great fishery when the kings are in. I'm lite
lines friend and we won't be heading to the bridge spot near bow where about everyone in the state goes.
We wil be heading to a much quieter section of the river. However, there is still plenty of fish there and it seems
like that the guys that do go to this spot are much more friendly than the real combat fishing up at the bridge.
Anybody ever catch any other species of salmon out of the Samish? I know that it has a runs of chums, silvers,
and sea-run cutts. Any ideas?

I went there once a few years back with my brother and friend and we got in a pretty decent altercation with another angler/jerk. My friend was fishing a stretch near the mouth and this fisherman/jerk comes up and physically moves my friends gear aside and say's "you can't fish here this is my spot". Well my friend is not the kind to back down and say's "F*&$ you, I was here first" (which by the way was after my friend was kind to this person at first). This did not go over well with this person, since we even had all of the locals other than him on our side. Long story short we took control of the hole that we were fishing and the"jerk" went away.

From what I experienced this is combat fishing just like Rieter Ponds on the Skykomish River or Blue Creek on the Cowlitz River.

Don't let this discourage you from going because this first and only trip I have made to the Samish, I hooked, landed and released two kings that were 12# and 15# each. Not bad for a river that I had never fished before.

BTW. I was using a medium action rod with 12# test drifting eggs.

Do the Samish Kings at least make a run?

Oh yea they run...biggest I've ever taken out of there was a 19 pounder and it make a couple of 50 to 75 yard runs. That is a long run in that river because it is so small. It is combat fishing so I don't go there all that often any more. If you get there before light you can hear the "fishermen" under the bridge "working" their spark plug and 6/0 trebble hook lures. I don't know how many times I've called the game cops and the local cops but have yet to have anyone show up.

Good luck.

Where is the Samish?

Up north by Bow and east of Burlington.

The Samish is a hot river to fish salmon in.The problem is the "Combat Style "of fishing.Do not take lite gear.You will be hated if you do.Guys on the Samish use meat poles and reels.Once you hook up you best contain and net your fish ASAP.There are way too many peeps.Fishermen and snaggers are all there.Its the norths version of the Skok in my opinion.

I agree, stay away during the weekends! It is NUTS to say the least. Keep your eyes and ears open for the snaggers, you can't miss the sound of them "setting the hook".

once again, I stress that you cannot shy away from the Samish because of the crowds at one or two places. the run of kings is pretty hot at times and is well worth going for. I hate combat fishnig more than anyone. what you have to do is find that places along the river that are less known about or popular, find a nice pool, and start catching fish! I've caught plenty o fish out of the Samish with only one or two fisherman standing within a hundred yards of me.

Its funny how the kings in the Samish look better then like in the Skok.I dont know why but the Samish Kings seem to be brighter.Mightve just been the days I fish or what.The Samish is worth it.I agree with Physher.To me if peeps want to snag thats their stupidity not mine.I fish and enjoy the act of catching not just the need for meat slabs.Good luck to you all.

When I fish the Sammish, I use 20lb test and a 8.5 foot Fenwick and a Penn 209.....Old school! I am an old guy and can't really chase a big king down or up the river any more. With the bigger line at least I come out the winner when the fish wraps up about a 6pack of lines on a terror run. If you go and fish this river be ready for anything from a river that is 10 ft wide with a pole every 10 feet or less to being the only person at a hole and the fish are hitting anything you throw at them and nobody to tell! The Game guys will be out in force with the new rules...make sure you don't give 'em cause to get them to to take out their little book!
The biggest fish I caught up there was 25lbs and as bright as a new dime. The biggest I saw was at least 40lbs. I think you will do just fine. At times I have seen most everyone getting at least one fish. Make sure you take your camera, and hip boots. Good luck, Steve

maybe I'm wrong but I think the fish are brighter in the Samish because, by the time you catch them they aren't as far up the river. The SAmish river is not that long and depending on where you fish it the fish could just have entered the river the day before or even that day.