07_2025_REELLIFE_digital - Flipbook - Page 15
A note of advice for
anglers is that migrating
summer Chinook don’t
tend to stick around in
one spot for very long as
they head to their natal
spawning grounds. The
best action tends to occur
during early mornings
when they’re suspended
in the upper and middle
water column. As the sun
rises, the kings head to
deeper water and can
usually be found near the
bottom. Other important
keys to success are
locating baitfish schools
at the proper depth and
getting your presentation
into the mix, and looking
at a tide chart since being
in a certain location
determines if you’ll have
any luck at catching a fish.
In the summer, hordes of
dogfish move into Puget
Sound, so more often
than not, fishing with bait
can lead to a lot of frayed
leaders. Many tend to
switch over to trolling with
lures or drift fishing with
jigs. Anglers can also make
it a combo of success as
WDFW shellfish managers
were busy late last month
planning the summer
Dungeness crab fisheries
in many marine waterways
of Puget Sound. The
crabbing season opens on
July 3. You can find the
news release with specific
dates and open locations
by going to the WDFW
website.
There are several Puget
Sound region freshwater
salmon fisheries, including
a few sections of the
Skagit River open July 1-15;
Cascade River open now
through July 15; Baker
Lake open July 12 through
Aug. 31; Lower Skykomish
open now through July 10;
and Lower Nisqually River
opens July 1.
Before making any plans
to go summer salmon
fishing in marine or
freshwater locations, be
sure to check the WDFW
regulations webpage for
any updates or emergency
closures and what specific
salmon species you can
retain in open areas.
The WDFW 2025-2026
regulation pamphlet was
expected to be available
in July at statewide tackle
shops and vendors.
In the next issue of this
magazine, I’ll dive into
August pink salmon
fishing options, where
Puget Sound is expected
to be flooded with nearly
eight million pinks.
Until then, I hope to see
you on the water very
soon!
