Can anyone help me with the quandry of where to take my family (6 of us) for some good biting fish (even trout will do)?
I am debating between E. Bay for BM, using Mooch's technique in response to JohnnyDeeps thread yesterday (no DR's yet), or Lake Stevens here in Snoho. Co. I would even consider the Snohomish River (bank fishing). Just want the kids to have some fun with fish on!

Any reports and/or advice is appreciated.

By the way, as with many of you I'm sure, we would love to see the crab season open up again here in the Everett area. Any guess as to when that might happen?

Thanks,

Matt

Hiya Matt ... I'm afraid that I can't help you mush with your stillwater options, but I think it's safe to say your river option can be thrown out. The whole western half of the state has a flood watch in effect right now for the next storm coming in so ...

Good luck!

Blackmouth in E Bay would be a safe bet, that is where I am headin'.

I hear the dollie action has been hot on some of the northern rivers. Don't ask where or how, I don't know.

Thanks for the response Bob and EL.
It sounds as though E. Bay is the choice so far. I'll check in with Ted's up here also.

EL, if ya see a late 70's 18' tri-hull/85 h.p Johnson/9.9 Johnson kicker, with a few kids in it and a tall, lanky-lookin' guy about 6'4", yell or honk at me. Have fun and always tight-lines to ya.

Matt

Matt, I recently heard from our crab and shrimp gear vendor that crab season may not open in Everett area till May/June, told us we over shot our quota last year so were going to pay for it this year. For what its worth, this guy is pretty knowledgable when it comes to Wa. shellfish, and the regs, he probably knows as well as anyone.

Right on! I don't know whos boat I am going to be in yet. Could be mine or someone elses.

AKKings,

Looks we might need to be patient or boogie on over to Hood Canal for some decent crab.
I know when we have our family reunion in the Canal during the summer, we seldom return without limiting. I'm curious about the pickins during the winter.

Looks like a wet weekend coming up, stay home and watch fishing on the outdoor channel.

Matt,

If it's putting kids on fish you want then the jig technique discussed on JDeeps thread is great way to go. E. bay or anywhere else where there is shelter from the wind if it comes up would be good. Try to stay away from currents and large tide swings if you can. Best part is that on some of the flats (sandy areas 50-100' deep), like maybe over by West Point, there should be a lot of flounder and the kids can really have a ball catching them if salmon fishing is slow. Nice part about jigs is that more people can fish without getting tangled up. Plus you're not rebaiting all the time. And with that many jigs down there, if your not catching fish you can just pick up every now and then, say every 15 min or so, and move to another spot. Make it a game and have each kid pick a different spot. For best results you'll want to keep them near the bottom but not dragging bottom. Teach them to set the hook on any "tap" and your set. It's a good method for getting people involved in the actual catching of the fish and helps them to develop a feel for whats going on down on the end of their line. Kids really feel like they catch their own fish this way; they stay active and involved and won't get bored or cold as easily either.

May a good time be had by all. Keep us posted on how they did.

Matt,

PS.

You might want to think about catch and release on any flounder you catch in e. bay. Not because they are endangered, but because they might just glow if you turned the lights out.
But when you find them, you'll catch loads of them.

CRW,
Winter crabbing in the canal has always been good for me. Actually, I can't remember the last time I crabbed over there during the summer.

Thanks all.

I read the forecast and, it's possible that we might stay off the water with the forthcoming rain and wind, as we have no "real" cabin on this boat, but we'll see. We're a fairly hearty bunch.
Mooch, thanks for the advice. I will print your response and let the kids read it for themselves, just so they know dad's not trying to pull any wool over their eyes. I agree with your catch n' release advice.

It's gettin' bad; a couple more weeks 'til tax return and those Garmin Blue FF and a set of downriggers are lookin' pretty tempting.

Saturdays weather does not look to promising.
I don't mind rain, wind however......

There's always plunkin'.

Matt, good time to pick up that Garmin (Whether from us or brand W) Garmin is offering a $25 dollar rebate for the next couple months

Saturday morningmay be pretty rough, might want to wait until Sunday (this is for Edmonds):

Fri And Fri Night
S wind 20 to 30 kt. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. Highest winds in the N part. Rain.

Sat
SW wind 25 kt diminishing and becoming N to 15 kt Seattle northward. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding.

Sat Night
SW wind to 15 kt in the S part. N wind to 15 kt in the N part. Wind waves 2 ft.

Sun
S wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 or 2 ft.

Regards.

Finegrain
Woodinville

Ak:
I read your response to another on this board about the rebate. Is BW selling at the same price they were at the boat show, or is it higher now?

We'll see what the budget can handle. Last summers' investment in a new roof ran more than expected, so we want to make sure we're in the black before buying. Give me a month or so. I'll come talk to you.

EL, Fine Grain:
Yep. It looks like Saturday is a work around the house day, or a Lake day.
Thanks for the heads up on wind. I'm curious how the boat would handle that weather. I was out last year with a friend when a strong south wind picked up and we were between Gedney(Hat) Island and the Mukilteo ramp. It was a carnival ride for sure.

In the future, I look forward to having a good all-around boat (fishing, water-skiing, partying, etc.) that can handle some tough weather (deep vee?). Have to go do some research.

I have co-worker who has a '1992 26' Bayliner Trophy that we crab with on the Columbia River within about 3 to 4 miles form the mouth. When the tide is flowing opposite a strong wind, it's quite a ride, but he and his boat handle it nicely (twin Merc 175 2 stroke outboards).

I hear ya Mooch.

There is always Pt Defiance. It is sheltered from a south wind.

you should just smuggle some ultra-light gear into petsmart and fish for the gold fish. or the blue fish.

Thanks EL,

Made some other plans already, but I'll keep Pt Defiance in mind.

Pimpinshrimp,
Thanks for a good laugh. I needed that tonight.