Does anyone have any info as to the conditoin of the the old Silver King Resort? I fished out of there about five years ago . I was the only one there other than the kid running the store.

papaslap,

I've been there once this year and many more times in the past few years.
Same sad story how ever. The basin is still full of silt and you only have a little time either side of high to get a boat in or out. last year the caretakers thought Merrill and Ring would have it dredged for this year. Doesn't seem to be the case since they split this year. Apparently disposing of the sludge was going to be high dollar.
Anyway silverking has been full or close to it in the past few years from august through the end of september. As it was for the king opener the 5th of july this year.
I have the phone number around somewhere and if I can find it I'll try to get it to you.

Head out to Clallam Bay and launch at the Coho Resort. It is about a 5 mile run, so unless you are in a 12-15 foot kicker boat, it shouldn't be a big issue.

Kings are closed, and the last two times we were down that way we picked up a number of dogfish on hootchies, and other assorted hardware.

Been catching good numbers of 3 species off of Slip Point, and down towards Pillar. Once you get there though, you get lots of those pesky guys.

Andy

Thanks for the imput. Have they still got locks on the flushing toilets?

papaslap,

Yes, and the porta johns fill up quick.

Bring your own T.P.

Man, my favorite place to ever fish. I spent the first 17 of August there and at the county park as a kid (back in the 70's). THe fishing was just incredible, as was the camping experience. It's such a shame that what access there was has deteriorated as fas as it has. It just goes to show that poor fish years can have a economic trickle down

yeap ...There were few places on earth like pillar and the Silver King in it's hayday...You would pull out of Joyce and head up that seeming endless winding road, up and down and around and round. Catching glimpses of the straight now and agaon through the tall timber. We would chug up that last grade loaded to the hilt just hoping that the brakes would hold in the final hairpins above camp. You know the curves , the ones that caused the jake brake alarm clocks to be applied everymorning .

Then finally you could make that turn down John's driveway and assend upon the wonderfull smells of seawater, smokers, canners, campfires and most of all the smell of salmon. Check in with the old man who believe it or not loved that place.

"Are they bitting?" "how deep?" What time is the tide?" "Do you have bait?" Now wonder he acted like such a sour old fart. Having to put up with the assinine questions as well as the envornmentalist wackos that were alway on his case, I am amazed that he lasted as long as he did, God Bless Him!

Anyway find your spot, set up camp , launch the boat, greet some old friends, and settle in for the first night party. Funny how tough that first night is...I guess it is just that part of the city grind that has to let its'self out. I know for a fact that after a week or so most have changed and adapted to life at pillar point.If they haven't they don't belong. I think the true transformation of settling into fishcamp no matter where it might be is that third or fourth day when you finally get rid of the runs.

There were many factors that changed Silver King. Too many to go into here. But some things that will never change are the fantastic rock formations, the Northern lights, the brilliant sunrises, and the ghostly moonscapes over the kelpbeds.

Yeap Silver King was truly a treasure of the northwest fishing industry , such as were many other camps around the state that will never be quite the same.

Papa...what a great reply!!!! Jake was the old fart who ran the county park. Then Ralph and his wife. How aboput anchoring out in the Pysht and hoping that you wouldn't be hi-n-dri at low tide at 3:30 am? Cussing the Indian gillnets, and the rumors of a big fish? What a place it was!!!