# The Salish Guide

> An independent guidebook to Washington fishing.


## Posts

- [November Preview: Chum, Late Coho and the Turn Toward Winter](https://salishguide.com/what-to-look-forward-to-november/): November in Washington means Hood Canal chum, late river coho, squid moving south and the first winter steelhead talk. Here's what to plan for.
- [Fall Crabbing in Puget Sound: Know Your Area and Your Shell](https://salishguide.com/fall-crabbing-puget-sound/): Fall and winter crabbing in Puget Sound depends on the marine area. Why some areas reopen and others don't, and how to spot a soft-shell crab.
- [Sea-Run Cutthroat and Resident Coho in South Puget Sound This Fall](https://salishguide.com/south-sound-sea-run-cutthroat-fall/): South Puget Sound's beaches offer fall fishing for sea-run cutthroat and resident coho, often from shore. Here's how to read the water and plan.
- [Fall Walleye on the Columbia and Snake: Cooler Water, Better Bite](https://salishguide.com/fall-walleye-columbia-snake/): Walleye fishing on the Columbia and Snake often improves in fall as water cools. Where anglers look, how they fish, and what to check first.
- [Get Ready for Chum Salmon on Hood Canal This Fall](https://salishguide.com/hood-canal-chum-salmon/): Hood Canal's chum salmon season builds toward November. October is the time to scout shoreline access, understand the fish, and plan your trip.
- [Yakima River October Caddis: Big Bugs, Lower Water](https://salishguide.com/yakima-october-caddis/): Fall on the Yakima brings big orange October caddis, falling flows and some of the year's best dry-fly water. Here's how to plan a trip.
- [Fall Steelhead: Why Summer-Run Fish Matter in October](https://salishguide.com/october-fall-steelhead/): Summer-run steelhead can hold in Washington rivers through fall. Here's why October matters in Columbia and Snake tributaries and how to plan.
- [October Squid Jigging: Puget Sound After Dark](https://salishguide.com/october-puget-sound-squid/): October is a great time to try squid jigging around Edmonds and Seattle. Here's how pier lights, simple gear, and nighttime timing come together.
- [October Coho in Puget Sound: Follow the Rain](https://salishguide.com/october-coho-puget-sound/): October coho fishing in Puget Sound is all about timing the fall rain. Here's where to look, what to watch, and how to plan a day on the water.

## Pages

- [Fishing in Washington in September: What's in Season](https://salishguide.com/seasons/september/): See September fishing across Washington, including Buoy 10 coho, Hood Canal coho, Puget Sound squid, Lake Roosevelt walleye and Washington coast albacore.
- [Fishing in Washington in August: What's in Season](https://salishguide.com/seasons/august/): August fishing in Washington spans Buoy 10 salmon, coast albacore, Puget Sound crabbing, Neah Bay halibut and Cascade alpine lakes trout, with guide options.
- [Fishing in Washington in July: What's in Season](https://salishguide.com/seasons/july/): Plan July fishing in Washington with Puget Sound salmon and crab, Westport salmon charters, Cascade alpine lakes trout and coastal lingcod and rockfish.
- [Fishing in Washington in June: What's in Season](https://salishguide.com/seasons/june/): June in Washington means Puget Sound salmon and crabbing, Westport charters, Neah Bay halibut, Yakima rainbow trout and Columbia River walleye trip ideas.
- [Fishing in Washington in May: What's in Season](https://salishguide.com/seasons/may/): Explore May fishing in Washington, from Neah Bay salmon and halibut to Lake Roosevelt walleye, Yakima rainbow trout and coastal bottomfish guide options.
- [Fishing in Washington in April: What's in Season](https://salishguide.com/seasons/april/): Plan April fishing in Washington: Yakima River rainbow trout, Lake Roosevelt walleye and kokanee, Skagit steelhead and coastal lingcod and rockfish trips.
- [Fishing in Washington in March: What's in Season](https://salishguide.com/seasons/march/): March fishing in Washington brings Olympic Peninsula and Skagit steelhead, Columbia and Snake River walleye and coastal lingcod and rockfish trip ideas.
- [Fishing in Washington in February: What's in Season](https://salishguide.com/seasons/february/): Find February fishing ideas across Washington with Olympic Peninsula winter steelhead, Skagit River steelhead and Yakima whitefish, plus guide options.
- [Fishing in Washington in January: What's in Season](https://salishguide.com/seasons/january/): Explore January fishing in Washington, from Olympic Peninsula winter steelhead and Yakima whitefish to Puget Sound squid and Skagit River steelhead fishing.
- [Trolling](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/trolling/): How to troll for salmon with downriggers, flashers and divers: setting depth, choosing leader length, holding the right speed with or against the tide and landing the fish.
- [Swung Flies](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/swung-flies/): How to swing flies for steelhead on a Spey rod: matching the head and sink tip, choosing the cast, mending for a slow swing, covering a run and letting the grab come tight.
- [Still-Water Fly Fishing](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/still-water/): How to fly fish lakes for trout: chironomids under an indicator, leeches and damsels on sinking lines, reading shoals and drop-offs, anchoring properly and staying safe in a float tube.
- [Squid Jigging](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/squid-jigging/): How to jig for market squid from Puget Sound piers at night: light, long rods, glowing jigs, single and multi-jig rigs, where to fish the lighted edge and how to land squid without losing them to slack line.
- [Spoons and Spinners](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/spoons-and-spinners/): How to fish spoons, spinners and casting jigs for salmon, steelhead and trout: sizing by flow and clarity, casting angle, swinging the lure near the bottom and fishing Puget Sound beaches on the tide.
- [Side Drifting](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/side-drifting/): How to side drift for steelhead from a drift boat or sled: the rig, the boat control, the bite and the small adjustments that decide your day.
- [Pulling Plugs](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/pulling-plugs/): How to back-troll diving plugs and diver-and-bait rigs for steelhead and salmon: the spread, the rowing, the tuning and the strike.
- [Plunking](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/plunking/): How to plunk for salmon and steelhead from the bank or an anchored boat: the slider rig, Spin-N-Glos and bait-wrapped plugs, how to pick a spot on big and small rivers, and how to wait out the bite.
- [Mooching](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/mooching/): How to mooch for salmon in Puget Sound and the Strait: cutting a plug-cut herring, rigging the banana sinker, holding a 45-degree line and setting the hook.
- [Kokanee Trolling](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/kokanee-trolling/): How to troll for kokanee in Washington lakes: finding the 50-degree layer, rigging a dodger and short leader, trolling slow with S-turns and keeping soft-mouthed fish on the hook.
- [Halibut](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/halibut/): How to fish for Pacific halibut in Washington: the spreader-bar and jig rigs, drifting downhill along edges, letting the fish take a circle hook and landing a big flatfish safely.
- [Float Fishing](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/float-fishing/): How to float fish a jig, bead or bait for steelhead and salmon: setting depth, sizing the float, mending the drift and reading the float.
- [Drift Fishing](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/drift-fishing/): How to drift fish for steelhead and salmon from the bank or an anchored boat: the corky rig, the cast, the tick and the hook set.
- [Crabbing and Shrimping](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/crabbing-shrimping/): How to set crab pots, ring nets and deep-water shrimp pots in Puget Sound: choosing gear, rigging line and buoys for depth and tide, baiting, soak times and handling your catch. Every rule is something to check with WDFW.
- [Jigging](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/jigging/): How to jig Washington salt water for salmon, lingcod and rockfish: choosing the jig, finding bait and structure, timing the tide and releasing fish at depth.
- [Beach Fly Fishing](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/beach-fly-fishing/): How to fly fish Puget Sound and Hood Canal beaches for sea-run cutthroat and coho: reading tide and current, choosing a beach, the line and flies to carry and the cast-and-move approach.
- [Fishing Methods](https://salishguide.com/fishing-methods/)
- [Seasons](https://salishguide.com/seasons/)
- [Fishing in Washington in November: What's in Season](https://salishguide.com/seasons/november/): Explore fishing in Washington in November, from Hood Canal chum and river coho to Puget Sound squid, Yakima trout, walleye and regional trip ideas.
- [Fishing in Washington in October: What's in Season](https://salishguide.com/seasons/october/): Plan October fishing in Washington with the usual coho, chum, squid and steelhead patterns, regional ideas, guide options and current-rule reminders.
- [Fishing in Washington in December: What's in Season](https://salishguide.com/seasons/december/): Plan December fishing in Washington with the usual winter steelhead, South Sound squid, late Hood Canal chum, walleye and regional guide options.
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