Have the salmon finally arrived?

After this weekend I would say your odds are getting much better. Coho are starting to show up in numbers along the west side of the island and I have even had reports that areas like Fort Casey and West Beach have produced a few fish for shore anglers.

The Samish River has also started to produce some really nice fish over the last week.

If you head out on the river to try your luck, be sure to check the tides. Low tide seems to be the favorite for most anglers as it concentrates the fish into smaller holes. Use about a quarter-ounce slip sinker with 12-to-18 inches of leader and a small corky, (red, green or orange), with some yarn tide to the hook. Tie your hook on with an egg loop and add a bit of roe or sand shrimp to better your odds.

Be sure to keep a constant eye on our pole as the bites are very subtle and it will take you a few fish to really get the feel for the bite.

If you remember reading my article on the jigging for salmon lecture I sat in at the Anacortes Puget Sound Anglers meeting, now is the time to put it to use. Not only is the river producing, but those that venture out into Samish Bay have had some real good success jigging for the big kings before they head up river.

Some things to think about:

• One — the water is not very deep. Be sure to target the small channels carved out by the river in the bay. Most reports have come from guys fishing in nine feet of water. The tide moves out quickly and one can get their boat stuck easily.

• Two — there is a no fishing boundary that you have to monitor. Be sure to check the regulations before you head out.

Point Wilson Darts in white or some variation of white seem to be doing the best. Use the smallest one you can to keep your line straight up and down. The water is very shallow so you should use the smallest one they make.

As for the San Juan Islands, it has been pretty quiet. Some decent fish have been caught up around Orcas Island and the ever-popular Eagle Point on San Juan.

Fishermen have reported the popular hoochie color has been purple with a flashaboo skirt.

I’ve been told they have been setting their down riggers to a depth of around 65-feet.

If you follow the plan of attack, you should be able to meet with some success.

Hunting:

Extremely dry weather has made hunting so far this year a challenge as well. Grouse hunters are reportedly not seeing as many birds this year and the dry weather is mostly to blame. If you are going to get out this month get up as high as you can.

Once it starts to rain the grouse will start moving into their normal range and hunters should have more success.

Bow hunters are also finding the dry weather to be a big problem.

With a dry forest floor moving around quietly is almost impossible. It is comparable to walking on corn flakes. Crackle, crackle!

The same goes with those still hitting the forest looking for bears. The dry weather has taken its toll on the mountain berries this year and caused the bears to spread out looking for food before winter.

It would be best to target the higher elevations if you are planning on having a chance at bagging one of the bruins.

Until my next article you can contact me at whidbey_fff@yahoo.com. I look forward to hearing from you.