Isn't the internet great? As a kid growing up in the northend of Tacoma, Washington I had to ride my bike or walk to the Swasey [Branch] library to research a topic that intersted me (fishing). In those days only a handful of books related to fishing were available- most of which encompassed fly fishing. Hoping to find useful information on steelhead or salmon fishing; which was nearly unheard of in those days, I resorted to learning fly fishing for trout from noted fly fishing greats/authors such as Bergman, Bates, and Brooks (et al). Luckily I had family that owned property on Washington's Dechutes River to improve my poor casting skills, yet I caught a few fish to entertain the family's dinner over the weekend away from home.
In 1974 my parents bought their first boat- a bright yellow Bayliner aptly named the Banana Boat. With both parents working Monday through Friday the weekends were left for cruising aroung the Sound. Isn't wasn't long before my grandfather Morry suggested we use the boat for fishing in Puget Sound. Grandpa Morry was no stranger to fishing. In fact, he was one of the first to recognize chinook salmon were deep water feeders and help develope methods to catch these aggresive fish. The method was simple - no fishing pole - a heavy window sash attached to cotton cord dropped over the stern of the boat to intercept large fish (circa 1930).
There were very few weekends the family didn't fish, but I can distinctly remember mom complaining about the cold of winter although dressed quite heavily. Covered with what appeared to be half an elk and moose, and a homemade knitted sweater, she hanged in like a warrior when the bite was on!
Some 5-years later, in my first year as a teenager, I landed a job (my first) with the Tacoma News Tribune delivering news along the route just north of Fred Meyers on south 19th Street along the main arteries of Stevens and Verde. Weekends were greeted with excitement and mom or dad helped my deliver the news in the dark before hitching the boat each weekend morning.
Fishing had some how taken a back seat in the family. However, I manage to save enough money and convinced mom and dad that I was ready to buy my first boat- a 12-foot Klamath with 6hp Johnson. The fishing continued... How in the hell I made it through high school is far beyond me...
Some 35-years later, at the age of 44, I can now sit at home, type a few words in the search box, and read the myriad of search results that appear before me within seconds. Now, I am a manufacturer of custom salmon tackle, but the sole purpose of Captain Downriggin's is to give the angler an opportunity to learn fishing the Puget Sound without having the tedious task I had- either you went to the library or approach the old farts (salts) at the boathouse- if you had the balls.
I have been very fortunate to spend most of my life fishing Puget Sound. Not many people can claim this nor have they ever documented their time on the water. Keeping a journal is one of the biggest mistakes and angler can make, and yet I have managed. Regardless of how much time or how detailed the notes, one will soon discover there are no conclusive results. There are no sure hard fast rules, but there's is guidance...
I hope that you take the time and read through a few of the articles I have posted on
www.captaindownriggins.com. I am sure you will find very useful specific information on various areas in Puget Sound and start catching fish with regularity.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact me directly, or better yet, consider joining the forum- Pacific Northwest Salmon Anglers Online which is available through my website.
Very rspectfully,
John Abbott
What a summer here in the Northwest! There were numerous days with above average temperatures, and even a few in to the 100-degree range. However, something has happened. It is early October and someone "hit the switch." The temperatures are dropping each day, trees and plants are beginning to show off their pretty reds, yellows and oranges, Mr. Rain has found his way home, and most of our ocean going chinook and coho are well into the rivers system to complete their life cycles.
