Oh anglers, the sweet sweet relief of the offseason coming to a close. Yes the spring is just 2 months away now. March and April are right around the corner. I for one, am very stoked. This winter has been a much smoother ride over here in Gig Harbor and the days are less cold and have zero snow for me to deal with.

Steelhead start for us this month. I go grab the raft tomorrow to lug it over the mountains so we can get over to Forks a little easier. I have select days open for it and I am watching the numbers, the flows, the weather, and the regs just in case we have anything funky. I am anxious for Steel Trips, its been a while, and I am looking forward to it.

The sound has been really fun. Gorgeous, the sunset the other night before the fog socked us in was quite spectacular from the Skiff as we came into Manchester. Seattle City Scape, Mt. Rainer, the Cascades and Olympics in full snowy view. The Ferry going by, a Tug pulling sailboat, and a few other anglers and boaters out to watch the sunset on the sound. This place is pretty neat when you look past the buildings, the cars, and all the concrete. The Seattle Metropolitan area is quite amazing when viewed from the Sound. Slowly I have fallen in love with it. Its a big old body of water and can be intimidating. But with every new hour logged on the water the more comfortable I get. I am looking forward to showing the Sound off from the boat in 2026 as a guide.

Puget Sound is the saltwater I have been looking for. It is quiet, easy to navigate, there isn’t a ton of boat traffic compared to places like Florida and Michigan. Not even close. I haven’t seen it in the summer but I was in Florida during busy time and Michigan in the summer. We shall see but I doubt the traffic in terms of boats will be anywhere close. There just ain’t as many boats in harbors and marinas as those places. The fishing is very similar to small mouth bass fishing just on a really big lake. Much like the big lakes in Michigan. The sound moves pretty crazy though. The tides make for some of most dynamic water I have been in, its not like class rapids or anything but it has its nuances and intricacies that need to be learned in order to successfully move about for fishing Sea Runs. The water near the edges that is less than 15 feet has some of the most stuff and things happening to it at any given moment of the day. There is never not something going on under water. And the fish…they are everywhere. Some days are slow, but fish are always found. The boat makes things easier for sure. Being able to get in close to fish and fish them from different and better angles than shore is a major advantage.

Sea runs remind me of Speckled Trout down south. In tight, aggressive, move fast, hit hard for their size, and they are plentiful. Sea runs are similar, and add a dash of Smallmouth attitude and you’ve got a Sea Run Cutthroat Trout. They ain’t big, but they hit big, and they get wicked cranky and fight like smallmouth, some get air, but most dive and zig zag and pull like a small mouth and steroids. Its a good time. Exploring the sound is a hoot with lots of nooks and crannies to tuck into, even some places where polling might end up working. Mud flats and areas where the tide makes things real skinny, my skiff was made for stuff like that. More and more we explore the cooler the things we find. Its been a somewhat busy winter with many days on the boat and even more building up the business for this season.

Its is shaping up to be a busy one with new waters, new offerings, a easier way to book trips online. The spring is only 2 months away! Time to start making those plans and chasing some trout in 2026 anglers!

Tamarack

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Published by tamaracksguideservice

I have been fishing the Yakima River and its surrounding tributaries, creeks, and lakes for 10 years. I have been tying flies specific to this river for 10 years as well. I have guided not only the river but also many of the hiking and mountaineering trails in the area and fished some of the more remote lakes and streams. I love to fish the Yakima River and have been running my driftboat here for 5 years. I guide a little differently than the other services here and have a slightly different philosophy on guided fishing trips. Its all about the experience, and while I can't promise there will always be cooperative trout, there will always be good times. I learned from some of the greatest anglers the Yakima has both on the water and at the vise and I guide to share and pass on that knowledge and expertise so others can enjoy this river as much as I do. I love to teach people to fish, I love to teach people how to read the river, and I love showing people the beauty and art of fly fishing. My service is a bit cheaper but that is because I have no shop taking a percentage. I use a lot of my own fly designs and patterns that no other guide has and have spent the past 10 years fine tuning my tying and patterns specific to this river. I have flies, leaders, tippets, and fly rods and reels, and always welcome anglers to bring their own gear. If you need waders and boots I can arrange for a rental. I support my local fly shop for my trips as well as it is important to me that our local shops stay open. When you take a trip with me it all about fishing and the experiences that happen along the river. I love getting my clients to have great moments with our trout here. Ask me all the questions you can, I want to teach as much as you want to learn. Whether you are an experienced angler or brand new to the sport I love sharing this river with people. I guide the Yakima River and many other secret waters in the area. When you give me a call I will ask you lots of questions as I want to make sure you have the best experience possible while chasing the trout we have here. Whether its a guided river float or a hike and fish, or a walk and wade to the secret places, I can help make your fly fishing experience memorable and fun. Give me a call today and lets set up a time to go fishing.

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