by Jason Brooks, June 30, 2015

As summer heats up so does the salmon fishing. There is something about July, almost like a preview of what is yet to come in the next three to four months. This summer it’s all about Chinook, Coho, Sockeye and Pinks and to kick it off here is a rundown of July’s top fisheries, the places to go, the fish to catch and the gear to use.

Westport has been open for over a month now but it started off really slow and very few fish being caught. A few weeks later and things are starting to turn around, especially the Coho. A late June report by Ted Schuman (winter run guide service and famed Twitching Jigs expert) who took a day off of the summer steelhead rivers and headed out to the big blue ocean for a day of his own fishing (he does not guide the ocean) brings news of Coho, “We couldn’t keep them off the line and a boat limit was pretty easy to get.” One thing about this fishery is that you need a decent sized boat and knowledge of the bar crossing, tides, and weather reports. If you can get all of that down then the standard dodger and cut plug herring or mooching set up works for both Coho and Chinook. Charter boats are also available and make for a great day to spend with family and friends.

Hood Canal and the Strait of Juan de Fuca will see the first arriving Pinks fairly early in the month. By mid-month it will be in full swing and Chinook will also be arriving in big numbers. For Hood Canal just about every stream or outlet will have Pinks milling around. Look for jumping fish and start twitching pink jigs, throw buzz bombs, or pink and white spoons. Don’t overlook a pink marabou jig tipped with a piece of prawn suspended under a float. One of the most popular spots is right at the Hoodsport Hatchery. If you are in a boat make sure you stay out past the buoy markers and for shore bound anglers do not trespass on the adjacent properties. For the Strait’s try trolling a Fish Flash or Dodger with a Brad’s Killer Cut Plug Mini in the color “Pink Magic” stuffed with fresh prawns. This will get Pinks as well as Chinook and since the bait mimics a plug cut herring if you get a strike that doesn’t pop off the downrigger clip you don’t have to worry about your bait as you know it’s still back there slowly rolling and enticing another fish to attack it.



Later in July head south in Hood Canal and troll for Chinook that are venturing their way to the Skokomish River. The “Skok” has had a few regulation changes this year and will hopefully curtail the bad reputation it has. With an early opener in late July look to the lower part of the river and fresh cured eggs under a bobber. If everyone else is doing the same thing and you feel the need to try something different adjust your bait and include a chunk of sardine or sand shrimp with your eggs. There is no need to “rip and grip” for these fish and if we do our part this year in turning this river around we will be able to continue to have this fantastic fishery.



As July really heats up switch over to Sockeye fishing in the Mid-Columbia region. Wenatchee is an overlooked destination but there is great fishing right above Rocky Reach Dam for both boat and shore anglers. From Rocky Reach to Wells Dam and even to the famed Brewster Pool where the Okanogan River puts the brakes on these tasty fish with its overly warm waters, the main Columbia is a Sockeye fishery dream. Of course Mack’s Lure has this fishery nailed, as they are based in Wenatchee and Bob Loomis, the Marketing Director of the local tackle company, has it figured out advising to use a Mack’s Double D Dodger paired with a Mack’s Lure Sockeye Rig trailing 9 inches behind. Drop it down to 15 feet as Sockeye tend to stay up in the water during the low light hours of the morning and troll as slow as you possibly can, averaging ½ to 1 mph. You can tip the hooks with shrimp if you want but it’s not necessary. As of this writing it is unknown if there will be a Lake Wenatchee fishery but if there is then use the same techniques and be ready to fish early as the afternoon thermal winds will blow you off of the lake by lunchtime. For shore bound anglers above Rocky Reach Dam try suspending under a slip float a Mack’s Cha Cha Squider Kokanee rig tipped with a piece of prawn.

Don’t forget the big Upriver Bright Chinook as you try for the Sockeye. If you are able to fish multiple rods it’s always a good idea to have one set up for Kings. For me there is simply one technique that is my “go to” for both boat and shore bound anglers and it is very simple. I will run a Brad’s Killer Cut Plug stuffed with herring smeared with Pro-Cure’s Bloody Tuna. From the boat sometimes I will put a dodger or a fish flash in front of it but mostly I just run it bare off of my downriggers. For the shore bound angler simply put a 2 ounce to 4 ounce banana weight three feet in front of the Brad’s Killer Cut Plug, cast it out and reel it in. The weight depends on the current and how much water the Public Utility District is letting out of the dams. This technique works well in the salt by the way, just mooching it like a plug cut herring on a mooching set up. You can also use this from a boat and just let it out behind without the use of downriggers or divers and back troll down into the fish but you will want to up the weight to 5 ounces or more depending on the currents. For colors I prefer the “Hot Tamale, Jack Pot, and Black Jack” in that order but new for this year is “Candy Corn” with a UV finish and it will be a fish killer!

In the Brewster Pool, famed guide Jeff Witkowski of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service used to absolutely hammer the Chinook. His favorite way to target these big brutes were to fish Brad’s Super Baits original series with his “go to” colors in order as: Hot Tamale, Hot Lava, and Lady Bug. He recommended, “42" behind a chrome Pro-Troll 11" flasher.” And added a little secret knowledge, “Bet I've caught more Brewster kings though on blue-label cut plug herring (yep, the big herring) 42" behind size 0 chrome herring dodger. Always have that on at least one rig, often saves the day.” Jeff also said that fishing early is a great way to keep from getting sunburned but not always necessary to catch the fish, “ At daylight and for first couple hours, I usually fish 18-26' down, then go deep in the "L" trench, 63-72' down, usually get my biggest fish deep, often late into the day”.

Nowadays Jeff would rather guide clients on Lake Chelan for its massive Mackinaw or Omak Lake for giant Lahontan Cutthroat instead of chasing the fall salmon but he is willing to share his techniques with you for them when you spend a day on the water in his boat on Chelan or Omak, which is a great way to learn multiple fisheries on one trip. Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service can be reached at (509) 687-0709.

July is a great month to start salmon fishing and it will only get better from here. No matter if you are an “old salty dog” who ventures onto the open ocean, a “weekender “who likes the Sound and Hood Canal or a “dry sider” bounded to the bank there is an opportunity for you to get out and catch some salmon. It will only get better as the month continues on into August and then fall but for now keep the 4th of July flag bearing t-shirts and shorts on and go fishing.