Outdoors: Gone Fishin'

For those of you who think fishing in the Pacific Northwest is all about idyllic salmon streams à la A River Runs Through It—you’re only partly right. That’s because right here in Seattle we have enough sport-fishing opportunities to make even the most outdoorsy angler drool. Whether your tastes run to salmon and trout or squid and crabs, Seattle’s urban fishing spots have it all. And while some fish have relatively short seasons (those coveted salmon), many can be fished year-round. With the help of local urban fishing junkie Justin Carder, we’ve put together the following list of some of our favorite in-city angling opportunities.

 

GREEN LAKE
Given its location smack-dab in the middle of the city and easy access by car, bus or bicycle, Green Lake might just be the most popular fishing spot in all of Seattle.

What you’ll find on your line: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) stocks Green Lake with about 20,000 rainbow trout every spring. Year-round opportunities include largemouth bass, rock bass, yellow perch, catfish and even tiger muskie. NOTE: Given the pollution and abundant amounts of duck and goose poop around the lake, it is recommended that you do not eat the fish you catch in Green Lake.
Bait/gear tip: Local freshwater fishing experts swear by Berkley Fishing’s artificial PowerBait for attracting trout, but they also use salmon eggs, perhaps with a marshmallow. Gearwise, a simple 6-foot pole and a basic small spinning reel is a solid rig for hooking lake dwellers like trout.
When: March–May for trout; year-round for other fish.
Where: Anywhere around Green Lake, especially from various wooden docks and piers.

 

LAKE UNION
Anglers thrilled by the chase are sure to have fun fishing from the shores of Gas Works Park on Lake Union. But per the decree of WDFW, throw it all back: The lake is one of the state’s most polluted bodies of water.

What you’ll find on your line: Smallmouth bass are big and feisty, putting even experienced anglers to the test. Given Lake Union’s proximity to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (which connect to Puget Sound’s salt water), salmon, trout and even the occasional flounder can be had as well.
Bait/gear tip: Besides multicolored plastic worms (or even real live worms), spinning lures also work to attract smallmouth bass.
When: Snag a smallmouth May–August; year-round for other fish.
Where: Shoreline of Gas Works Park (north end of Lake Union near Fremont).

 

ELLIOTT BAY
The odds of hooking a salmon from a shoreline pier right in downtown Seattle might not be great, but that doesn’t seem to stop dozens of regulars from trying.

What you’ll find on your line: Beefy oceangoing salmon are the big draw here; squid and the occasional crab also have their devotees.
Bait/gear tip: Local salmon fishers swear by “mooching,” that is, using cut herring as bait, a style reputedly invented in Seattle. Most 7-Eleven stores around town sell bait-worthy herring. Artificial lures like Buzz Bombs also work well. For squid, which are attracted to the bright lights of the man-made waterfront, a homemade or manufactured jigging kit is needed, not to mention a warm, rainproof coat. For crab, drop a trap and hope for the best (but beware that Puget Sound crabs store dangerous amounts of PCBs in their flesh).
When: July–October for salmon; July–August for crab. Squid season runs November–January, and January is considered peak.
Where: Fishing pier at north end of Myrtle Edwards Park or the Seattle Aquarium pier (both off Alaskan Way in Belltown).

 

LAKE WASHINGTON
Given its size and connections to upland streams and the sea, Lake Washington provides Seattle anglers with perhaps the biggest variety of fishing opportunities.

What you’ll find on your line: Big rainbow and cutthroat trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch and even sockeye and coho salmon, on a limited number of days as determined by WDFW.
Bait/gear tip: Locals expert in catching their allotment of salmon when such brief summertime fisheries open swear by getting out on the water and dragging Gold Star Dodger and Mini Squid lures in a slow troll behind a boat with a downrigger rod.
When: Year-round for trout, bass and perch; midsummer for possible brief salmon runs as dictated by WDFW (see wdfw.wa.gov/fish/sockeye/fishing.htm).
Where: Docks and floats around Washington Park Arboretum on the south side of Union Bay (accessible on foot from behind the Museum of History and Industry); two dozen other parks and fishing docks along the lake.

 

ALKI BEACH
No roundup of Seattle fishing spots would be complete without mentioning the saltwater opportunities available on Alki.

 
What you’ll find on your line: Migrating coho and chinook salmon.
When: Late summer–early fall.
Where: Seacrest Pier (1660 Harbor Ave. SW) and Alki Beach (1702 Alki Ave. SW).

 

BALLARD
More-advanced urban anglers looking for a challenge might venture forth to Ballard. After all, thousands of commercial fishers who run their boats out of Fishermen’s Terminal can’t be wrong.

 
What you’ll find on your line: Blackmouth salmon from the Shilshole fishing pier or a boat; fly fishers can score cutthroat trout and the occasional salmon from the beach at Golden Gardens.
Bait/gear tip: Spoons, plug lures or herring for blackmouth; slinging a rooster tail out into the surf with rod and reel could land a trout or salmon.
When: All winter long for blackmouth; fall and winter for trout; summer for migrating coho or chinook salmon.
Where: Shilshole fishing pier (7001 Seaview Ave. NW) and Golden Gardens (8498 Seaview Pl. NW)

HALLER LAKE
Aside from fish, you’ll also find bald eagles and great blue herons around this North Seattle lake.

What you’ll find on your line: Easy pickings on “cookie cutter” (hatchery-bred) rainbow trout planted by the WDFW; patient anglers might snag a largemouth bass or even yellow perch.

Bait/gear tip: For bass and perch, try plastic worms tied “drop shot” style (tying your hook up the line and putting the lead on the bottom).
When: March–May for trout; June–August for bass and perch.
Where: While the majority of the shoreline at Haller Lake is private, public access points on the north and west shores accommodate fishing from shore.

 

GETTING STARTED
LICENSE TO CAST: To cast a line into any water body in Washington state, you’ll need a license from WDFW, available online (with a credit card) at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov and at tackle shops and most outdoor recreation stores. WDFW also posts the full slate of sportfishing rules, which outline legal fishing seasons for various varieties of fish, on its Web site: fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/index.jsp.

URBAN OUTFITTERS: Outdoor Emporium (1701 Fourth Ave. S; 206.624.6550) is well known as the best place around town to score some fishing tackle. Happy Hooker Bait and Tackle (944 Alaskan Way; 206.281.5289), near the fishing pier in Myrtle Edwards Park, is also a great resource. All Fred Meyer (fredmeyer.com) stores also stock a good selection of fishing supplies. Fly anglers might want to check out Patrick’s Fly Shop (2237 Eastlake Ave. E; 206.325.8988) as well.