Daniel Ambrose answers:

Welcome to the Pacific Northwest. The good news is…you are going to love fishing here. I am particularly fond of the Columbia River. The bad news is…salmon and steelhead fishing is a whole new ball game. I’m wouldn’t bother trying to accomodate existing equipment and techniques…you are going to have to do some assimilation. As you already know, you have to head down to the river and spend time with the guys who fish a particular area…techniques and terminal tackle will vary even within a relatively limited stretch of the river. And, of course, there’s no substitute for knowing the river.

Also, the trick here is how NOT to catch bass when you are after something else.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Well just go to a local owned and operated tackle store not a big chain like wal mart cause locals carry the right stuff for your area (or maybe talk to the older guy at the sporting goods at wal mart he might know) but you’ll want a dullish brown and tan/black (crawdad color) and firetiger (chartreuse/dark green/orange belly/black lines) are the two crankbait colors you absolutely have to have then get a chrome/blue back bill lewis rat-l-trap and for minnowbaits just have him get you a light colored one and a dark colored one same for worms (I personnaly prefer chartreuse and dark red colors as my light and dark colors) then lizards stick with them the same as the worms a light color and a dark color (sometimes you find that the fish won’t bite the worm you’re throwing even if you’re catching tons of fish on the same color lizard) you’ll want some light and dark spinnerbaits(ask if you can get the dark one with colorado blades on it and the light ones with willow leaf blades) and a light and a dark buzzbait

the worms and lizards should be just VERY slowly reeled across the bottom the cranbaits try to vary your retrieves( steady reel, reel in pause reel in pause, bouncing off of logs which i don’t recommend, and a sweeping retrieve where you pull your rod back very far then reel in the slack) now on to minnowbaits they work best with just a steady reel in throw out retrieve near the sides of cover (weedbeds, fallen trees etc.) but some weighted minnowbaits you jerk through the water (this works best on cold days or very hot summer days) spinnerbaits pull directly through weedbeds and some types of cover you can helicopter (let it sink down unhindered) the side of a log or other vertical structure you can slow roll across the bottom which i have found works best in the tailwaters of a dam or anything that your mind tells ya to do is worth a shot just about and buzzbaits as soon as they hit the water stick your rodtip high and reel fast enough so that the blades break the surface and you hear a buzzing sound lower your rodtip as it gets closer to the boat these can be fished at almost any structure but works best by points underwater weedbeds and fallen trees

this should be a good list of baits and tactics for you also see if you can get a guide to take you out on the lake one day they’ll show you the spots to fish and the baits to use for your lake plus your almost guranteed to catch fish

Good Luck And Tight Lines

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Alex:

You and I are lucky since we have a Cabela’s nearby. Not everyone is so fortunate. The relatively short trip to Olympia (actually, Lacey), is worth it. It’s a fantastic store. It’s like a big mall (or candy store). The fishing sections are great…from inexpensive to top of the line. There’s a great selection of salmon gear.

I don’t know about you but for some purchases, I like to actually hold the items to contrast them. In my opinion, the store people at Cabela’s are knowledgeable and helpful. I guess because of our proximity to Puget Sound and the Pacific, this includes salt water gear and knowledge.

The store policies are great too. Last year, I bought a Daiwa Luna Model 300 reel. It was several weeks before I got to try it. I discovered I really needed the Model 203 with a narrower spool. They exchanged it, no questions asked. The receipt said, “Customer changed his mind.”

I suppose it’s not a major consideration but they have a great popcorn stand outside.

I found it a little tricky to get to even though it’s right off I-5. There are a couple of “round abouts” that still confuse me enough that I’m careful so I don’t wind up “exploring” nearby neighborhoods.

I’ll include a link so you can see the store, look at it’s inventory, and get directions if needed.

Http://www.cabelas.com/lacey-washington-store.shtml

However, when I’m on the road fishin’, I think it’s important to support the local guys. So, I’ll find a local tackle shop for my supplies.

Happy shoppin’ and fishin’