08/07 - 08/17 - Neah Bay Gathering

[rogerbum]

All,

As I mentioned briefly in the Halcyon Days thread, I'm already planning my 2008 "Fish 'til I drop" Neah Bay trip. I'm tentatively scheduling it for Aug 7-16 (a Thurs through to the Sat on the following week) and think it might be fun to do a C-Brat gathering on either end. For those of you unfamiliar with Neah Bay - it's on the far NW corner of the Olympic Peninsula. There's an excellent marina - floating cement docks, shore power, water (when we're not in a drought) and a double breakwater that makes it nice and calm while docked. Neah Bay is on the Makah Indian reservation and the surrounding human made amenities are a bit "rustic". However, there is one pretty good restaurant, an OK pizza place and a nice general store within walking distance. 2-3 miles away is a fairly new RV park with cabins that are only 2 years old for those who don't wish to stay on board (the motels in Neah Bay are trashy).

However, the reason to be in Neah Bay is not for the man made stuff but the nature - and in particular, the FABULOUS fishing. For those of you who are dieing to catch plenty of salmon and or rock cod and or ling cod, you really should give Neah Bay a shot. This past August, I limited everyone on the boat every day we fished. If you don't fish, there's a lot of nice scenery in the immediate area - a few nice bays towards Tatoosh island, waterfalls, marine wildlife (whales, otters etc) and a great hike up the hill at Cape Flattery. The only down side is that fishing is closed Sun and Mon. in Area 4 (the marine area Neah Bay is in). Hence for a weekend trip, you only get Sat. to fish unless you motor down 12-15 miles to area 5 (towards Sekiu). However, from my perspective, that would make Sunday, a great day to just hang out on the docks with fellow brats.

So -
1) Is there interest?
2) Aug 8-10 or Aug 15-17 OR just call the whole time (Aug 7-17) a C-Brat gathering and people can come and go as they wish?

If there is interest, I 'll look into getting a meeting room - there's a couple of choices at the marina. I'd also be willing to set up a meeting or two the week before at a Seattle based fishing tackle store to help those who don't fish obtain the gear necessary to be successful at Neah Bay - e.g. I'd be happy to show people what to buy.

August is prime fishing time at Neah Bay so we'd need to make dock reservations fairly early - probably in May/June - if we want any contiguous space.

On edit by Da Nag

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[Sea Wolf]

Roger-

This sounds like a great idea.

I've been looking for a CBGT in the NW to hitch my 22 up and come up to, and this combination CBGT/fishing trip would definitely do it.

I'll go ahead and put it on my calendar for 2008!

Thanks for the offer of organizing this great experience!

Joe.

[Sea Wolf]

Roger-

How about adding a salmon fishing seminar on the first night with some preliminary discussion here (or a related thread) about equipment and general techniques for non-locals?

Joe.

[rogerbum]

Joe - I'd love to actually meet you in person so even if it's just your boat and mine, it's a C-Brat gathering. We have several C-Brats who are excellent fishermen. So while I like your suggestion of doing a short seminar, maybe I can convince 2-3 others to help out. I have my own way of doing things and it works for me but every time I take another fisherman out with me, I learn something new. Hence, having another person or two to give out their top tips (maybe even secrets) would be a lot of fun.

I'd love it if someone like Robbi (I actually mean Robbi - you listening Robbi?) who fly fishes in the salt would come out and give us a few tips on that too. Once you get a little off the coast in August, the coho are so thick, that fly fishing should easily work and would be a lot of fun. In fact catching coho on the fly is on my "To Do" list for 2008 (of course I mean my to do list from me as opposed to my wife's to do list for me).

I would still want to offer a trip to a local tackle store since it would be great if those who want to fish showed up with appropriate tackle and didn't have to pay "resort prices" for it at Neah Bay. I was lucky in this regard myself. 5 years ago when I first got the boat, a fellow at work went with me and pointed at various tackle, explained how to use it and for what etc. He also gave me lots of tips on locations and methods. This year on my way back from Neah Bay, I gave him a call, told him that everyone on my boat limited every day, told him I was coming home with a nice load of fish and made sure he knew that my success and that of my guests was at least partially due to lessons I learned from him. It'd would be nice to pass some of that on.

One other note - In addition to salmon, there is excellent bottom fishing (rock cod, ling cod) within 10-15 miles of Neah Bay (some even close but it's better 10-15 miles south of Tatoosh). Hence, it's useful to come with gear for both salmon and bottom fish. Finally, the water off the coast in August is usually pretty calm. For some people who have never taken their boat into the open ocean, this might be the place to give it a try (weather permitting of course). Once I learned how to equate swell/wind reports and predictions with what the water will really feel like, I've gotten much more comfortable with the boat in the ocean. When I first got the boat, I would have never considered going 25 miles offshore - it was just too scary to me. Now, I know what both I and the boat can do and when the weather permits it, I love fishing offshore and have had some really good times 25 miles W of Tatoosh.

[CatyMae n Steve]

I'd kill to go to this gathering! . . . the fish that is

Keep us posted and I'm looking forward to the online or night before seminar...would be nice to know what sort of gear to get ahead of time -- some nice sales going on right now

Caty

[Doryman]

[sportner]

Sounds like a fun trip but can't confirm until May 08. Been there before fishing and it was great. I'll follow the topic. Thanks!

[CW]

I hope to be there, one way or another, perhaps in a new Boat, maybe in my current boat, maybe in a new C-Dory. I've fished out of Neah Bay for halibut and rockfish a couple times, but not for salmon and since the Columbia River at Kalama is still a bit slow for chinook in the first half of August, it would be a fun diversion and halibut is only open in May. From Neah Bay we went 20 miles NW to Swiftsure Bank and worked both the Canadian and American side in about 200 ft. of water and got some nice halibut. We saw three Japanese guys scratching their heads as they tried to figure out what to do with the huge Pacific octopus alongside their boat that was 8 ft or so long and bright pink and purple. Right by Waddah Island (next to marina) we had a baby gray whale go under the boat, so close I had to throw the kicker in neutral to avoid scratching its back. We caught ling cod at the "Garbage Dump" hole and halibut in 345 ft. of water. The Tyee motel in Neah Bay is very rustic.... we had a large live animal under one of the beds in the room.... upon bouncing up and down.... out darted a huge cat! I remember the coffee in the coffee maker slanting significantly in the caraffe..... yes, the floors are crooked. My buddy checked in at nearly midnight, only to find a half dozen empty coke cans in the room and unchanged sheets. They were so tired after working and driving eight hours that they slept in them anyway. The Makah are in no hurry to provide professional customer service or amenities. But the guys line up on the dock with wheel barrows full of fish to be cleaned. One had the following four halibut from one boat: 120 lbs, 90 lbs, 65 lbs, and a baby of 45 lbs. -- a good day. I remember coming in at 26 mph and surfing the 10 ft. swells that overtook me ..... they were going about 35 mph. fun times. The launch ramp there is rustic too.... as you face the water, use the Left side! not the right lane. There are puffins at Tatoosh Island....beautiful wildlife. C.W.[/img]

[Sea Wolf]

Roger- I was actually thinking that we had a number of salmon "pros" amongst our group and figured they all would eventually chime in and become part of the party!

I aread your reports the past few months on both salmon and rock fishing trips with great interest, so I'm jumping at the chance to bring the boat a up and join in on the fun!

Thanks for starting the salmon thread!

Joe.

[gljjr]

Sounds like a great idea Roger. I won't commit to anything now, but will know more closer to July what my plans will be. Typically I spend that time up in Canada on a lake fly fishing. But I've missed getting out to that area for the last couple years. So one way or another I hope to make it in 08.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Roger,

We typically take the camper along and stay at "The Cape". It's not bad, but you don't want to leave anything out, like a cooler full of beer....

The local kids are a bit thirsty.

Steve

[rogerbum]

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I suspect that I am going to have an open spot on the boat if I can make it to Neah Bay, as last time there we hit some pretty big tides. Amazing how big those swells can get. Diana now refers to this area as the entrance to the "Straits of Juan de Puke-A".

Steve

[rogerbum]

Steve - when were you there? My experience is limited to July, August and Sept. I've seen big swells in Sept. but mostly calm seas in July and August. Doesn't mean it can't be nasty in August - I've seen a few bad days- but generally it's pretty nice. So Diana - don't let one bad experience sour you on the area. This summer out of the 12 days total I was in the area, 2 were a little nasty (mostly wind waves, one day with 5-7' swells but the remaining days were all swells at <4' with most days fairly flat and calm.

[Jazzmanic]

Hey Roger,

Great idea. Now that our boat is a permanent "trailer" boat, it won't be such a chore to just hook up to the Durango and trailer it out to Neah Bay. Depending on what end of the week it falls on and of course, based on what the Admiral wants to do, I would like to say count us in!