Favorite Small Boat Harbor

Many people don't know this but Auke Bay gets it's name from the sound your heart makes after consuming one of those big burgers & chocolate malts at the "Hot Bite" burger joint :)

In addition to many mentioned, we kind of like Bell Harbor and I just can't fathom some south seas, Costa Rica, port being nicer than Kalama :)
 
B~C":1j39nud4 said:
....I just can't fathom some south seas, Costa Rica, port being nicer than Kalama :)
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It is hard to imagine, isn't it? But I'm afraid I ate one too many corn dogs at a gas station across the street while working on our Westsail after the road trip from Texas. Plus my truck got broken into and I lost a bunch of tools. I just can't love the place. :sad
 
My! One place? No can do...besides, we haven't seen enough of the country or world yet...some great ones, though: a thunder and lightening show up a creek on the Chesapeake, mist rising eerily in the morning over the Kettle River off Lake Roosevelt, eyeballing the moose on Upper Priest Lake in Idaho, eating oysters fixed by your Chinese friends at Tumbo Island, cruising the San Juans, Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound with C-Brat friends old and new, Matia Cove and Eagle Cove at Cypress Island just because, Smuggler's Cove, Princess Louisa Inlet...too many places to name on the northern B.C. part of the Inland Passage, all the coves on the Behm Canal in Southeast...Andrews Bay in Lake Washington in the snow, Blakely Harbor on Bainbridge pretty much any time. And more, lots more. So many coves, so little time.
 
We're not will traveled enough to judge.. Only search.

Dave, Alma's Only, started us on an adventure looking for ice cream stops on our journeys. We've met some wonderful people who shared a 'local's' touch. Those harbors are worth the visit and tour again.

Here on the Right Coast we don't have the majestic "hills" of the Left Coast, but a lot of historic sites hidden amoung the small rivers, coves and bays. The Ches. Bay has a special splender that is alive year round to the boater.

No snow blower needed here in Va. Beach and the 'duty' snow shovel is on display for the visitors from the north. As a 'Damn Yankee' who made the choice to stay here, no more clearing the ice from my fishing reel to put food on the table, as was needed when I lived by Boston Harbor.

Thanks for opening my world through all your pixs and stories so I may 'see' parts not otherwise available.

Oh,, yes, Smithfield Station, Smithfield, VA. which is well sheltered and very clean. It is where you can walk to country stores and the old 'ice cream & sandwich shops'.
 
Sure can see the inclination of many to be unable to name a favorite. It is a most difficult thing to do especially for those who love to travel and have special appreciations for a continuing change of view and surroundings. We too fit in this category and are always looking forward to the next bend in the river, rounding the next point or cape or exploring another inlet or bay. Boat Harbors too fit in this category. Love to walk the docks checking out all the boats and briefly chatting with the owners. All seem to be unique in there own way and like the bays and inlets some are preferred over others. We would not have been able to name an absolute favorite either if not for the wonders beyond anything else we have seen in all our lifes travels that surround Bridge Bay Boat Harbor, Yellowstone Lake and in and around Yellowstone National Park. This personal view of wondrous geology, spectacular view and wildlife diversity may well be ho hum to others, but it is what allows us to name it a favorite.

To those that know us well the selection of a Boat Harbor in Yellowstone Park with all its visiting people and our aversion to them would seem to be quite the conundrum.

Jay
 
Dogon Dory & B-C, sorry to hear about that corn dog incident. I must have left them in the cooker while I was cruising the parking lots for easy to steal 8-track tapes.

Seriously, the Port of Kalama, while not real scenic with I-5 and the railroad tracks there, is very practical. Launching is free, the ramp wide, the slips covered, the gas cheap, and security has regularly patrolled the marina for a few years now, minimizing theft. In town, try eating at Playa Azul (Mexican), Poker Petes Pizza or the new Chinese place Lucky Dragon.

The real beauty is this: every year more 30 - 50 lb. chinook salmon are caught here than just about anywhere in the lower 48. One of the absolute best places is directly in front of the marina by the Port of Kalama's totem pole. That is a 43 lb. fish in the pic. And that, is beauty to me. C.W.
Red_Boat_43_lb_Chinook_8_27_07_3.sized.jpg



I really like Neah Bay. The services are rustic and the customer service sucks, but the scenery is great and the excitement on those docks during May's halibut season is unlike anything I've ever experienced.

For scenery: Echo Bay and Telegraph Cove are nice.
 
Curtin's Marina on the Delaware, Burlington, NJ. A full service Marina, fuel, moorage, mechanics, ship store, an excellent restaurant, and Mr. Curtin hisself. A WWII bomber pilot and decendent of an early NJ governor, he orders his daughters, employees, guests, and his girlfriend (I think), around like he owns the place. Of course he does. A picturesque and friendly spot between Trenton and Philadelphia.
 
Here's one of my favorite places....

LINK

The name "Misery" does not reflect present day experience. The name was given by a sailor stranded for three-days during the winter.
 
CW":278x71i2 said:
Seriously, the Port of Kalama, while not real scenic with I-5 and the railroad tracks there, is very practical. Launching is free, the ramp wide, the slips covered, the gas cheap, and security has regularly patrolled the marina for a few years now, minimizing theft. In town, try eating at Playa Azul (Mexican), Poker Petes Pizza or the new Chinese place Lucky Dragon.

The real beauty is this: every year more 30 - 50 lb. chinook salmon are caught here than just about anywhere in the lower 48. One of the absolute best places is directly in front of the marina by the Port of Kalama's totem pole. That is a 43 lb. fish in the pic. And that, is beauty to me. C.W.
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Would you consider leading a CBGT for those of us interested in exploring your neck of the woods? I would love to do so but truth be told am rather intimidated by the thought of boating on the Big C.
 
So C.W., the you're saying the marina at Kalama is pretty big water, not like the Cowlitz where I just fished which is very skinny water at places?

C.W.":35qpuy8f said:
The real beauty is this: every year more 30 - 50 lb. chinook salmon are caught here than just about anywhere in the lower 48. One of the absolute best places is directly in front of the marina by the Port of Kalama's totem pole. That is a 43 lb. fish in the pic. And that, is beauty to me. C.W
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If so, I might want to check that out when the springers come in.

Peter
 
two years ago I fished and stayed at the marina in kalama. At that time we could not find a shower or any one to let us in to the bath rooms. No one at all around the docks to give us a slip. we just tied up to the guest dock?? only holds two boats. You can hardly hear the highway over the train at 2 am. other then that we had a good time fishing, not caughting, and exploring the river. There are a lot of places to anchor up and fish or tye up to shore and go exploring including several islands.
 
It's me again..
I realize that my favorite spot is back at the marina dock after an outing;
AND, making a successful docking with 25kt+ cross winds to the current; on the first pass.

Today with 45deg. temps, we took Sea Angel out to get our fix after being in the barn and work rack for 2 months. We left with 45deg temps and returned with fast dropping temps. {I sure love thatt Wallas.} This past week we had 76deg temps..As we got to the the dock we experienced our first sighting of SNOW FLAKES, just a dusting, but still a wonder for us. Needless to say it was a little chilly flushing the engines and washing down the boat.

Yes, home port is where the heart is, all else is another dream or adventure to be had.
 
Jazzmanic: The Cowlitz is all silted in and is 2 ft deep where it was 18 three years ago. It is now being dredged and should greatly improve fishing there from where it enters the Columbia upstream to Gearhart Park. But for springers, we fish the Oregon side of the Columbia, not the Kalama // Wa side. If you tie up to the wing dam at the upstream end of Sandy island (directly across from the marina), springers can be had in 7 - 15 ft. deep in late March--May, in late May-June that is a great place for shad. This year spring chinook may not be open there but instead upstream of Portland. K-14s with sardine wrap back bounced or a brined herring trolled slow with the same type of lead dropper (8 - 12 oz. round weight, 3 ft. long; 4-5 ft. leader to herring or kwikfish) is classic bait.

Starcraft Tom: The guest dock can hold ten or more boats, but it is popular during the summer, esp. August. It is all repaired and looking good. I've never known anyone that pays to stay there like the sign says, though I bet some do. Never heard of a citation either. The showers are at the park by the totem pole -- about 100 yds. upstream. If locked, go to the marina office and have Heidi send out her boys. Better, call me (C. Winn, in the phone book) and I'll come get you, you can shower at our place, eat barbecue, run a load of laundry and talk boats & fish.

Doryman: I've only been to one CBGT so far and don't even own a C-Dory (yet). I'll think about what I could do as far as a gathering goes. I'd love to show some C-Brats "my" water and teach you what I know about catching these fish, but learning how to drop into a crowded hogline is best NOT Learned in the thick of the best part of the season (Aug. 15 - Sept. 15). If you showed up then, I'd guide you in your boat or hopefully my new one and we'll kill 'em, and I can run the anchor. A great gathering could also be to camp at one of the remote, unpopulated islands, let the dogs run and swim and have a huge herkin' bonfire on the beach until late at night. I'll be at the Seattle CBGT to discuss these possibilities further. C.W.
 
C.W. - yeah, just reading about the hoglines on the Columbia are just a bit intimidating to the unitiated (like me). Maybe you'll have to organize something to show us newbies how it's done. Actually, your post about 30-50 lb salmon caught my eye. I could settle for one of those if they could be caught near Kalama.

As for small boat harbors, Caryn and I love the Gulf Islands and really enjoy Montague Harbour. Plus, it gives us a chance to go to the Hummingbird Pub on the hippy bus.

:note :note I found my thrill.... :note :note
 
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