I have felt that frustration. Somedays that is just the way it is, other days it can be great. I had a couple of those frustrating days myself this week, but I can't keep from going back.

I think I am going to give the salt a rest and hit the Samish tomorrow AM. Haven't been there in two years but I used to fish the pilings just up from the "Tree Bend in the River Hole" (can't remember what it was exactly called but too many hard core snaggers wading deep into the trees). It's about a mile hike upstream from the mouth. I'll be free drifting eggs with a little tuft of green yarn.

Haha! I know exactly who you are talking about. I fished the ditch in low tide ONCE, before I knew it was a snag fest. That guy was on the other side of the river and just snagging the crap out of those fish. I don't fish the lower river except once on a blue moon I will fish high tide retrieving plugs or spoons. When they open the upper river I will fly fish near I-5 too, that is always fun!

Addicted is right. Real fishing is just that way. It was slower today than yesterday. I got one early, but my buddy didn't for 5 hours, then bam, a nice bright took his eggs and ran. Now it's in his freezer. Sure helps to be in a stacked hole. That's just odds. Real fishing puts your best out there. Best tide, hole, bait, placement, gear and fight. (don't forget luck)

Pilings two holes down from the trees seem to be holding an stupid amount of fish. Can't believe how many fit in there. Crowds unavoidable though.

Thought for the day: Anybody can land a fish 100% of the time, just go to the supermarket, but how fun is that.

Sodden, sorry for the long awaited reply to your post, as my internet connection has been down for a while. First, I WAS talking about fishing, not about drug abuse, and NOT about personal problems, which apparently you feel that anyone who occasionally indulges in partaking of the herb, has. I certainly was not trying to make a personal attack on you, however, you chose to see it that way. And to address what you said about having to use a dictionary to post, let me say this... I am fluent in the English language without having to consult a dictionary to confirm whether I am using the proper syntax .. Also, I am not trying to hide behind Bob, everlasting, to make my point. If the honorable Mr. Piscatorial felt I was out of line, I'm sure he would have informed me of my transgressions. (P.S.... Bob, I mean no disrespect!) As for the "kind of people/ fishermen" I am friends with, they too, are true sportsfishers, who hold dearly to the ideals of sportsmanship, fair play and above all ETHICS... Oh, and by the way, they occasionally indulge in the practice of smoking stuff that you deem the " assasin of youth". Crawl out of your cave and observe the world around you.. All of that being said , I have come to the conclusion that the lower end of the Samish IS a flossery, not a fishery... Oh, by the way, can you, being the expert, tell me what my "personal problems" are? Maybe I missed the part where you informed everyone that you were a licensed psycologist???? Lighten Up!!!!!

P.S.... I hope I did'nt use too many big words for you ....If I did, maybe you should consult a DICTIONARY!!!

Nookie, tried higher up river?

Addicted, hav'ent had the chance to go further up river, as in the last couple of weeks, I've had to deal with the death of my father in law, and the fact that we have to move our primary residence by the 25th of Sept. I will more than likely not get the opportunity to fish the ditch further upstream. As a matter of fact, I probably won't get to fish again in the near future, however, I may get a shot at the silvers coming in to the local rivers after everything settles down...

Flossing= what is that?
nookie= same question?

also, i live way down south, is there a fishery like this one on the Puyallup, or Green, or anything south? Or is all the killer fisheries up North? so you just use pencil lead, a bobber & eggs? shallow or draggin the bottom?

You are mostly right about the lower samish being a flossery, but not completely. Samish high tide provides some excellent fishing for Kings/Silvers/Chums and even Steelhead with spoons/spinners/retreiving plugs. Long light spoons with silver/green (stuff looking like 4" needle fish), large orange plugs retreived then paused work great in the low/no flows of high tide.

???

Flossing= "fishing" with a 4 to 6 foot leader between your weight and small corkie or just yarn and large hook. Then, cast out, slide your line across the bottom until you feel a fish and yank, hoping the hook lands in the corner of the mouth or anywhere on the head. It is glorified snagging.

nookie= King salmon, or getting it in the sack.

The carbon is a similar fishery, but worse than the Samish. I'd call Auburn Sports and Marine for more info on rivers down there.

Flossing is essentially "lining" fish. People use really long leaders (sometimes 8 feet or longer) with either a corky or something that keeps the line roughly horizonal in the water. Eventually, the fish swims by and gets the line caught in its mouth. As it swims away, the hook slides into the head, usually hooking the fish on the outside of the mouth. It isn't, and shouldn't be, considered sporting.

Nookie is a "Chinook" or king salmon.

I'm not sure you really WANT a fishery like the Samish. I live "up north" and by no means would I say that we have the "killer fisheries" up here. Generally speaking, the fisheries up here are trash compared to their historic levels. There are plenty of fisheries down south to keep you entertained. If you are just looking to fight fish, you will be flooded with chum salmon in November. Go to the "search" button at the top of the page and try searches that include names of rivers closer to you.

LOL... beat to the punch.

I live near the Green, in Auburn, and have never done well there. I thought it was closed but I just went down and saw guys fishing it around the golf course, but i have no idea how or what they use there for kings, silvers, and steels?? This is what happens when you spend too many years in a boat trolling LOL..

Busted,
Most people are friendly enough to chat it up, especially if you are talkin' fishing. Just ask them what they are fishing for and how they've been doing. You'll see what they are using (and how) on their next cast. Please be sure to get familiar with the WDFW fishing regulations. They are confusing but you WILL need to know what is open and what isn't. Spend plenty of time in advance to know not only what is open but what gear is allowed at different times. The rivers are usually divided up by sections so definitely don't assume that just because one thing is allowed on the lower portion of the river that the same rules apply 10 miles upstream.

Any input about how the upper Samish River is this time of year and is it possible to float (the map shows a rough ramp 1.5 miles south of the Acme Airport)?

I'm not interested in the lower, smelly, wading in ****, combat fishing experience.

Most drift boats are wider than the river is. You can wade the whole thing in barn boots.