Even though the weather has been more for hunting, many local areas know that when the winter winds start to blow, it is time to start thinking about blackmouth. Blackmouth are not a separate species of salmon, rather they are juvenile kings. They are given the name blackmouth because of the color of the gums. For the table these fish will be as prized as their grown up kin, but since they have yet to reach maturity will not range in the upper thirties and forties. Most fish will be in the teens to twenty-pound class. These fish are already making their way around the south end of the island, and will continue to do so for the next few weeks with November being a prime month.This year anglers will get opportunities to target them in areas previously unavailable. One of these areas will be Elger Bay, just off the south side of Camano Island. This is a good fishery to try for the first timer. The bay is protected from southerly winds and the state park is an easy spot to launch from.Methods vary with the most common being trolling Coyote and Coho Killers in 90-120 feet of water. Trolling a cut-plug herring and fly-fishing are other methods that some use. When fishing the bay, many anglers recommend that you wait for the first tide change of the day. If the change is later in the day, fish other areas like the shipwreck in Possession Sound, then motor to Elger and fish the change. The season in Marine Area 8-2 opened on Nov. 1 and the limit is one fish at least 22 inches. Other traditional areas for kings will also produce. In Marine Area 7, places like Obstruction and Thatcher Passes as well as Deer Point can be productive. Season and bag limit are the same, with both areas closing on Dec. 30.
Fishing updates
Chums are still moving through area rivers, but fishing has been tougher with the storms that have blown through. Using a drift bobber and green yarn through the tops of area holes has been a killer on chums. Pulling a green or fire tiger K-14 Kwikfish has also been productive. Some silvers are also still showing in the river. Remember, the Skagit closed from the Dalles Bridge in Concrete up to the Cascade River on Oct. 30. The recent blustery weather has slowed the Samish some. With the calmer weather we had over the weekend it should be back in fishable conditions.
Bass anglers have been few and far between out on Campbell Lake. With good reason, the fish are going to be suspended over deeper structure and a slow moving tube jig or Texas-rigged worm will be the ticket. The cooler waters has improved the trout bite. The shores of Pass Lake would be a good place for the fly angler to try, while Cranberry Lake would be the best bet to hook into a lunker brown. Don’t forget about Lone Lake on the south end of the island. Most of the other popular lakes like Heart and Erie closed last week and will remain so, until April.
Late season buck hunt
As for the hunting scene, the late season buck hunt opened on Nov. 5 for most of the northeastern part of the state, others will open on Nov. 10. If you hunted the general season you were amazed at the amount of deer over there. Now is the time to try your luck on a trophy buck. The does will start coming into the rut in the next week or so. With all of the does available, the bucks will be more active and more visible during shooting hours. The deer will also be actively feeding to put on weight for the upcoming season. Most of the elk seasons are done on the east side, with the west side coming to a close this Sunday. Reports from the Colokum area were slow, but my friend Jon Maletto did report seeing a nice 6-by-6 bull. Unfortunately it is a spike only area. Ted “Prairie Peashooter” Conner did report his camp tagged four nice elk; just that none of them were wearing his.
