Flyfishing Charters at Neah Bay?

[jessejames]

Is anyone doing flyfishing charters out of Neah Bay? I am interested in either Salmon or Rockfish or both.
Blessings
jesse

[chadk]

Is anyone doing flyfishing charters out of Neah Bay? I am interested in either Salmon or Rockfish or both.
Blessings
jesse

Good question. Been thinking along the same lines. What about boat rentals? Do they still offer those out there?

[D3Smartie]

i dont believe anyone is doing flyfishing out of neah. i keep trying to talk my friend into doing it, but he has a good business going down here and wouldnt want to go through the hassle of taking on that fishery out there...
they do rent boats, although they are not much. last i heard it was $50 for a half day

[topwater]

it's too bad, but the economics of running a flyfishing based charter out of neah bay will likely not happen except for maybe a week or two that a guide from another area is out there. there are multiple reasons-

- seasons are too short - while the coho fishing is imo the best, it really is a 6-10 week season depending on the quota.
- rockfishing will never fill the other time frames - as much as people really do enjoy the fishery, no one is going to pay the rates necessary to be taken rockfishing (the rates really would be close to the same as a salmon trip... and i'll have more about rates).
- rates - running an ocean charter while taking 2-4 people is uneconomical. the cost of gas, insurance, boat payments, etc mean the rate should be around 400-500 per person due to the limited number of trips possible (that short season issue)
- dealing with an sportfishing unfriendly government - dealing with the workings of the makah tribe isn't something i would wish on an enemy. to run a charter, you basically have to be at the main marina (with access to fuel and fresh water... at least when there's water), so you are stuck dealing with an entity that wants to milk you for any extra drop of money you have.

neah bay is the best saltwater fishery in washington state, and for short periods rivals anywhere else in the pacific northwest. your best bet is to befriend someone with a boat and bum a ride to neah bay. there seems to be more interest in this fishery every year and more fly anglers are fishing it on their own.

of course, you could try to book one of the smaller gear charters from neah bay. you'll have to pay for the entire boat, but you will be able to dictate your trip.

[Les Johnson]

Leland knows a guide that works out of Sekiu or Neah Bay. 4254529140.
Cheers,
Les

[Curtis]

I would be up for paying for gas in someones boat to fish neah bay.