WA retirement location w/fly fishing nearby...

Question; if you wanted to retire to an area in Washington that had reasonable weather (banana belt, aka Sequim, would be ideal but it doesn’t have to be THAT good…), freshwater stream and lake fly fishing close by, maybe golf, low crime, smaller town/city, nice, friendly neighborhoods, non-desert, decent local services and a medical facilities… and housing costs were removed as a high profile factor in the decision process… where would that place be? The preference is for trees, a decent sized lot (1+ acre or more), fly fishing (C&R), golf, decent people. Just wishful thinking and trying to plan ahead. Insights sincerely appreciated. Enjoy in good health.

non-desert..... no places in mind from me.

Ellensburg. Winters can be cold at times and summers can be hot at times, but neither are as extreme as more interior climates *eg., Montana). The best trout stream (Yakima) and best lake fishing (basin lakes) rare close to closeish. And when you do want good fishing, the drive to Montana or Idaho is 2 hours shorter than from Seattle.

If you don't want cold winters at all, then you'll have to stay west of the Cascades. Then I'd recommend that you find a place where you can access good searun cutt fishing and still be relatively close to a freeway onramp for trips to the east side in season. Maybe a bit north or south of Tacoma.

D

Richard is close, but to be specific Edgewood, WA (just north of Tacoma). Has a great country feel, but close to all major freeways and 2 hours from damn near all fishing in the state.

That said... I have found the damp, cold in Seattle worse than dry cold climates. A 40F, drizzle day in Seattle (for which there are easily 120/year) makes me colder than a 20F day with broken sun and humidity as dry as a popcorn fart. After 27 years here, we've had it. Pulling the pin at Boeing in two years and heading for drier climates... Ruby Valley, MT.

If we were to stay in WA, Ellensburg would be high on the list.

I'll list a west (wet?) side option.

When I got married about a year-and-a-half ago I moved from Tacoma north to Silverdale due to the new wife still working while I'm retired. Gotta love that situation, right?

Anyway, I think this area is great. Lots of good saltwater beaches available both to the east and west (Puget Sound proper and Hood Canal are both less than half-an-hour away but in different directions); we live a block from Dyes Inlet (part of Puget Sound) and I've caught some nice SRC only 5 minutes from the house; the Olympic Peninsula with varied rivers and lakes is not too distant; the Strait of Juan de Fuca is fairly close; and, most importantly, I'm now away from the Interstate 5 corridor with all it's traffic and congestion! Disclaimer: our area has it's own traffic issues but it's certainly not as dire as fighting I-5!

If I had the big bucks I'd move to the Sequim area but property values there are way out of my league! If you're seeking an even quieter more rural lifestyle, consider something on the west side of Hood Canal.

Just my 2¢!

Oh, wait a minute!!!!!

Why am I telling a Californian the reasons to move here???? We used to have bumper stickers that read: "Don't Californicate Washington!"

Just kiddin, my friend! Good luck in your searching!

Longview Wa.- many great rivers close by, decent lake fishing,close to portland area hospitals. You can also go to oregon and buy stuff with out paying any tax, and its not that far to the coast

Yes, I will admit it. I am from CA. Having noted that horrid attribute, I have seen Silicon Valley go from vast apricot orchards to concrete buildings and freeways. The only good news is that the housing market here is great IF... and only if... you bought a couple decades ago. Taking equity out here and retiring elsewhere would mean low house payments and we aren't looking for a "statement house" or a palace. Can't afford it, don't need it. Regardless, fly fishing from here means, typically, a 5-6 hour drive to the eastern Sierras or north of Truckee. Makes it kind of tough. Of course, the 5-6 hours is in the middle of the night since commute traffic times would get you 100 miles in 6 hours. Read: getting anywhere to fish is a major chore. I have heard so many folks lament Seattle and rain. We visited there for a week during one of my daughters softball tourneys. We had great weather and everyone said "don't get used to it". I have never fished for sea run cutthroat and all my gear is 4-6 wt. Argh. I mostly float tube on lakes for trout. Quiet, relaxing. Regardless, my search continues. As always, I sincerely appreciate any commentary. Enjoy !

You described the colville/kettle falls area exactly.

That's the first step in our Washington 12-step program. Recognizing the problem is key. Keep talking to the group and your counselor!!

Kurt -
4-6 wt rods are plenty for all the trout fishing you would do here, too. Searuns don't require bigger rods. If you get into pursuing salmon or steelhead, you might want a bigger rod, but fishing for steelhead is a declining proposition here.

There are lots of lakes around both sides of the Cascades, and if you are fishing for trout, lakes will typically grow bigger fish than our west side rivers do.

If you were here for a softball tournament, it was probably summer. We have great summer weather. It is not much of a stretch to say we have a Mediterranean climate, just like San Diego, only our warm dry season is shorter and our cool wet season, longer. It can be cloudy and wet for 9 months a year, but we still only get about 35-40 inches of precipitation a year, which is less than a lot of other places in the US.

D

I grew up in Oregon. I still look at the day I got my California driver's license to be one of the darkest days of my life

Clear Lake
One hour from Canada
One hour +/- from Seattle
45 minutes to Pass Lake
3 hours to Twisp
5 minutes to Sedro Woolley

Roseburg Oregon

I moved to Bend Oregon in June of 2011 from the Spokane area.
I loved living in eastern Washington and really did not want to leave, but I have grown to really like my new home town. Bend has everything you want other than it's not really a small town ( 80000 people) but it does not feel that big.
What has really shocked me is the mild weather we've had the past 2 winters. I fished my 33rd day of the year today and last winter fished at least 10 days every month of the year. I kinda feel like I'm on vacation living here.

I'm with you Freestone on the cold rain bit. We've been here 21 years and will have the empty nest in a few more years. Ellensburg is on my radar screen. I've also heard good things about Roseburg and Bend Oregon, but haven't been there yet. Kurtataltos, if you're looking for a 1+ acre lot, then Puget Sound region is out as 1/4 acre is considered a generous sized lot. Much better chance for some more land on the east side of the Cascades. Good luck in your qwest.

True native westside northwesterns rust. It is a fact of life. After 50+ years here, I still enjoy living on the westside.
I plan on saying adios to Seattle in about 10 years for either the northern part of Kitsap Co or Whidbey Island. I can't image living a long ways away from saltwater.

Not that I'm really anxious for more neighbors, but IMO Hansville is tough to beat. Surrounded by some of the best beach salmon fishing our state has to offer, with some great lakes within an hour or so. No moving water, which is probably its biggest downfall, but a 2-4 hour drive puts you on plenty of steelhead water.

Quiet, lots of space, thirty minutes or so from the Seattle ferries. Hop skip and a jump from the OP. I suppose I'm biased but there are very few things I would trade for my ability to walk out the door and be casting to silvers in five minutes

Though they are on the very edge of the desert ( timbered Mts. within 10 miles) Asotin or Clarkston would meet all your criteria.

When I retired, I moved away from Washington. I moved to Montana where there is 9 months of winter and 4 months of summer. But I can fish all year long. No waiting for rivers to open up. Except for the ones that get a good covering of ice in the winter time.

But you have to be half nuts to live in this climate, and I fit that bill.

Well, it's pretty clear from the responses so far there is no one perfect place, but many good places.

We should all be happy about that... can you imagine this same discussion on where in Iraq or Afghanistan one should consider living in retirement