[Crippled Anchovie]

anyone from Bellingham

was hoping to get some facts here. I moved down from AK, in April thinking I would find a good paying job driving forklift, or in customer service by now but still am not back to work and i've had enough living in Kent.

I'm seriously thinking of moving to Bellingham the 1st or 2nd week of October. Once I get a few minor things taken care of I plan to hit the road. I would have chosen up your way before my move but decided i wanted to be closer to seattle so i can go to mariners and seahawk games. I thought I could have it both, a good job and pro ball, being a 4 yr college player myself i still like to watch games. However, I think having great rivers to fish on after work is more important than going to a ball game. I'm speaking of the Skagit, and mostly closer BC rivers.

From what i've gathered it seems the Fraiser, might be the closest. About 35 miles. Can someone tell me how many other BC rivers are within a 1 hr drive from Bellingham? I forgot how far the Thompson is and the Skeena, is something like 6 hrs?

Better Duck hunting too in the skagit valley. I mostly fly fish and miss fishing great rivers. Appreciate the help

 

[Split Bamboo]

I know the Vedder is close and popular. Skeena is way up there.

 

[Jake Tucker]

Thompson is probably 4 hours from Bellingham.

 

[Rick Todd]

The tribs of the Fraser, like the Stave, Harrison, Chehalis, Chiliwack and Vedder are the best (although frequently crowded) rivers near Bellingham. Of course the Nooksack can be good at times and the Skagit/Sauk. About 2 hours away, and open July-September is the upper Skagit (access through Hope BC) which is an awesome trout stream and in range for day fishing from Bellingham. Also, right now, the silvers are congregating around the refinery docks, offering some really good sport. Pass Lake is a little over an hour from b'ham and then there is Squalicum as well. If you like spiny ray fishing, try Terrell, Tenant, or Fazon, also good right now! Good luck! Rick

 

[Salmo_g]

B'ham is a nice town, but don't think you'll be driving to the Skagit for a quickie after-work fishing fix; too much time and distance. Fishing wise, one of the nicest things about B'ham is its proximity to quality BC fishing.

Sg

 

[Plecoptera]

I would agree that if your looking for quality after work fishing your not going to find it up here. Most places I fish around here take at least an hour or so to get to. Most of the streams up in BC that are nearby are very crowded, but if your willing to drive a little there can be some good opportunities up north.

 

[Crippled Anchovie]

hey guys, thanks a lot. I really appreciate the help. I don't mind the crowds, i'm use to it. There should be plenty of water to get to. I was reading about the Fraisers tributaries, so it seems there is good opportunity, I just forgot the names. I'll look them up ; ) thanks.

Living down in Vancouver, WA can get a person on different waters as well but I think i'll be able to find a good life up there. There seems to be plenty of jobs online and maybe not as much competition.

 

[sasquatch419]

Whatcom Creek runs through bellingham out of Lake Whatcom and although it is small, there are some good trout in it. I have caught some 14+ and its never crowded.

 

[Mike Lee]

Whatcom Creek runs through bellingham out of Lake Whatcom and although it is small, there are some good trout in it. I have caught some 14+ and its never crowded.

iagree The creek is very accessible for a quickie. If you're into doing some bass fishing there is a little pond behind Sunset Plaza that I have pulled a number of 4+ pounders out of. The largest i've seen was caught by a friend of mine, 8.6 pounds!

For rivers, Rick T has covered it quite well.

Did you get a job in B'ham? There are a number of companies that can use your skills in the 4 refineries up there. When working that circuit there are a number of fisheries on the way home. :thumb: Good Luck and welcome to "Haggensville"!

 

[Crippled Anchovie]

yo, i sold my float tube but maybe i'll get another one to fish for them bass. I use to have a nice 16' aluminum pro 16 but traded it across for a deep v 19ft starfire and started fishing inshore when i live in cali. biggest largemouth for me was about 7 lbs.

no job for me yet up in bellingham but this morning, I had finally got the call i have been waiting for. I start a job at a refinery down in Tacoma, the first week in Sept. next week, we have 2, 8 hr days of training. Once we start up in sept we'll be on for 12 hr days, 6 or 7 days a week for 30 to 60 days while we perform all maintenance on it. i was just hired as fire, safety watch and i'm hoping it will turn into more down the road. 16.00 per and 25 on the OT. i stand a chance to make close to 6k with 35 days of work.

Come October, it will be a nice chunk of change in my pocket just in time for mid winter runs and Duck huntin....:beathead: I love to duck hunt. and would hope that I can score some good places to kill some ducks over my new puppy. 7 month old lab.

 

[Mike Lee]

Crippled Anchovie....Good luck with the turnaround/work. Being a standby can be trying on ones endurance, but it is a very important job. Standbys have saved many lives in refineries across the nation. Once you work with one contracting outfit you can sig on with all of them. Total Western, PM, TIMEC, MATRIX, IRI......and so on. That way you can keep yourself busy, negotiate for more $$$ and take more time off for the fishing & hunting. Few things to not fall for when asked to go get [they don't exist]: a bucket of steam, spark pliers, air dye, sky hook (there is an actual item, but not in refineries), bolt stretcher, pipe stretcher, and the infamous I.D.-10-T wrench. One more thing, I recommend the night shift. It pays a fraction more, but it helps you get better rest, less to deal with outside of work (ie...lines, traffic), and it helps you spend less [trust me you will have the urge!].

Good Luck!

 

[Crippled Anchovie]

hey thanks Mike, nice to hear ya chime in. I do plan to ask for the night shift if it's offered. Thankfully, i'm not much of a gambler but the idea of winning at Black jack is relaxing just to be in the chair.

 

[Ryan Singh-Cundy]

3 and a half hours to spences bridge from bellingham depending on the weather, you can get some nasty storms on that road. Bellingham is a great place to live, huge variety of fishing. If you have a boat the smallmouth fishing in lake whatcom can be pretty good, my biggest out of there is 22". I dont hunt ducks but some freinds of mine do well out by marietta on the nooksack delta and at lake terrell.