[Mike McAvoy]

I'm contemplating relocating to the Salt water area of the sound. Am interested in the fishing potential and also the ability to catch a ferry/? to SEA and enjoy a brew, ball game or whatever without making a major journey.

Any thoughts on an area to start looking? I have several small kayaks/skiffs that need more use.
Thanks
Mike

 

[Wormonhook]

West Seattle, but don't tell anyone else...

 

[Mumbles]

A bit less crowded in North, Central and South Kitsap away from the cities. Short drive to the Bainbridge Island ferry, park, walk on, walk to the ball park, restaruants, pubs, etc. Lots of beach and a cool group of fly fishermen in the area.

 

[dryflylarry]

You could find a reasonalbe priced home in the old Manette area neighborhood of Bremerton. Almost walk across the bridge and catch a ferry to Seattle. I call it a "sleeper" area and think it would be a good investment.

 

[floatinghat]

It's all going to depend on what you want to spend and where you want to work.

 

[SciGuy]

Bainbridge would be a good choice. Good fishing from local beaches for cutts and rezzies and 30 minutes from PNP. Another huge advantage is that you don't have to catch a ferry to hit Forks, CQ, NB, etc. Plenty of Park-N-Rides that take you to the Seattle ferry so you don't have to deal with parking. I'd be happy to discuss more in this thread or via PM if you'd like. Lemme know.

 

[Walt K]

Poulsbo or upper Hood Canal. Lots of fishing opportunities and just a few minutes to the Home Depot and other essentials that the folks on Bainbridge have to drive for 30 minutes to get to ...

 

[Jim Wallace]

Howdy Mike, good advice all round here, maybe except for West Seattle, unless you like being in the city and the wrong side of the Sound!
My brother lives on Bainbridge, and although the traffic is way too thick for my patience on the hwy, and nearly always seems totally congested around Winslow (super-high population density with all the condos and townhouses crowded in everywhere) whenever I visit, its really nice once you get out in the neighborhoods and relatively rural areas of the island.

Heading West off the island toward the O.P. on whatever that hwy is (can't recallthe #), you will breath easier once you are past the clusterfork which clogs the Poulsbo zone. Its just a cluster along the highway there, with all the stoplights backing up the ferry traffic to and from B. I. though.


(Hey! I got rid of that bad gas can!:beathead

 

[Wormonhook]

As Jim says, there is a wrong side of the sound. Hmmm, let's see: a many great restaurants, seven grocery stores close by, easy access every where except northward, a half of a dozen decent to good public fishing sites within 10 minutes of the house, a ferry 10 minutes from the house that will take you to the other side of the salt pond where it's an easy drive north or south (south sound fishing really isn't all that good, is it?), little traffic, quiet neighborhoods, low crime, Seahawk and Mariner stadiums 12 minutes away, same for Costco, Home Depot, Sears, and, did I mention, downtown? oh does the wife like to shop? South Center, downtown. Not married? Oh, nightlife, naw, none around here, ...so on and so on, and so on. Naw, you don't want to live on the wrong side of the salt water. Jim's right.
(Jim please note the above comment is written in humor not in bad motive) You don't live in West Seattle by any chance, do you?

 

[Mike McAvoy]

Thanks guys, I have some good spots to check out now. Will add Manette and West Seattle to my list too...12 minutes from the ball park on hopefully a bus line would be a plus. Anybody have any thoughts on Seabeck? Have not been there but have heard some good things .... although nothing about fishing.

Jim, glad you got rid of that gas can. Would like to go on safari with you again.
Mike

 

[Nick Clayton]

Seabeck isn't bad. Its futher from shopping/town stuff, but there is close to plenty of beaches, and some good lakes as well. 20 minute drive to Cady was a plus when I lived out there. I live in Suquamish and the north Kitsap area is great. Lots of beaches, much closer to the OP rivers, some great lakes within 45 minutes, plus Super Walmart, Home Depot, Albertsons, Central Market etc very close. Bainbridge and Kingston ferries nearby to jump to the other side of the pond. Walk across the Bainbridge ferry and stroll right over to Safeco no problem.


Nick

 

[Jim Wallace]

You make a pretty strong case there, Karl. I do have some fond memories of West Seattle. Among them something called a "No Respect Burger" at a place called "The Caddyshack" on California Ave. Had a GF who lived within walking distance of there for a spell, and we did enjoy Seattle's night life, but I was surfing back then and not fly fishing for searun cutts! I was always running back and forth between her place and either my place on B.I., my job with a rotating shift, or surfari-in' to the Coast or the Cape. I was doing 30,000+ miles a year in my soob and another few thou in my '62 Westphalia back then. I always bought the booklets of ferry commuter tickets to save a little $$ back then. Did a lot of bicycle commuting over the ferry system for about 6 years, too.
Then I moved to the coast. Downshifted a bit. Not for everyone, but I like it!

Mike, I'll be trolling the Bay again this season, when the conditions are mellow!

 

[Wormonhook]

Jim, I had a feeling you had been a resident in WS at some point. Sounds like you were burning the candle at both ends for a while there as well as the road. Glad you downshifted. Except for politics, this part of the State, actually most of the State, is a pretty neat place to live.

 

[Jeff Dodd]

Whidbey.
LOTS of saltwater and a bus/Sounder to town (from Mukilteo) makes commuting tollerable, but still a journey.

Not as easy as walk across Winslow ferry into downtown... I miss that, but less and less each year.

Have you considered the town near Bainbridge with the huge rocking chair? Port Ludlow, Shine or or beyond???

 

[dryflylarry]

I live at Seabeck. 15-18 minutes to Silverdale (7 miles). I love it, except my house is for sale. It's a custom Craftsman style home of about 3000 square feet on 2.5 acres. $495,000. It's a great home. Garden, fruit trees, flowers, circle drive, double car garage and large shop, old growth cedar shingle siding. 2 minutes to the saltwater and little grocery store. Fishing all over the place.

 

[Jim Wallace]

Whoa! That sounds huge! Somebody please buy this and help Larry downsize so he'll have more time for fly fishing and less time required for maintenance!
Think of all the good reports we'll get!

 

[dryflylarry]

Whoa! That sounds huge! Somebody please buy this and help Larry downsize so he'll have more time for fly fishing and less time required for maintenance!
Think of all the good reports we'll get!

Here's a snapshot. FOR SALE............PM LARRY for any details needed! And ya oughta see the fly tying room!

 

[4357]

Nice place Larry. I like the details in the outside finish work. If I didn't have my own craftsman I'd be interested, especially near all that great fishing you have over there.

Which begs the question; Where are you moving to?

 

[Jeff Regan]

Mike,

I've lived on Bainbridge Island for ten years. It's a 35 minute ferry ride to Seattle. It great! I commute to work daily and walk to the office. When the wife and I want to go to dinner, a concert of a ball game we hop the ferry and either walk or take a cab in the city.

The fishing on and around the island is gret too. I fish sea-runs on the open beaches; most fish are in the 12-13 in range. In the Fall, the big breeding hens come in from the deep and its common to catch 16-18 fish. Coho fishing, when we get a decent run is great too. The silvers cruise the beach within a 40 fott cast and attack anything that moves; it's just a blast. Shrimping and crabbing are also execlent!!

You shold drive up and check it out.

Jeff Regan
Bainbridge Island, WA

 

[Mike McAvoy]

Thanks again guys. This retirement gig is looking better and better. Now if my housing tastes & pocketbook start to match and the Mariners improve along with fishing prospects life will be fine.
MikeMc