Crappie and Perch Rigs: Easy Setups for Late-Summer Panfish
Simple, proven crappie and perch setups for late summer — bobber rigs, jig-and-minnow combos, and where schools hold as water cools.
Trailhead
Fishing
High Lakes Trout: Where Fish Go in August and How to Catch Them
August pushes trout deep or into dawn-and-dusk windows in Cascade high lakes — here's where they hold, what they eat, and the four setups that still catch them.
September Fishing Forecast: What Turns On After Labor Day
A forward look at September fishing in Washington and Oregon — which salmon runs build, where trout get aggressive again, and why some of the year's best days happen after the crowds leave.
How to Read a River for Summer Steelhead
Learn to spot summer steelhead water — seams, tailouts, soft edges, and the classic lies where fish rest — so you stop walking past them.
Trolling for Lake Trout: Downrigger Settings That Actually Work
A practical guide to trolling lake trout with downriggers — depth, speed, lure choice, and how to read your electronics instead of guessing.
Fall Chinook Gear Checklist: A Columbia River Setup That Works
A complete gear checklist for fall chinook on the Columbia — rods, reels, terminal tackle for trolling and plug fishing, plus the small stuff people forget.
What's In Season Right Now: August Fishing and Hunting in Washington and Oregon
A quick tour of what's actually open in August across Washington and Oregon — salmon runs, trout water, early hunts, and the best use of a summer weekend.
Fly Fishing for Beginners: First Rod, Basic Casting, and Reading Water
Start fly fishing without drowning in gear jargon: pick a versatile starter outfit, learn roll and overhead cast fundamentals on grass before river wind frustrates you, read seams and pocket water simply, and respect licenses like any other angling discipline.
Bank Fishing for Beginners: Reading Water, Basic Rigs, and Safe Casting
Start shore fishing with minimal tackle: read depth and current from the bank, rig a simple float or bottom setup, cast safely around others, and verify licenses and seasons before you fish.
High Lakes Ice-Out: First Cast of Alpine Season
When Cascade high lakes shed their ice, hungry trout cruise the shallows for the first time in months — and the anglers willing to hike through leftover snow get the best fishing of the year.
High, Cold, and Stained: Spring Creek Fishing After Runoff Starts
Fish practical May water: pick softer edges where trout hold out of the main hose, downsize fear into the right weight, use contrast in stained flows, and match regional laws on bait, barbless hooks, and seasons before you wade.
How to Draw a Fish: Easy Steps for Beginners, Kids, and Nature Sketchers
Learn how to draw fish from simple ovals and cartoon outlines to believable species sketches: body shape, fin placement, scales, shading, and quick tricks for kids, beginners, and nature journaling by the water.