Outdoors

POSTED: Saturday, Jul. 04, 2009

SALMON DERBY: San Juan hot spots

OBSTRUCTION PASS (1)

Hougen says this hotspot is especially good for big July kings, but with limited maneuvering room it can get very crowded.

Fish on: ebb tide.

Depths: 60 to 120 feet.

Pattern: troll into and out of pass circling back from outside.

Watch out: the narrow pass has little turning room, also pay attention to depth soundings.

WEST BEACH (2)

Hougen's slow but steady producer and there's always plenty of room along the Orcas westshore.

Fish on: slow ebb (one foot per hour drop) tide.

Depths: 60 to 120 feet.

Pattern: troll from Lover's Rock south to Spring Passage.

Watch out: depth shallowing and the rocky bottom off Lookout Hill.

STRAWBERRY ISLAND (3)

A lesser known Rosario Strait haunt south of Tide Point, Cypress Island's southwest shore regularly produces smaller salmon, but bait must be there.

Fish on: either tide but not big changes.

Depths: 80 to 120 feet.

Pattern: on ebb, troll south from Tide Point to outside Strawberry.

Watch out: eddies form at Tide Point on big tides.

POINT LAWRENCE (4)

Melton puts Point Lawrence, one of the iconic San Juan Islands salmon spots, at the top of his list.

Fish on: ebb tide.

Depths: 90 to 140 feet.

Pattern: troll south from reef off Lawrence, turn around when even with Doe Bay on Orcas.

Watch out: it tops many angler favorites lists, the conga line may get crowded.

EAGLE BLUFF (5)

Another renown mid-Rosario Strait spot, Eagle Bluff is second on Melton's suggesteds list.

Fish on: either tide but maybe best on even-running ebb tide.

Depths: 90 to 140 feet.

Pattern: troll from cove off Eagle Bluff south to Tide Point.

Watch out: bottom rises steeply off Tide Point

FISHERIES POINT (6)

Though it takes a long run to get there, Melton says this north Haro Pass locale offers a varied range of fishing depths.

Fish on: mainly the flood tide.

Depths: 35 to 140 feet.

Pattern: troll from the Waldron Island point north to Bear Island reef.

Watch out: depths at which the bait schools hover here.