Portage Bay in King County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in King County, Washington, sits Portage Bay. Tidal water begins 2.7 miles from here. Roughly 151 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. On our King County list it sits near the top for size. The nearest place of any size is Seattle, 3 miles away. Greenwood is 3.7 miles and Medina 4.5 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Portage Bay

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Work the tide here — moving water feeds, slack water rests. Reed and marsh margins hold fish through the moving hours. Tide runs this water, so time the session to the flow. County-wide records name Chum salmon, Coho salmon and Chinook salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Portage Bay light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 41°F in December to roughly 65°F in August. The season runs year-round, with the peak either side of summer. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Portage Bay the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Mapping shows a ramp about half a mile from the shore. Jensen Marina is the mapped marina, about half a mile away. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. A pier 140 yards from here gives a platform over deeper water. There are picnic tables recorded roughly half a mile off. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. Look for a notice board at the entrance. For a change of water, Lake Union is 1.1 miles distant. None of that is settled for Portage Bay in what we hold.