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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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It’s an odd year: that means humpies coming to Puget Sound

A pink – or humpback – salmon caught by Vladimir Veliovski of Pacific, Wash., flops on the beach Aug. 4 before Veliovski can get his hands on it. About 50 fishermen were catching pinks from shore and pier at Dash Point Park. Tacoma News Tribune (Tacoma News Tribune / The Spokesman-Review)
A pink – or humpback – salmon caught by Vladimir Veliovski of Pacific, Wash., flops on the beach Aug. 4 before Veliovski can get his hands on it. About 50 fishermen were catching pinks from shore and pier at Dash Point Park. Tacoma News Tribune (Tacoma News Tribune / The Spokesman-Review)

SALMON FISHING -- Western Washington anglers are starting to get pink fever for the big run of humpies that pours into coastal waters on odd-numbered years.

Returns are expected to be huge, and the first short at the front end of the runs starts Saturday on the Nooksack River near Bellingham.

West Side outdoor writers already are giving anglers details on when, where an how to hook their share of the bounty.

Check here for a column by Bellingham Herald writer Doug Huddle regarding the early opportunity.

Prime time in the rest of Pugest Sound is in August and September. 

"The earliest the Skagit opens for the odd-year salmon is Aug. 1 while it’s Aug. 16 on the Snohomish, Skykomish and Puyallup, Aug. 20 on the Duwamish, and Sept. 1 on the Stillaguamish and Carbon," reports Andy Walgamott in Northwest Sporstman Magazine. "Some runs stay worthwhile into early October."



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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