Advertise on podcast: Fishing for a Reason

Your Crab Pot Is Losing Crab (Here's the Fix) Crabbing is one of the best fisheries in the San Juan Islands, and one of the few that keeps going long after salmon season closes. But a pot that is rigged wrong will lose crab on the way up, or let them walk straight back out while it is sitting on the bottom. This episode is the full setup, every piece, from the bridle to the buoy, plus the four things that make your pot legal in Washington. Episode Overview - Why an angled ramp entry holds crab and a flat entry lets them leave, and which pot to pick - The rope mistake that costs people gear: nylon floats, so it belongs on the bridle and nowhere else - How to weight a pot with a downrigger ball, and the zip tie step that stops your bait shooting out - What actually makes a crab pot legal in Washington waters - Why rot cord matters, and what to do if you lose a pot - The gear that makes crabbing off a boat easier, including mounts and a pot puller Timestamps 00:00 - Why crabbing is the season that keeps going 00:26 - Welcome to Fishing for a Reason 00:55 - Burnewiin mounts and a quick-switch boat layout 01:50 - Why we use a pot puller even for crabbing 03:12 - The McKay pots we fish, and why 03:48 - The nylon rope mistake to avoid 04:30 - No Escape ramps vs Fast Fisher flat entry 04:51 - What a GoPro in a crab pot shows you 05:10 - Weighting the pot, and the zip tie that saves your bait 06:11 - Rigging it: bridle, sea links, 120 feet of leaded line 06:49 - What makes your pot legal in Washington 07:58 - If you lose a pot, report it 08:40 - The mistake that jams your doors open 09:15 - The Fast Fisher, and when a shorter soak works Key Takeaways - Nylon rope floats, so use it for the bridle and leaded line for everything else. - 120 feet of leaded line covers the depths most people crab around here. - Zip tie any weight inside the bait cage, or the drop will push your bait out the top. - Angled ramp entries make it harder for crab to leave; flat entries fish faster but lose more. - Do not over-soak. Crab get out, and a long soak is not a free upgrade. - A red and white buoy with your name and address on the pot is the law, not a suggestion. - Rot cord means a lost pot stops fishing instead of killing crab forever. - A salmon head hung too near the door will jam it open and cost you the whole soak. Resources & Links McKay Shrimp & Crab Gear: https://mckayshrimpandcrabgear.com Burnewiin: https://burnewiin.com Report a lost or derelict pot: https://salishseaalliance.org/derelict-gear/ WDFW crab regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/crab Want more? Go to https://anglersunlimited.co/gold to learn more about our membership. Monthly expert seminars, step-by-step courses, fishing maps, and a community of 100+ anglers who want you to succeed. About the Podcast Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

Tide vs Current: Why You're Fishing at the Wrong Time If you have been planning your fishing day around the tide table, you are reading the wrong instrument. Tide tells you how high the water is. Current tells you how hard it is moving, and that is what decides where the bait sits and when salmon feed. This episode separates the two, shows you where the strongest current actually falls, and gives you a repeatable way to plan any trip in any season. Episode Overview Why tide is vertical and current is horizontal, and why confusing the two puts you on the water at the wrong hourWhere maximum current actually falls, according to NOAA, and why it is not at high or low tideWhat hard current does to baitfish, and why that decides the bite window rather than whether salmon are hungryThe roughly two-hour window either side of slack when the food chain is most activeWhere bait goes when it cannot hold in the flow, and why you should fish the lee and back eddiesA screen walkthrough of three tools showing the same place on the same dayHow to apply all of it to September coho in Marine Area 7Timestamps 00:00 - What Salmon School students wanted most 01:24 - Welcome to Fishing for a Reason 01:57 - Tide is vertical, current is horizontal 02:38 - Flood and ebb: the vocabulary 03:03 - Max current is not at high or low tide 04:15 - What slack water actually is 05:13 - Why timing is different everywhere 06:01 - What current does to the bait 07:07 - The two-hour bite window 07:47 - Where bait goes when it cannot fight the current 08:41 - The 1.5 knot rule 09:56 - Three tools, same place, same day 13:37 - Applying it to September coho 14:11 - Final takeaways Key Takeaways Tide is vertical, current is horizontal, and current matters more to your fishing day.Maximum current happens between the tides, not at high or low tide.Slack and high tide are not the same moment, and they can be far apart.Hard current pins bait flat to the bottom; slack lets it rise and the salmon move in.Fish roughly an hour either side of slack current.When the current is up, fish the lee and back eddies instead of the flow.A big exchange can mean a harder day, not a better one.Check the current station for the exact place you are fishing, because timing varies everywhere.Resources & Links NOAA on tides and currents: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.govNOAA tidal current predictions: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaacurrents/stations.html?g=698Island Fisherman Magazine, Fishing Tidal Currents to Your Advantage: https://islandfishermanmagazine.com/fishing-tidal-currents-to-your-advantage/Navionics: https://www.navionics.comWDFW sport fishing regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulationsPrevious episode on coho run timing: https://youtu.be/1rftcbGi7yQWant more? Go to https://anglersunlimited.co/gold to learn more about our membership. Monthly expert seminars, step-by-step courses, fishing maps, and a community of 100+ anglers who want you to succeed. About the Podcast Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

Where Are All the Coho? How to Predict Salmon Timing in Washington Waters "Where's all the coho?" is the question filling up the Gold community right now, and it's a fair one. If you've been grinding August hours in Marine Area 7 without a legal fish to show for it, nothing is wrong with you or the run. This episode walks through the biology, the public data, and the regulations that explain coho timing, so by the end you can work out any species in any year for yourself instead of waiting for someone to tell you. Episode Overview Why coho run on a rigid three-year clock while chinook can take anywhere from two to seven years, and why that makes coho far more predictableWhat jacks are, why up to 30% of a wild return can be them, and what a pile of small early coho actually tells you about that yearThe rain trigger most anglers miss: coho stack at stream mouths and wait for flow to riseReal WDFW creel numbers from September 2024 in Area 7, and what they prove about September versus AugustWhy Marine Area 7 rules can be stricter than neighboring areas because of Canadian stocks and the Pacific Salmon TreatyThe three-step process to forecast your own season: read the wild coho forecast, check the regs, check the emergency rulesTimestamps 00:00 - Where's all the coho? 01:00 - Women on the Water, September 17 04:00 - The coho three-year clock 06:00 - Jacks and genetic variation 07:00 - The rain trigger 08:00 - Where coho hold in Marine Area 7 09:00 - Creel data and the September spike 11:00 - 2026 Marine Area 7 salmon windows 12:00 - Mixed stock fishery and the Pacific Salmon Treaty 15:00 - Three steps to forecast any season Key Takeaways The coho aren't missing in August, they just haven't shown up yet.Coho are a September fish in Washington waters, and the creel data proves it.Fish the exterior of the San Juan Islands, not the inside passages.Watch the rain forecast as closely as the tide chart.A run of small jacks is real information about that year, not bad luck.Marine Area 7 rules that feel stricter are often protecting somebody else's fish.Every date in this episode will be wrong next year, which is why you learn the process.Resources & Links WDFW coho salmon species page: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/oncorhynchus-kisutchWDFW Puget Sound creel reports: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/creel/pugetWDFW emergency fishing rules: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/emergency-rulesWDFW sport fishing regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulationsFish Washington app: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/washington-fishing-appNOAA Fisheries coho salmon: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/coho-salmon-protectedWDFW Wild Coho Forecast publication: https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/02698Women on the Water, Sept 17, Bellingham Yacht Club, 5-8pm, free: https://wkf.ms/467GOYuNorth of Falcon episode: https://youtu.be/N_QH0se7ZQUAbout the Podcast Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

Washington Crabbing 101: How to Stay Legal and Fill Your Pots Two Dungeness crab come out of the same pot, same day, same size. One gives you a quarter of its body weight in meat. The other gives you less than 20%, and what you do get is sparse, stringy, and a pain to pick. Most people who have crabbed for years still cannot tell those two crab apart. This episode fixes that, and takes on the bigger surprise: crabbing has more rules than salmon does. Jamie covers every rule that can turn a fun Saturday into a citation, then gets into what actually fills pots -- depth, bait, soak time, and where to set in the islands. Episode Overview The licensing step most people miss on the Fish Washington app, and why skipping it makes you illegalWhat is actually legal for kids, including why a four month old cannot hold a limitGear that has to be right before you leave the dock: escape rings, rot cord, buoys, leaded lineReal spots in Marine Area 7 plus Scott's Oak Harbor and Skagit Bay picksWhy over-soaking your pots costs you crab, backed by GoPro footage shot inside a potThe three-check keeper test: sex, size, and the pinch that separates soft shell from hardTimestamps 00:00 -- Two crab, same size, very different coolers 02:00 -- Resurrection Derby and Women on the Water 06:00 -- Your license, and the catch record card step people miss 08:00 -- Kids on the boat: free licenses and legal extra limits 11:00 -- Open days, escape rings, rot cord, and legal buoys 14:00 -- Weighting your pots and where Dungeness actually live 17:00 -- Marine Area 7 spots, plus Scott's Oak Harbor picks 18:00 -- Bait, soak time, and the over-soak mistake 22:00 -- Limits, sex, size, and the pinch test 26:00 -- Eight takeaways before you leave the dock Key Takeaways Buying the shellfish license is not enough, you have to add the crab catch record card separately.Every license needs its own phone, so your teenager cannot ride along on your app.Kids under 16 fish free and hold their own limit if they can physically work the gear.Crabbing is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Marine Areas 6 and 7, and pots have to be out.Two units of crab gear per person, with no cap on units per boat in Puget Sound.Set your pots in the evening and pull at first light, because crab feed at night.Soft shell crab give up less than half the meat, so pinch the rear leg and toss the soft ones back.Resources & Links Resurrection Derby, Bellingham Bay, August 29-30, 2026: https://www.resurrectionderby.comWomen on the Water with LFS, Thursday September 17, Bellingham Yacht Club, free, 100 seats: https://wkf.ms/467GOYuReport a lost crab pot, Northwest Straits Foundation: https://www.derelictgear.org | https://nwstraitsfoundation.org/WDFW shellfish gear rules: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/gear-rulesWant the full structured learning experience? Join Anglers Unlimited Gold and get expert seminars, step-by-step courses, fishing maps, recipes, and a community that wants you to succeed: https://anglersunlimited.co/gold Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie and Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques and local knowledge to help you get off the couch and into the fish.

No Downriggers? You Can Still Catch Salmon (Here's the Setup) For anglers who have a boat but no downriggers or aren't ready to invest before they know they'll stick with fishing, salmon can still feel out of reach. In this episode, Jamie breaks down the simplest, most budget-friendly way to target coho and king salmon using a deep six diver instead of downriggers. This one's especially useful if you're fishing a sailboat, a smaller boat, or you're just getting started and want to try before you buy. Episode Overview Why coho season (September) is one of the best times to fish without downriggersHow to rig a deep six diver as a downrigger replacementThe right leader lengths for running a diver straight to bait versus adding a flasherBest lure choices for diver fishingHow far behind the boat to run your gear and what trolling speed to useWhere to learn about mooching as another downrigger-free optionWhy you need a catch record card and how to add one to your WDFW licenseTimestamped Sections  00:00 – Intro and Salmon School waitlist mention 01:00 – Used downrigger episode reference (Episode 53) 02:00 – Why coho season is perfect for diver fishing 03:00 – Whiskey rod explained, caution on turns 04:00 – Deep six diver mechanism explained 05:00 – Rigging basics: herring in a hood, lateral line 06:00 – Short bus flashers and leader length setup 07:00 – Leader length details and lure choices 08:00 – Popping the clip and fighting the fish 09:00 – How far to run your line and trolling speed 10:00 – Mooching as an alternative 11:00 – Catch record card requirement and wrap up Resources & Links Free Lure Training: https://anglersunlimited.co/3-essential-lures Episode 53, How to Buy Used Fishing Gear on a Budget: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJRBKP90yss&t=713s Mooching Episode with Justin Wong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNOZrq0NBVA&t=6s WDFW App / Catch Record Card Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taN8OEi2t-Q&t=454s WDFW Fishing Regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations Yakima Bait Flashers: https://amzn.to/4gpGQQv Want more tutorials like this one? Join Anglers Unlimited Gold and get access to expert seminars, step-by-step courses, fishing maps, and a community of anglers who want you to succeed. https://anglersunlimited.co/gold Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

The Science of the Strike: Why Salmon Hunt (And How to Catch Them) If you want to stop guessing and start understanding why salmon do what they do, this episode is for you. Jamie breaks down the actual science behind salmon behavior -- how they find food, what triggers a strike, and why your lure action matters more than your lure color. This isn't theory for theory's sake. Every principle connects directly to how you fish. What this episode covers: Why salmon in the Salish Sea are typically found in the upper 30 meters of the water column -- and how to use that to your advantageWhy "current change" is the phrase that should replace "tide change" in your vocabularyHow tidal jets create convergence fronts that stack baitfish -- and why that's exactly where you need to beWhat the lateral line is and why it may matter more than vision when it comes to triggering a strikeThe real science on color and depth -- and why red is essentially invisible below 33 feetWhy erratic, irregular lure movement triggers predatory instincts in salmonTimestamps 00:00 -- Introduction: the science behind salmon and why it makes you a better angler  01:30 -- Salmon School announcement (August 9, Anacortes)  03:00 -- Where salmon hold in the water column and why it matters  04:00 -- Current change vs. tide change: why the language matters  05:00 -- Tidal jets, convergence fronts, and where bait stacks  07:00 -- Using sonar to find fish that won't bite  07:30 -- Salmon diet: herring, sand lance, and matching the hatch  09:00 -- Lure selection: Kingfisher Spoon, Coho Killer, hoochies, and matching prey  10:00 -- The lateral line: how salmon detect your lure before they see it  12:00 -- Why flashers work and why lure action is primary  13:00 -- Color physics at depth: what salmon can actually see  14:00 -- UV and glow lures: what the science says (and doesn't)  16:00 -- What triggers the strike: erratic movement and vulnerable prey  18:00 -- Key takeaways and closing  19:00 -- Salmon School wrap-up Key Takeaways Salmon in the Salish Sea primarily hold in the upper 30 meters -- your depth decisions should be calculated, not random.Current change -- not tide change -- is the variable that concentrates baitfish and creates feeding windows.Tidal jets create convergence fronts where herring, sand lance, and candlefish stack -- and where salmon follow.The lateral line is a fish's built-in pressure and vibration sensor, and research suggests it may be more important than vision for triggering a strike.Water absorbs red and orange light by about 33 feet deep -- color choices below that depth should lean toward green, blue, and UV reactive.UV lures have strong anecdotal and industry support, but peer-reviewed science on UV vision in Pacific salmon at fishing depths is still limited.Erratic, irregular lure movement mimics a vulnerable baitfish -- and that's what gets a salmon from following your lure to striking it.Resources Mentioned Salmon School (August 9, Anacortes): https://anglersunlimited.co/salmonschoolScienceDirect Lateral Lines & Fish: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/lateral-lineEncyclopedia of Puget Sound: https://www.eopugetsound.org/What Salmon See: https://www.science.org/content/article/how-salmon-see-world-anewPacific Wild (forage fish research): https://pacificwild.org/how-salmon-need-herring/Steve Chamberlain previous episode: https://youtu.be/29aTkrlzHWw?si=4ZC-fd9Nz7uAYvloSea Bear Smokehouse: https://seabear.com/pages/about-seabearWant to fish smarter this season? We have 13 spots left at Salmon School on August 9th in Anacortes. You'll get hands-on sessions on sonar, gear setup, trolling technique, reading current, and more -- including a smoked salmon tasting from Sea Bear Smokehouse. Sign up at anglersunlimited.co/salmonschool before it's gone. About the Podcast Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

Stop Guessing: The Salmon Fishing System That Actually Works If you own a boat, have the gear, and still keep coming home empty-handed, this episode is for you. Jamie walks through the exact training she's taught in seminars and private sessions for years -- the same one boaters from all over Washington have used to go from frustrated to consistent. By the end, you'll understand the four-part system that separates the boats that limit out from the ones that go home empty every time. Episode Overview Jamie shares her own rough first season chasing salmon in the San Juan Islands and the local legend who changed everything for herLearn the three types of fishermen and which one might be quietly holding you backA full breakdown of rod, reel, downrigger and terminal tackle setupHow to plan a trip using tides, current and wind apps before you ever leave the dockA real video walkthrough of sending gear down and landing a fishThe four-question review habit that turns one good trip into a repeatable processTimestamps 00:00 - Salmon School announcement and what's ahead  04:00 - Meet Jamie and Scott, welcome to the training  09:00 - Jamie's early struggles finding salmon in the San Juans  12:00 - The three types of fishermen, which one are you  16:00 - Pillar 1, prep your gear like a pro  21:00 - Rod, reel and downrigger setup breakdown  27:00 - Choosing lures, bait and terminal tackle  33:00 - Pillar 2, planning an exceptional day on the water  38:00 - Reading tides, current and wind before you leave the dock  46:00 - Pillar 3, on the water fishing technique walkthrough  57:00 - Pillar 4, process and review, the nine questions that level you up Key Takeaways Fishing success comes down to performance, not luck or the newest lure.Fishing the current change matters more than fishing the tide change.Most anglers skip the review step, and that's exactly what separates the committed rookie from the proficient angler.Prepared anglers catch more fish because they spend more time fishing and less time fixing gear.Sending two different lures down at once helps you figure out what the fish actually want that day.Resources & Links Salmon School, August 9th in Anacortes: https://anglersunlimited.co/salmonschool  Want hands-on training with real gear demos, a sonar deep dive with Steve Chamberlin, and a filleting demo from SeaBear? Join us at Salmon School in Anacortes on August 9th. Grab your spot at https://anglersunlimited.co/salmonschool Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

Fly Navarro on the Wildest Tie in Blue Marlin World Cup History and Why Anglers Need to Organize This one is for anyone who fishes here in Washington but hasn't thought much about what it takes, at the policy level, to keep that fishing possible. Fly Navarro has run the only global blue marlin tournament in the world for over a decade, and it just produced the first tie in the event's 41-year history. He also sits on fishery boards back east, and had a lot to say about why our community needs to organize too. This one covers the tournament story, conservation vs. environmentalism, and hard-won lessons on decision-making, faith, and building a trustworthy circle. Episode Overview Guest Robert "Fly" Navarro is Tournament Director of the Blue Marlin World Cup, the only worldwide blue marlin tournament, now in its 41st year  The inside story of the July 4th tournament tie: two boats weighed blue marlin at the exact same 653 pounds  Why Fly believes the fishing and hunting community needs to organize the way environmental groups do  Conservation vs. environmentalism, and how it connects to seal and sea lion predation on Washington hatchery salmon Life lessons on decision-making, choosing your circle, and taking a leap of faith, from Fly's path from deckhand to running tournaments in Saudi Arabia  A direct invite to the Washington Tuna Classic in Westport, benefiting local veterans through Mission Outdoors Key Takeaways Two boats weighed blue marlin at the exact same 653 pounds, the first tie in the Blue Marlin World Cup's 41-year history. The fishing and hunting community needs to organize the way environmental groups do, before laws get passed that are hard to repeal. Conservation means protecting a resource for future generations; environmentalism means keeping people from using it at all. Seals and sea lions, protected since 1972, now eat a significant share of hatchery salmon. The best decisions come after you let the emotion pass, not in the heat of the moment. Who you let into your circle matters more than how big your reach gets. Failure isn't falling short of a goal, it's quitting after you fall. Timestamps 00:00 - Meet Fly Navarro and what this episode covers  00:04 - Fly's "why" behind fishing  00:14 - From $4-an-hour deckhand to running blue marlin boats worldwide  00:21 - Building a social media company and 1,500 free how-to videos  00:23 - How a marina visit in Jeddah led to Saudi Arabia's first fishing tournaments  00:28 - Why Fly and girlfriend Naomi chose the San Juan Islands  00:33 - Why fishermen and hunters need to organize like environmental groups  00:36 - Conservation vs. environmentalism, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act  00:52 - The July 4th tournament tie: two blue marlin, same exact weight  01:24 - Building a trustworthy circle and learning to trust your gut  01:41 - Faith, fatherhood, and what's happened to young men  01:59 - Closing question and the Washington Tuna Classic invite Resources Mentioned Blue Marlin World Cup: https://bluemarlinworldcup.com Washington Tuna Classic (Westport, July 24-25): https://missionoutdoors.org/programs/wtc/ The FlyZone Podcast with Fly Navarro: https://open.spotify.com/show/1jqRM7mm0xFWbeqr6XkEzJ Fly’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flynavarro_/ Fly’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/FlyNavarro Anglers Unlimited Gold: https://anglersunlimited.co/gold About the Podcast Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

This one was recorded dockside in Anacortes, right on the back deck of Jamie and Scott's new Pursuit 325 (you'll hear Navy jets flying overhead once or twice, no editing that out). Jamie & Scott sit down with Tom Anderson, owner of Burnewiin, right where his product actually lives. Tom walks through how he thinks about cockpit layout, why versatility at the rail level changes how you fish, cruise, and entertain, and how to set a boat up so you can go from trolling for salmon to cleaning fish to grilling dinner without gear getting in your way. Whether you're outfitting your first boat or rethinking your current setup, there's a lot here for you. Episode Overview: How Tom went from ice fishing shanties in Wisconsin to running one of the Pacific Northwest's top marine accessory companiesA full walkthrough of Jamie and Scott's new Pursuit 325 and how Tom recommends laying out mounts for trolling, drift fishing, and bottom fishingThe gear that makes cleanup, cutting, and rigging on the water easierNew Burnewiin products in developmentTom's work with the American Sportfishing Association advocating for sport fishing access in Washington, DC, and how it connects to the North of Falcon processTimestamped Sections: 00:00 – Intro: why this episode was recorded dockside on the new Pursuit 325 01:00 – Meeting Tom Anderson, owner of Burnewiin 05:00 – From ice fishing in Wisconsin to running Burnewiin 10:00 – The story behind Jamie and Scott's new Pursuit 325 15:00 – Planning rod holder placement for trolling, drift, and bottom fishing 18:00 – Building a transom rigging and cutting station 23:00 – Fender cleats, rail mounts, and keeping the gunwale clean 25:00 – New products coming from Burnewiin 28:00 – DIY installation tips for boaters rigging their own boat 45:00 – Tom's favorite Burnewiin product and why 50:00 – Sport fishing advocacy and the fly-in to Washington, DC Key Takeaways: Plan your rod holder placement around how you actually fish, not just how the boat came from the factory.A modular mounting system lets one boat handle trolling, drift fishing, bottom fishing, and cruising without dedicated hardware for each.The best gunwale accessories store out of the way until you need them, then lock in fast.Quality accessories cost more up front but save you fish and frustration over time.Sport anglers and tribes often share more common ground on fisheries issues than people assume.Where individual anglers can actually make a difference on policy.Resources & Links: Burnewiin: https://burnewiin.com/Islands Marine Center: https://www.islandsmarinecenter.com/American Sportfishing Association: https://asafishing.org/Pursuit Boats: https://www.pursuitboats.com/Want the full structured learning experience? Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold membership (opening July 2026) at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

The new WDFW App: Setup Online Licensing Guide Before Season Opens Before salmon season kicks off, there's one thing that can derail your whole day before you ever leave the dock: a fishing license problem. Jamie shares a real story from a shrimping trip gone sideways, then walks through exactly how to set up Washington's WDFW mobile app so you and your guests are legal, confident, and ready to go with the new online licensing system. In this episode: How to recover a forgotten WDFW username and password step by stepWhy a screenshot of your license is NOT legal and what isHow to find the shellfish license What to do if you're in a remote area with no cell serviceThe after-hours support number most anglers don't know aboutDiscover Pass vs. Vehicle Access Pass and why they're not the same thingTimestamps 00:00 - Dad forgets his license, chaos ensues  03:00 - Why Jamie made this video  04:00 - Myth #1: You CAN get after-hours WDFW support  05:00 - Myth #2: A screenshot is not a legal license  06:00 - Screen share walkthrough: WDFW website and app setup  09:00 - How to download and navigate the myWDFW app  10:00 - Finding the shellfish license in the app  12:00 - Discover Pass vs. Vehicle Access Pass explained  14:00 - "Account not found" and other common login hiccups  15:00 - What to do if you're remote with no service  17:00 - How to submit app feedback to WDFW  17:30 - Dead phone = forgotten license. Bring a power bank. Key Takeaways WDFW has after-hours tech support at 360-902-2464 (option 1). Use it.A screenshot of your license is not legal proof. You need the app's enforcement tab or a printed copy.An annual saltwater license does NOT cover shellfish. That's a separate $20 purchase.If you can't find a license in the app, use the search bar. It's easy to miss on the main page.Mobile license holders cannot get a reprint at a sporting goods store if they lose service.Open the app while you still have service before heading somewhere remote. It works offline after that.A dead phone is the same as forgetting your license. Bring a power bank.Resources and Links WDFW Mobile App (myWDFW): Search "WDFW" in the App StoreWDFW Mobile App Info Page: https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/apps/mywdfwWDFW After-Hours Tech Support: 360-902-2464, option 1App Feedback Email: [email protected] Unlimited Gold Waitlist: https://anglersunlimited.co/goldReady to go deeper? Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold membership at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold -- monthly expert seminars, step-by-step courses, fishing maps, and a community of 100+ anglers who want you to succeed. Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie and Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish.

Brianna Bruce of Livin' Life Adventures has guided Washington waters for 15 years and she fishes just about everything that swims. In this episode, she's back to share what makes Baker Lake sockeye one of the most unique and rewarding fisheries in the state, including the gear tweaks, troll speeds, and bait strategies that separate limits from empty coolers. In this episode: Why Baker Lake produces the biggest, brightest sockeye in Washington — and why the fish arrive in such good conditionThe troll speed mistake that kills most people's chances Why dodgers outperform flashers, and how leader length affects your hook-upsBait and scent strategies that are legal at Baker but not allowed at other sockeye lakesHow to fish the right depth Brianna's guiding philosophy: why the best trips aren't always about the fish countTimestamped Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome and intro to Briana Bruce 01:00 - Briana's background: a lifelong angler turned 15-year guide 05:00 - Guide philosophy: making memories when the fish don't cooperate 08:00 - Species and seasons: where Briana fishes year-round in Washington 14:00 - Why Baker Lake is her favorite fishery in the state 17:00 - 2025 season dates, limits, and run size forecast 20:00 - The mistakes anglers make: troll speed, dodgers, leaders, and bait 23:00 - Simulating a school and finding active fish 25:00 - The one that got away story Key Takeaways: Troll significantly slower than kokanee setupsShort leaders outperform long flasher-style leaders in this fisheryLive sand shrimp early season, cured coon shrimp mid-season, cured prawn chunks late seasonFish the 20–40 foot zone — deep marks are usually bull trout or inactive fishRun extra rods or dummy flashers to mimic a school and trigger more bitesBaker Lake opens July 11th tentatively this year with a starting limit of four fishThe run forecast Resources & Links: Briana Bruce / Livin' Life Adventures: livinlifeadventures.comBook a charter or connect: [email protected] | Text: 206-714-2112Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: search Livin' Life AdventuresReady to go deeper? Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold membership at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold — get access to exclusive trainings like the full Baker Lake Sockeye session with Briana, plus expert seminars, step-by-step courses, fishing maps, and a community of 60+ anglers who want you to succeed. Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

How to Catch Spot Shrimp in Washington (Complete Beginner Guide) If you've been thinking about getting into shrimping this season, but aren't sure where to start, this episode is built for you. Jamie and Scott walk through a Shrimping 101 seminar pulled straight from inside the Anglers Unlimited Gold community, covering everything from pot selection and gear setup to processing your catch dockside. In this episode: Why shrimping is one of the best entry points for new anglers and familiesSpot shrimp biology, what makes these guys unique and why the season is shortCoffin pot vs. Ladner vs. square pots Pot puller options at every price point Line management with the SMI Rope Winder and why it mattersBait setup: shrimp pellets, Pro-Cure attractant, Chub Mackerel, and Friskies cat foodWeather, tides, and current planning so you don't lose gear How to process your catch on the boat and stay in complianceTimestamps 00:00 — Welcome back + Jamie's first shrimping trip with the newborn  01:45 — 2026 shrimping regulation update and Marine Area 7 rule change  04:15 — Spot shrimp biology  05:30 — 2026 season dates and area openings/closures  07:30 — Four steps to shrimping success overview  07:50 — Shrimp pot breakdown: coffin pots, Ladners, and square pots  11:00 — Pot puller options: Scotty, Pacific Pro/Brutus, Max T-Hall  12:00 — Line management: bucket method vs. SMI Rope Winder  13:30 — C-links, cannonball setup, and connecting your rig  14:30 — Bait: pellets, Pro-Cure, Chub Mackerel, and cat food  16:00 — Weather and current planning  18:00 — Live boat footage: pulling a loaded coffin pot  20:30 — Processing your catch and counting limits on the water  21:30 — Pro tips: fishing logs, timers, and exploring new spots Key Takeaways Coffin pots have the largest footprint and the most entry ramps — once Scott and Jamie switched, they started limiting out almost every time.Orient your bridle longways (perpendicular to current) so both bait wells throw a wider scent trail.Wind is not your friend — if it's bad out, you will lose pots.Check your first set within 45–60 minutes so you have time to move if the spot isn't producing.Keep a fishing log and mark productive spots on your sonar so you can return.Always set a timer — it's surprising how fast the time goes and how easy it is to leave gear down too long.Tidal prediction apps are helpful but they're predictions — not gospel.Resources & Links WDFW Shrimping Regulations & Area Closures: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/pandalus-platycerosMcKay Shrimp & Crab Gear: https://www.mckayshrimpandcrabgear.com/Navionics App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/navionics-boating/id744920098SailFlow: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sailflow-sailing-forecasts/id555309964Windy: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/windy-app-wind-tides-radar/id997079492Free Shrimp Pot Setup Guide + Recipe: https://anglersunlimited.co/shrimpReady to go deeper? The full seminar — including a deep dive on where to find shrimp, how to read contours, and live Q&A — is inside Anglers Unlimited Gold.  Email [email protected] with "CATCH MORE FISH" to learn more. About the Podcast Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

If you've ever stared at a shrinking salmon season and wondered who decides this stuff—and why—this episode is for you. Jamie sits down with Gabe Miller, longtime fishing buyer and 14-year member of the Puget Sound Sport Fishing Advisory Group, to pull back the curtain on North of Falcon, the models behind your seasons, and the one 30-second habit that could actually help. You'll walk away understanding the system better than 99% of anglers out there. Episode Overview: How North of Falcon, the feds, the tribes, and Canada all have to line up before your inside seasons get setWhy the $3 billion economic value of WA sport fishing keeps getting ignoredWhat VTRs are and how filling them out honestly protects future seasonsWhy "don't tell the fish checker anything" is quietly hurting all of usHow the advisory group really works—and why those hallway relationships matterThe real bottleneck in the whole season-setting process (it's not what you'd think)Timestamps: 00:00 – Meet Gabe Miller & his PNW fishing background  00:02 – The serendipitous path to becoming a fishing buyer  00:05 – The $3 billion sport fishing economy nobody credits  00:11 – How losing steelhead opportunity pulled him into advocacy  00:12 – ESA, Hood Canal & how salmon stocks get managed 00:18 – Getting involved: joining the advisory group  00:24 – What VTRs are and why they matter  00:29 – The 30-second habit that protects your season  00:31 – Inside the Puget Sound Sport Fishing Advisory Group  00:38 – How the North of Falcon process actually works  00:41 – The real bottleneck: timing  00:44 – Gabe's epic fishing story with his son Key Takeaways: WA sport fishing drives $3 billion, 17,000 jobs, and $275M in tax revenue—and rarely gets credit for it.Telling the fish checker "I caught nothing" feels clever but sabotages next year's season.Filling out a VTR honestly takes 30 seconds and genuinely helps the department manage seasons.The advisory group carries no formal weight, but the relationships built there move the needle.The biggest problem with season-setting isn't the science—it's the compressed last-minute timing.Getting involved beats complaining online every single time.Resources & Links: WDFW Fishing Regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulationsNorth of Falcon process info: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/north-falconPacific Fishery Management Council: https://www.pcouncil.orgVTR Form https://str.wdfw-fish.us/home FREE Salmon Training: https://anglersunlimited.co/3-essential-luresJoin the Gold waitlist: https://anglersunlimited.co/goldWant the full structured learning experience? Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold membership at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold About the Podcast: Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

If you've ever felt like fisheries management was too complicated, too political, or too far above your pay grade to matter — this episode is for you. Jamie sits down with Alex Van Hine (Fish Northwest) and Phillip Olson (Badger Fishing) for a straight-talk conversation about what's actually broken in Washington's salmon fishery management process — and what you can do about it. In this episode: Why the North of Falcon process is brokenHow exploitation rate math gives one side a negotiating advantageThe advisory group issue: who's in the room, who should be, and why it mattersWhy showing up in person to public meetings — even silently — changes the outcomeHow to get involved starting right now, even if you've never been to a meetingTimestamps: 00:00 – Introduction  01:00 – Philip's background and how Badger Fishing took off  08:00 – Alex's background: La Conner, San Juans, and getting serious about NOF  14:00 – What's actually broken in the North of Falcon process  18:00 – The Stillaguamish fin-clip problem explained  25:00 – The structural problem: time, scheduling, and communication  29:00 – The Puget Sound Sport Fishing Advisory Group: what it is and what's wrong  43:00 – How to get involved and why your voice matters  56:00 – Fish return numbers, NOF2 in Lynnwood, and the road to June  01:04:00 – Closing tradition question and where to follow Alex and Philip Key Takeaways: The North of Falcon process is broken by design, not by the people inside it.The most constrained stock in Puget Sound is a hatchery-marked fish we're actively keeping — that needs to change.Exploitation rate numbers aren't equal between co-managers, and that shapes every negotiation.The advisory group needs active NOF participants, not appointed seat-fillers.800,000 people buy Washington fishing licenses — 1/10th of 1% showing up would change everything.You don't have to speak to matter. Just being in the room sends a message.Your voice matters more than you thinkResources & Links: Fish Northwest: https://www.fishnorthwest.orgBadger Fishing (Phillip Olson): Search "Badger Fishing" on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook @badgerfishingnwAlex Van Hine (Instagram): @reelpnw_avhWDFW: https://wdfw.wa.gov/aboutWant the full structured learning experience? Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold membership at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold About the Podcast: Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.

If you've been frustrated by shrinking fishing seasons, confusing regulations, or contradictory information about what's really killing Washington's salmon runs — this episode is for you. Ron Garner, President of the Puget Sound Anglers, has spent nearly two decades inside the rooms where these decisions get made. He's fought to keep fisheries open, built bridges between tribes and recreational anglers, and has the data to back up what he says. This conversation will change how you see the salmon crisis. What this episode covers: Why so-called "wild" Chinook salmon in Washington state are essentially goneHow the Hatchery Science Review Group (HSRG) was covertly suppressing hatchery production The real data behind habitat lossWhy seals and sea lions now kill more salmon than commercial, tribal, and recreational fishing combined How Ron's relationship-building approach with tribes, WDFW, and NOAA has produced more wins than any protest or petitionWhat recreational anglers can do right now that actually moves the needleTimestamps:  00:00 Welcome back + baby news  03:45 Ron Garner's background and how shrinking halibut seasons pulled him into fisheries advocacy  07:30 Becoming PSA State Board President and pivoting from ocean fisheries to Puget Sound salmon  09:30 NOAA's proposed Puget Sound fishing closures and how PSA stopped them with the Rockfish Descender program  15:30 The biggest problem in Puget Sound 19:00 HSRG explained and the fight to remove it from WDFW salmon policy  34:00 Ron's PowerPoint: the real root causes of salmon decline 48:00 Hatchery production cuts vs. orca decline, flood-destroyed egg beds, and why hatcheries are the only reason we still have fish  01:09:00 Predator crisis, ocean condition cycles, and what recreational anglers can actually do to help Key Takeaways: Hatcheries are not the enemy Cutting hatchery production has not brought wild fish back; the data shows the opposite.Over 82% of the Skagit estuary is gone Seals and sea lions kill more salmon than all fishing sectors combined, multiplied by six.The tribes have saved recreational fishing more times than most anglers will ever know.Relationship-building with WDFW, NOAA, and tribes has produced more wins than any protest or petition.If we don't stop fighting each other and start making more fish, our grandkids won't be fishing.Resources & Links: Puget Sound Anglers: https://pugetsoundanglers.orgWDFW Fishing Regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations"Top 10 Reasons for the Salmon Decline" — Robert T. Lackey https://youtu.be/VVrXWt9VPMU?si=n6plzYlxsdmJxsF2Want the full structured learning experience? Join the waitlist for Anglers Unlimited Gold membership at https://anglersunlimited.co/gold Fishing for a Reason is the Pacific Northwest saltwater fishing education podcast for new anglers and families who want to catch more salmon, halibut, lingcod, shrimp, and crab in Washington waters. Hosted by Jamie & Scott Propst from Anglers Unlimited, each episode delivers practical techniques, local knowledge, and expert insights to help you get off the couch and into the fish. Perfect for relocated professionals, military families, and boaters who are just getting into fishing.