About Bellingham Channel, WA

The Bellingham Channel, to which the Nooksack River flows, is in the Salish Sea in Washington. The bay borders the southeastern portion of the Chuckanut Mountains, the eastern region of Bellingham City, and the southern part of Samish Bay. The passage is separated from the Strait of Georgia, Lunmi Island, Portage Island, and Lunmi Peninsula.

Originally given the name  “Seno Gaston”, the Bellingham Channel was first visited by Jose Marie Narvaez in the Santa Saturnina in 1971, on board a schooner. A year later, the bay was named after Sir William Bellingham who served for the British Royal Navy. He was in the first British expedition that set foot on the bay.

The Bellingham Channel was subject to constant development after the first settlers decided to make it their home. Following about a hundred and fifty years of development, the channel had lost about 282 acres of marine land, primarily intertidal estuarine habitats. Its shoreline had also been altered due to construction being done to build the City of Bellingham. Fortunately, there still remain incredibly important habitats such as the “pocket estuaries” which - allow the fish species in the channel to thrive.

All About Fishing in Bellingham Channel, WA

The estuaries of Bellingham are able to hold big populations of fish, specifically Chinook salmon. There are also smaller populations of fish such as walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, steelhead, lake trout, and plenty of other types of trout species.

In order to catch these fish species, most especially the Chinook salmon, it is highly advised to use the typical forage fish.

Regarded in the country as a “fisherman’s paradise”, anglers can fish from the many public fishing piers or use a boat to reach the deeper ends of the bay where there is a higher possibility of catching salmon and other big fish species.

The other fishing spots to visit around Bellingham Channel are Baker Lake, Dakota Creek, Diablo Lake, Gorge Lake, Caine Lake, Nooksack River, Ross Lake, and Lake Padden.

Aside from fishing, harvesting clams, crabs, and oysters can also be done in the area.

Fishing Seasonality

The best time to catch fish in general within the area of Bellingham Bay usually starts in late April. Trout fishing, however, is an entirely different story as trout is best caught around the early weeks of April. The trout fishing season ends after April. After that, trout will then begin to be bountiful in the lake the moment in the fall in the early weeks of October.

Fishing Seasonality

The best time to catch fish in general within the area of Bellingham Bay usually starts in late April. Trout fishing, however, is an entirely different story as trout is best caught around the early weeks of April. The trout fishing season ends after April. After that, trout will then begin to be bountiful in the lake the moment in the fall in the early weeks of October.

All About Fishing in Bellingham Channel, WA

The estuaries of Bellingham are able to hold big populations of fish, specifically Chinook salmon. There are also smaller populations of fish such as walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, steelhead, lake trout, and plenty of other types of trout species.

In order to catch these fish species, most especially the Chinook salmon, it is highly advised to use the typical forage fish.

Regarded in the country as a “fisherman’s paradise”, anglers can fish from the many public fishing piers or use a boat to reach the deeper ends of the bay where there is a higher possibility of catching salmon and other big fish species.

The other fishing spots to visit around Bellingham Channel are Baker Lake, Dakota Creek, Diablo Lake, Gorge Lake, Caine Lake, Nooksack River, Ross Lake, and Lake Padden.

Aside from fishing, harvesting clams, crabs, and oysters can also be done in the area.