Fishing for a Reason

In this episode of Fishing for a Reason, Jamie and Scott dive deep into the Bellingham Bay Fishery — a unique, co-managed terminal fishery designed to support both anglers and the ecosystem. They break down the history, purpose, and future of this fishery, how hatchery Chinook are raised and released, and why it’s a win-win for fishermen, orcas, and conservation. Plus, they preview the upcoming Resurrection Derby, an exciting event that raises funds for fish enhancement projects and scholarships.

What Listeners Will Learn:

• What a “terminal fishery” is and why Bellingham Bay is a prime example.
• The history behind the Bellingham Bay Chinook Fishery and how hatcheries and Bellingham Technical College collaborate.
• How this fishery benefits both tribal and recreational fishermen while aiding orca recovery.
• Tips for fishing in Bellingham Bay, including boundaries, limits, and species you can catch.
• Details on the Resurrection Derby: how to join, what to expect, and why it matters for fish enhancement.
• How anglers can support fisheries and marine science students through derby participation.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

- Apply for a Scholarship or Grant
- Bellingham Technical College Program Brochure
- Resurrection Derby Tickets & Info

📧 Join the Anglers Unlimited Inner Circle community:
Email [email protected] with subject “CATCH MORE FISH” to get access!

In this info-packed episode, we dive deep into one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved seafood treasures — Dungeness crab! From biology and feeding habits to the best bait, pot placement, and why tides and molt cycles matter, you'll walk away with new strategies to fill your pots and your dinner table. Whether you're a seasoned crabber or just getting started, this episode has all the nerdy insights and practical tips to help you get more dungies in the San Juan Islands and beyond.

🎯What You’ll Learn

- Why understanding crab biology can improve your catch rate
- How molting affects crab feeding behavior and pot success
- Prime habitat locations and ideal depths for summer crabbing
- The best bait types (and some surprising freebies)
- Why tides and slack water make or break your pots
- The importance of reporting lost pots and how to do it
- Practical tips for weighting pots and line safety

Resources & Links:

- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife - Dungeness Crab Info
- Report Lost Crab Gear – WDFW & Northwest Straits Foundation

📧 Join the Anglers Unlimited Inner Circle community:
Email [email protected] with subject “CATCH MORE FISH” to get access!

In this deep-dive solo episode of Fishing for a Reason, Jamie explores the age-old angler question: "Why do salmon bite?" Drawing from both scientific research and firsthand experience, she breaks down five major factors that influence Chinook and Coho feeding behavior in the ocean — including tides, barometric pressure, moon phases, scent, and lure presentation. If you're ready to make smarter, more strategic decisions on the water, this episode is your new must-listen.

What You’ll Learn

• The science behind salmon feeding behavior in saltwater
• How tides and current influence baitfish — and salmon
• Whether moon phases really affect the salmon bite
• What barometric pressure changes do to salmon activity
• How scent (good or bad) impacts salmon decision-making
• Tips to improve your lure or bait presentation to trigger more bites
• How to track fishing data to make better decisions over time

Whether you're new to salmon fishing or a seasoned vet, you'll walk away with practical tools and insight to fish smarter.

Tools Mentioned: 

- Navionics Boating App

- Lemon Joy Soap (gear cleaning tip)

In this episode of Fishing for a Reason, Jamie and Scott share their exciting visit to the Bonneville Fish Hatchery and Dam along the Columbia River in Oregon. This spontaneous road trip detour turned into a full-day educational experience, featuring massive sturgeon, powerful hydroelectric turbines, and insights into fish conservation and hatchery operations. If you've ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a hatchery — from spawning techniques to how millions of salmon and steelhead are raised — this episode is a must-listen.

🎯 What Listeners Will Learn:

• Why visiting fish hatcheries can deepen your appreciation for fishing and conservation
• The importance of hatcheries in salmon recovery
• Step-by-step breakdown of the spawning and hatchery process
• The species raised at Bonneville (including Coho, Chinook, and steelhead) and how they're distributed
• Why August is the best month to visit if you want to see big kings
• Recommendations for other Pacific Northwest hatcheries to visit

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Bonneville Fish Hatchery Info
• Find a hatchery - WDFW

🧠 Salmon School Enrollment (limited spots): Email [email protected] with subject line Salmon School to secure yours.

We’re back from the summit—literally just stepped in the door after climbing Mount Shasta—and diving straight into pink salmon season in the PNW. In this week’s episode of Fishing for a Reason, we cover why 2025 is shaping up to be one of the best pink salmon runs we’ve seen in years, with over 7.6 million fish expected to return.

Whether you’re brand new to salmon fishing, planning to take the kids out, or just want to know the where, when, and how to make the most of this epic season—we’ve got you. We also share updates on salmon school, WDFW regulations, and how to identify, catch, and cook your humpie haul.

And yep—we’ve got a photo contest and a surprise prize for the first pink tail pic submitted!

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Why pink salmon are the gateway fish for beginners and families
• When and where to target them in Marine Areas 6 & 7
• How to ID pinks vs. kings and coho (even when they’re still kicking on the deck)
• The best gear, lures, and boat setups for action-packed days
• How to cook pinks for max flavor—and why smoking is your friend
• Real-time updates on salmon regulations (and how to read them right)
• Bonus: our Salmon School details + how to claim your discounted charter

Resources & Links:

• 🎓Salmon School (July 11th) – Email [email protected] with subject line SALMON SCHOOL to grab your seat
• Pink Salmon Photo Contest – Be the first to send us a photo of a pink salmon tail and win a surprise prize! Email: [email protected]
• DeepZoom Mapping Tool: https://deepzoom.com/
• WDFW Proposed Fisheries Info: Google “WDFW Proposed Fisheries
• Salmon ID Guide (WDFW Booklet) – Check your booklet for visual ID charts to help you distinguish pinks, kings, and coho
• Smoked Salmon Prep Tutorial – Coming soon to AnglersUnlimited.co

In this episode of Fishing for a Reason, Jamie and Scott are fired up for their favorite time of year — salmon season! They walk listeners through how to prep like a pro: from rods and reels to flashers, bait, and boat upgrades. Plus, don’t miss insider info on the upcoming Salmon School on July 11th in Anacortes and the Resurrection Salmon Derby on August 16–17. If you're ready to tighten lines and sharpen your skills, this episode is for you!

What You'll Learn:

• The must-do gear checklist before salmon season
• How to prep your rods, reels, and downriggers
• Tips for retying, re-rigging, and gear organization

🔗 Resources & Links:

• RSVP to Salmon School: Email [email protected] with “Salmon School”
• Sign up for the resurrection derby at: https://www.resurrectionderby.com

In this episode of Fishing for a Reason, Jamie and Scott dive into their top three fishing apps and how they use them to plan successful, safe, and stress-free fishing trips. From checking tides and currents with DeepZoom and Navionics, to tracking wind patterns with Wind Hub and SailFlow, they share actionable tips, personal preferences, and how couples can divide trip planning duties for smoother fishing adventures. 

What You’ll Learn:

• Why using fishing apps gives you a leg up on the water
• How DeepZoom and Navionics help with reading tides, currents, and route planning
• Why wind-checking tools like Wind Hub and SailFlow are essential for trip safety
• The value of the Fish Washington app for real-time fishing regulations
• How couples can share fishing trip planning responsibilities without stress
• Tips for building your fishing network and accessing real-time reports

Listen now and let us know YOUR favorite fishing app in the comments!

🔗 Resources & Links:

• DeepZoom Tidal Currents Tool
• Navionics Boating App
• Wind Hub (from Windy)
• SailFlow Wind App
• Fish Washington App (by WDFW)
• Anglers Unlimited Gold Membership
• Join the Anglers Unlimited Facebook Group 

In this action-packed episode, hosts Jamie and Scott are joined by Jake Lint and Hayden Terrell from LFS in Bellingham, WA. These seasoned anglers share stories from their commercial fishing backgrounds, discuss the latest shrimping and lingcod trends in Puget Sound, and offer game-changing advice on shrimp pot gear, bait strategy, and safety. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a seasoned fisherman, this episode is loaded with practical tips to boost your success on the water.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🎣How to choose the right shrimp pots 

🎣Bait tips using mackerel, pellets, and commercial hacks 

🎣The best regions in Washington for shrimping and lingcod fishing

🎣Gear setup and boat management for small vessels

🎣How to rig and fish live bait for lingcod

🎣Safety and success strategies for rough tides and pot retrieval

🎣Real-world fishing stories from Alaska’s Cook Inlet to Puget Sound

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned in the Show:
- LFS

Connect With Us:

Got questions or podcast topic ideas?
 Send us a DM on Instagram @anglersunlimited.co or leave a comment on our YouTube channel.

🎙️ Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast—it helps us reach more adventurous anglers like you!

In this shrimp-packed episode, host Jamie Propst takes listeners into the heart of Washington shrimping season. From the fascinating biology of spot prawns to smart gear tips and favorite recipes, this episode is full of practical advice for anglers of all levels.

Jamie shares firsthand stories from the San Juan Islands, tactical insights on bait prep, and her go-to methods for reading sonar and rigging pots for success. She also breaks down the science behind prawn behavior, why the season is so short, and how to avoid common mistakes on the water.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The life cycle of spot prawns (and why knowing it helps you fish smarter)
• Our go-to shrimp bait recipe and pot rigging tricks
• Rookie mistakes to avoid (like what not to do with your C-link!)
• How to clean your catch fast on the boat
• Our 4 favorite ways to cook spot prawns — from seawater boils to Baja shrimp tacos

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned in the Show

• 🎣 Shrimping Gear Setup Diagram → https://anglersunlimited.co/shrimp
• 📧 Join Our Fishing Community → Email [email protected] with the subject line Catch More Fish to learn about our private group with maps, monthly calls, and more.

Connect With Us:

Got questions or podcast topic ideas?
Send us a DM on Instagram @anglersunlimited.co or leave a comment on our YouTube channel.

🎙️ Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast—it helps us reach more adventurous anglers like you!

Whether you’re already obsessed with chasing lingcod or just curious about these toothy predators of the Pacific Northwest, this episode is packed with must-know info that will elevate your time on the water (and at the dinner table).

Jamie breaks down 5 facts about lingcod biology, behavior, and feeding habits—including why some turn neon blue and what’s really inside their stomachs. If you’ve ever asked, “Are blue lingcod safe to eat?” or “What’s the best way to catch more this season?” — this episode is your answer.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why 1 in 5 lingcod have blue-green meat—and what causes it
• How male lingcod become hardcore nest defenders during spawning season
• The complete lingcod lifecycle (and why it matters for where you fish)
• How site fidelity makes lingcod ultra-predictable year after year
• What they eat (spoiler: everything) — plus a full-grown coho surprise!
• What you need to know about worms in lingcod meat—and why they’re not dangerous

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• 📸 Watch the YouTube Video for this show
• Join the Anglers Unlimited Gold Membership 
• Monthly recipes, tactics, and community perks available inside our membership

Connect With Us:

Got questions or podcast topic ideas?
 Send us a DM on Instagram @anglersunlimited.co or leave a comment on our YouTube channel.

🎙️ Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast—it helps us reach more adventurous anglers like you!