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The state of Washington is home to lakes, rivers, and the Puget Sound, so it’s easy to find new activities to try out in the deep blue.
Read on to discover places you can go fishing, paddleboarding, crabbing, and whale watching in and near Bothell.
If you’ve always wanted to learn how to fish, but never knew where to start, visit The Avid Angler. The shop offers a variety of beginner and intermediate courses that focus on fly fishing, fly tying, and spey casting. The Avid Angler even offers private and guided trips, so you can put your new skills to the test!
If you’ve fished before and are looking for a new spot, we recommend the Former Wayne Golf Course that’s right in Bothell, and Lake Washington, where you can fish for sockeye, silvers, coho, perch, bass, and cutthroat trout. Traveling with little ones? Check out Gold Creek Trout Farm in Woodinville for family fishing fun for everyone.
WhatsSup Paddleboard and Kayak is a Bothell staple — and rightfully so! The local business offers paddleboarding lessons right on the Sammamish River, so you’ll get 360-degree views of the water and the surrounding Park at Bothell Landing.
If paddleboarding isn’t your jam, WhatsSup also has kayaks, hydrobikes, and canoes for rent, so you can enjoy the uniquely Bothell scenery, no matter your mode of aquatic transportation.
Did you know that the summer months are peak crab season?
Take a boat out to the Puget Sound and try your hand at crabbing, a unique experience in this part of the Pacific Northwest. Here, Dungeness crab reigns supreme and there are plenty of spots in the Sound to catch them.
Head out to Padilla Bay, Bellingham Bay, Guemes Island, and Skagit Bay if you’re looking to go crabbing in the North Puget Sound area. For spots near Seattle, try Bainbridge Island, Blake Island near Bremerton, or Shilshole Bay near Ballard. Keep in mind: The daily limit is five male Dungeness crabs per person with a minimum size limit of 6.25 inches, so be sure to bring a measurement device.
The Puget Sound is also a great area for fishing! There are opportunities to fish here year round, with pink salmon being the most popular in the summer. In the off-season from October to April, you can go fishing for Winter Chinook.
It’s true: Whale watching and the San Juan Islands go hand in hand (or fin in fin!).
Take a day trip to the islands from Bothell and sign up for a whale watching tour with San Juan Safaris, San Juan Outfitters, or Maya’s Legacy Charters. All three tour operators feature experienced naturalists on board to provide fascinating facts about the beautiful mammals and ensure that you have a whale of a time!
Charter a Kenmore Air aircraft and experience the Pacific Northwest like never before. Kenmore Air offers seaplane, Pilatus PC-12, and land plane flights to 45 destinations from Seattle, including scenic tours of Seattle, Mt. Rainier, San Juan Islands, and Lake Washington.
If you’re looking for multiple activities to do in a day, sign up for Kenmore Air’s whale watching, fishing and crabbing, or fly and paddle packages, which combine a flight with an excursion at one of their destinations.
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Header image courtesy of @ltmcmedia.
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