PlanetCatfish.com

Justin (Whitepine) and I got out and hit some Seattle area fish stores yesterday. Actually, we hit three pubs and two stores (not sure we got the ratio correct there, but it was a good time).
Happy to report that lots of good fish are available here. Plenty of L Numbers available in sizable groups, various Synos and Corys and even a couple of interesting cats from Asia.
We hit The Fish Store near the University district, which was a trip down memory lane. Justin and I went there together about 15 years ago and I bought my first expensive L Number pleco (L 14). Cost me US $100, which was even more money 15 years ago, and to boot I was a broke college student.
The other store was in Burien. Good selection of cats with a heavy focus on cichlids (esp from Central America). We had a good chat with one of the owners, Kevin, who was very friendly.
Stil one more good fish store to hit down in Renton, but we might save that for Jool's arrival.
-Shane

Shane,
Be sure to check out Blue Sierra Tropical Fish, Issaquah, WA.

It is about 10 miles east of Seattle just north off of I-5.

It is one of the "must see" shops if you want to check out the top 4-5 shops.

Thanks Larry. We will add it to the list.
-Shane

You mean off I-90, right? Last I checked I-5 didn't come close.

I-90 is correct. I misspoke in my previous post. I only lived in the area for 28 years. Now I am 100 miles from any Interstate and have been for 8 years. I know I don't miss spending 20% of my life stuck in Seattle traffic.

Writing this from a really guff hotel room in the west midlands, man I am looking forward to hitting some fish stores when I get there. Only a few days now!

Jools

Hi Jools,

Drive west on I-90 until you reach Missoula, MT. Then take US Highway 12 west over Lolo Pass and down
along the beautiful wild and scenic Lochsa and Clearwater Rivers on route US Highway 12 west along the Lewis & Clark Trail to Lewiston, ID/Clarkston, WA. It would make a good rest stop and a cold beer in the hot weather.
Visit my humble shack/fish room. It's only another 5-1/2 hours west from here to Seattle. You reconnect with I-90 about 3 hours further west of me on your way to Seattle.

You know, if we had the time. We're on a tight schedule with the RV to keep costs manageable and to ensure we don't eat into any more time in California, without a map to hand, I am not sure we will get that near to you...

Cheers,

Jools

Jools,
If you are coming from California North to Seattle then I would be out of the way.
I thought you were writing from the MidWest working your way west.
I'm am off the beaten track unless you are into wilderness adventures like wild trout fly fishing, big game hunting or jet boating up the Snake River and Salmon River rapids in the largest roadlesss area in the lower 48.

I only lived in the seattle area for 20 years myself. . . and am about 1200 miles from the nearest interstate.

I'd love to get a chance to check out the Seattle area's fish stores these days. I have to make due with the stores up here. . .

If you are coming from California North to Seattle then I would be out of the way

We are actually going the opposite way, starting in Seattle and ending up in San Fran. I was not too worried about the directions... I have been gone a long time but can still find Issaquah.

Went out to Whitepine's house last night for BBQ of brisket. Very yummy and washed down with some Black Butte porter. Took the ferry back to west Seattle. Sofia (my daughter) thought that the ferry was about the coolest thing she had ever seen and refused to come inside even though it was freezing.

On one hand I am reminded how beautiful western Washington is... then I realize it is July and that more days than not I am in a gortex jacket and pants in the pouring rain and freezing cold.

-Shane

Summer in Seattle begins in mid August and ends at the end of the first week in September.
Still, this is a good time to be over there. It has been over 100*F, on the opposite east side of the state, we have real summers and some days exceed 115*F.

Are you guys headed over to Portland 22–27 July for ichs & herps? There's a kick-ass meeting of catfish heads I'll be sorely missing.
Gonna be pecking away at my laptop in some dinky resort in Kathmandu this time next week.

Jools and I hit the Issaquah shop this morning. Just two catfish nuts with a 8 month and a three year old. Sort of changes the experience... They do have an area with toys and coloring books for kids. Big kudos for that!

HH, No plans to do anything other than pass through Portland.
-Shane and Jools (who are currently sitting in the backyard with a laptop sipping their first cold beers of the day)

That's a shame. I am stuck in a “resort” outside of Kathmandu typing this.

Looks like I won't be able to get those fish market pics for the Cat-eLog after all. I did fly over some pretty neat-looking rivers. Reminded me of the 2004 Indian trip.

I just got back from dropping the boys (Shane and Jools) off in Bellevue. We where up in Bellingham and checked out
Clark's (Fish store) and boundary bay (Pub). Clark's is still the great fish store I remember. No pictures but still a great time.

WhitePine wrote:I just got back from dropping the boys (Shane and Jools) off in Bellevue. We where up in Bellingham and checked out
Clark's (Fish store) and boundary bay (Pub). Clark's is still the great fish store I remember. No pictures but still a great time.

Yeah, I'd agree with that, I really liked Clark's. It had some nice fish and smelled and sounded like a classic fish store should. A great day.

Jools