Skagit and Skykomish river fishing
The Skagit River is a river in
southwestern British Columbia in Canada and northwestern Washington in the
United States, approximately 150 mi (240 km) long. It drains an area of the
Cascade Range along the northern end of Puget Sound.
Skagit River Fishing Information from the mouth of the Skagit to
Gilligan Creek
Once the premier steelhead stream in the state, the Skagit River
is still extremely popular and heavily fished from boat to bank. It
holds steelhead and salmon to match its size ... big, heavy and deep.
Steelhead over 30 pounds and Chinook salmon over 50 pounds are possible
catches, with Chinook angling permitted from mouths of its two forks
that tap salt water up to Gilligan Creek. Fine Coho fishing occurs in
this Skagit County favorite through late October and November, generally
up to the Cascade River. In odd-numbered years, pink salmon (humpie)
catches from August through September will outnumber Chinook and Coho
together. There is excellent fishing for sea-run cutthroat and some
Dolly Varden in the lower river in summer, and further upstream in late
fall, best enjoyed by [rollers and single-eggers.
The Skagit splits into North Fork, South Fork, and a number of sloughs
above Skagit City, a small town at the inland tip of Fir Island. The
many mouths of its delta open into Skagit Bay, with most of the tideland
area within the Skagit Wildlife Recreation Area.
Excellent highway and county road access parallels most of the river
from its lower forks to Diablo and Ross dams on the upper reach, with
fishing extending to the Newhalem area. Interstate 5 slices across the
Skagit at Mt. Vernon and Highway 20 follows the north bank through
Newhalem, then climbs the Cascades and drops into eastern Washington.
County roads on both sides of the river open up many potential fishing
areas.
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It rises in the Cascade of British
Columbia, east of Chilliwack. It flows southwest through Skagit Valley
Provincial Park. It crosses the border into eastern Whatcom County, Washington,
where it is impounded to form the 24 mi long Ross Lake reservoir in the
Ross Lake National Recreation Area, between the two units of North Cascades
National Park. It flows west past Rockport and Sedro Woolley, then briefly south
near the coast past Mt. Vernon. It enters the eastern end of Skagit Bay on Puget
Sound approximately 10 mi south of Mt. Vernon.
It receives the Sauk River from the south near Rockport. It receives the Baker
River from the north near Concrete.
The river's major dams, constructed in the 1920s and 1930s, provide are a
primary source of hydroelectric power for Seattle and other area communities.
The Skagit Valley Railroad was constructed by the city of Seattle to transport
workers on the dams. The river today is a popular destination for whitewater
rafting and fly fishing.
Skykomish is a town located in King
County, Washington.
Located in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, near Deception Falls on
the Skykomish River, Skykomish was founded as a railroad town. Today, it is
mainly a stopping point for recreational access to the surrounding mountains,
including skiing at nearby Stevens Pass.
Although Skykomish is officially at the northeastern corner of King County,
mountains deny it any road access to the rest of the county. Instead, U.S.
Highway 2 (known in this area as the Cascade Highway) connects it with Snohomish
County in the west and through Stevens Pass to Chelan
County.
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Sockeye fisheries open July 16
on Baker, Skagit rivers
Action: Opens Baker and Skagit rivers sockeye fisheries.
Effective Dates: 12:01 a.m. July 16, 2010, through 11:59 p.m. July
18, 2010.
Species affected: Sockeye salmon.
Location: Baker River from mouth to Highway 20 bridge; Skagit River
from the Dalles Bridge at Concrete to a point 200 feet above the
east bank of the Baker River.
Reason for action: The run of sockeye in the Baker River is above
the number needed for spawning and hatchery egg-take needs. Both
state and tribal fisheries are being opened to harvest available
shares.
Other information: Anti-snagging rule and night closure are in
effect. Regulations for all other areas of the Skagit River remain
in effect as listed in the 2010/2011 Fishing in Washington, sports
fishing rules pamphlet. Additional openings are under consideration,
including Baker Lake. Additional openings will be announced after
coordination with tribal co-managers.
Information contact: Brett Barkdull (360) 466-4345, ext 270, or
Steve Thiesfeld, (360) 902-2715. |
Fishing Tip: Fall
Chinook Salmon fishing in on the Wilson river can provide anglers some
of the best fishing of the year. The Wilson will fish best between 4-
and 6-feet. Thanks to Jack Edwards for sending this tip.
Email
us with a tip about the Wilson River and we will post it here.
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Brett's Salmon &
Steelhead Fishing Guide Service
Brett's Salmon & Steelhead Fishing
Guide Service offers guiding on the Skagit river, Skykomish river,
Snoqualmie river, Snohomish river, Stillaguamish river and the Cowlitz
river for Salmon,
Steelhead, Humpies, Chum Salmon and Dolly Varden.
Brett offers his fishing guide services year 'round and fishes from a
20' Jet boat that fishes up to 5 people very comfortably. Washington
fishing guides know where to fish and Brett specializes in fishing for
Salmon and Steelhead in this area. |
 Email Skagit & Skykomish River |
Northwest Fisheries
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Olympic
Peninsula
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Buoy 10 Salmon
Coho Salmon limits are very common during the peak run and this is a
very popular NW fishery. Find local fishing guides and places to stay or
even rent a car while you spend your vacation here.
- Tillamook Bay Fall Chinook
- coastal streams
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Neah Bay
is the Northwest corner of the lower US. It is at the
edge of Puget Sound and home to Salmon and Halibut fishing and several
species of bottom fishing. Contact resorts and charters at this Neah Bay
website.
Fishing Methods
gifts for fishermen fishing tackle, rods, reels
back bouncing
fishing tutorials
how to catch Salmon Tips and tricks for catching Salmon
how to catch Steelhead Learn how to catch Steelhead
how to catch Sturgeon Tactics for catching and cooking Sturgeon
how to catch Walleye Learn how to angle for Walleye and the best spots to catch
Walleye including places near Biggs, Boardman, Irrigon, Rufus the Dalles.
Boats
& Marine Supplies
The Skomish River The Skykomish River is the largest river
flowing into Hood Canal. The Skokomish rises out of the Olympic National Park
and drops into its estuary on Annas Bay. Hatchery Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon
provide most of the fishing on the lower Skokomish River. Chinook Salmon are
available between August and late October and the run peaks in September. Coho
start showing up in September and the Coho runs in the Skykomish River peak in
October.
Skagit River
Once the premier steelhead stream in the state, the Skagit is still extremely
popular and heavily fished from boat to bank. It holds steelhead and salmon to
match its size ... big, heavy and deep. Steelhead over 30 pounds and Chinook
salmon over 50 pounds are possible catches, with Chinook angling permitted from
mouths of its two forks that tap salt water up to Gilligan Creek. Fine coho
fishing occurs in this Skagit County favorite through late October and November,
generally up to the Cascade River. In odd-numbered years, pink salmon (humpie)
catches from August through September will outnumber Chinook and coho together.
There is excellent fishing for sea-run cutthroat and some Dolly Varden in the
lower river in summer, and further upstream in late fall, best enjoyed by
[rollers and single-eggers.
The Skagit splits into North Fork, South Fork, and a number of sloughs above
Skagit City, a small town at the inland tip of Fir Island. The many mouths of
its delta open into Skagit Bay, with most of the tideland area within the Skagit
Wildlife Recreation Area.
Excellent highway and county road access parallels most of the river from its
lower forks to Diablo and Ross dams on the upper reach, with fishing extending
to the Newhalem area. Interstate 5 slices across the Skagit at Mt. Vernon and
Highway 20 follows the north bank through Newhalem, then climbs the Cascades and
drops into eastern Washington. County roads on both sides of the river open up
many potential fishing areas.
Rules &
Regulations
Skokomish River Fishing Chum
Salmon are caught in tidewater in the Fall. Most of the Chum Salmon are caught
in salt water near the WDFW's Finch Creek Hatchery at Hoodsport. Winter
steelhead numbers have been low for many years. Summer cutthroat provide fine
fishing on the forks of the Skykomish River. The North Fork is best. Skokomish
River sea-run cutthroat provide great fishing opportunities. Fly-fishing is
popular in the Hood Canal creek mouths, oyster bars and eelgrass flats.
Latest Fishing
Information
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fishing forum
on ifish.net is the best fishing forum you will find anywhere.
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