Winter Steelhead 2013/2014

[Bodofish]

I've been fishing it for 3 years on foot and I've seen 1! ONE steelhead! I do well everywhere else. The Nutsack is indeed dead!

I'm not so sure it's dead. The radio show host is probably basing his statement on hatchery capture and creole numbers. There were a few years when landslides and flooding wiped almost everything out. For the Sak you have to fish at the right times, AKA nets off the river or in front of the nets and the fish are in, Lummi's choke it right off. The other thing is, it's a big fast river, really fast where most people try to fish. Picking the location to fish is the most important part of the trip. It's been many years since I've fished that river but even in good times, the guys who were, "just going hit the Sak", never caught anything. Big river means putting a lot of time in. When you do run into that fish, it'll no doubt be a big one.

[bigskyx]

"creole numbers." As for "it's a big fast river"... The main stem is comparable to the Vedder, the Skagit is much bigger and faster. I've fished the main stem top to bottom. North fork, South fork, mouth of the Middle fork. I obviously can't cover as much ground in a day as a boat but I put some miles on my waders. Every year they have to close the river to get enough stock for the next year of no returns! And all of the current and future plans that I'm aware of only point to more failures. I have had some fair coho days and usually catch a nice dolly or two, though this year even the dollies have been less abundant. I'll stick with my original statement. Steelhead fishing on the Nooksack is a wast of time.

[Bodofish]

"creole numbers." As for "it's a big fast river"... The main stem is comparable to the Vedder, the Skagit is much bigger and faster. I've fished the main stem top to bottom. North fork, South fork, mouth of the Middle fork. I obviously can't cover as much ground in a day as a boat but I put some miles on my waders. Every year they have to close the river to get enough stock for the next year of no returns! And all of the current and future plans that I'm aware of only point to more failures. I have had some fair coho days and usually catch a nice dolly or two, though this year even the dollies have been less abundant. I'll stick with my original statement. Steelhead fishing on the Nooksack is a wast of time.

I lived right off the river for a good number of years, so I was out there all the time, on foot but like I said, it's been a long time. Down on the flats I always plunked, good book a flask and a lounge chair. After all we aren't talking Golf here, no reason to pressure yourself, it's all about enjoyment. If there's truly that few fish there, give a rest, let the runs rebuild and hit it again in ten years or so.

[strider43]

Here are pics of two I bagged on the Sky 1-19-2014, got the first one on my first cast with a Nightmare jig, 1/16th oz black and red with white head.

[RiverChromeGS]

Nice chrome hatches!

[bigskyx]

Guess I should post one.

[BentRod]

Nice fish strider and bigsky! Love that pic bigsky. Beautiful fish. Wild or hatchery?

[bigskyx]

Thanks. Wild!

[RiverChromeGS]

Thanks. Wild!

Beauty eh? Haha. Nice fish buddy!

[RiverChromeGS]

Had another great weekend chasing wild fish. Now that im back at the college i havent been guiding much, just getting weekends to fish for fun. Had an awesome weekend, some monster bucks, some beautiful fish and VERY few boats on superbowl weekend. Very calm and peaceful on the river until a monster or 2 comes jumping out. Enjoy some photos!

[RiverChromeGS]

2

[strider43]

Nice.... those are monsters....

[BentRod]

Still a fish or two around. Caught this one this morning. Not big, but sure was bright. Just a hair over 21"

DSC00391.jpg (67.56 KiB) Viewed 4520 times

[RiverChromeGS]

Wow the hatchery fish sure are late this year. Crazy!

[RiverChromeGS]

Some cool shots of more wild steelhead. Great season so far, trying to forget about the hatchery fish season

[primetime]

I like that yarn ball. Oh the steel too haha.

[natetreat]

Looks like the Peninsula has been kind to you! These fish are turning out to be a lot more fun to fish for than our lack luster hatchery Puget Sound runs.

[SteelHedder]

Havin trouble finding his bigger cousins...

[RiverChromeGS]

Beautiful cutty! Local steelhead was a bust with a few exceptions. Tough season

[FishingThePacNW]

Idk what yall are talkin about with this no hatchery fish garbage! haha lots of you have seen these fish but it feels good to finally say that i can post a pic on here! Here are my two Hatcherys from this Sunday!