Northwest Fishing Reports

Well, what do you guys think? With all this rain predicted, any chance you think they will open up more rivers to fishing?

i think sept 1 the sky is supposed to open, i think they will lift the closure for the opener. could be wishful thinking though...

I'm hoping the sky will open, the snohomish is a zoo!

bassbuzzer wrote:I'm hoping the sky will open, the snohomish is a zoo!

im hoping the sky opens for the coming coho season..

Not sure we are getting much rain yet. However, it will lower the water temp and that will sure help the fish get more active.

I would wait for WDFW to come out with something that says "so and so rivers will re open for fishing" before anything. If it rains like its supposed to I don't see why Sky and all of other rivers would not open up.

DannyL wrote:I would wait for WDFW to come out with something that says "so and so rivers will re open for fishing" before anything. If it rains like its supposed to I don't see why Sky and all of other rivers would not open up.

the bummer is, in my eyes is that it really hasn't rained that much. Not like it needs to to raise the flow and sustain it long enough for it to be provident to open the river. I hope it continues to rain and I hope the Sky opens up but I doubt it will on the 1st.

Any word on the Stilly?

Bobber_Dogging_Gal wrote:Any word on the Stilly?

It is in the same boat. With everything being so dry for so long it will take substantial continued rainfall to saturate the ground and foliage to allow there to be run off for the rivers. The best hope is that the water temp are reduced enough to warrant opening the rivers, but with the low flow there is poaching problem. --- will filling shopping carts full of humpies and pushing them off of the rivers.

strider43 wrote:

Bobber_Dogging_Gal wrote:Any word on the Stilly?

It is in the same boat. With everything being so dry for so long it will take substantial continued rainfall to saturate the ground and foliage to allow there to be run off for the rivers. The best hope is that the water temp are reduced enough to warrant opening the rivers, but with the low flow there is poaching problem. ---- will filling shopping carts full of humpies and pushing them off of the rivers.

Very true!

Unfortunately now we are in a holding patern/stalemate. The tribes are going to advise the state to proceed with caution on the openers.... If the state tries to open the tribes will likely push back. It's going to take a cooperative agreement to open them up at this point.

Here in lies one of the great dilemmas with posting knee jerk closures like the ones we are seeing now. These systems weren't even slated to open until September and the State posted closures in JULY without having a clue what the fall would look like. Now fall is here and we are stuck lying in the bed they already made....

In my experience once closures hit they stick:

Lake Washington Sockeye, Puget Sound Sturgeon, Elliot Bay, Area 7 Blackmouth, Area 10 Summer Chinook, the list goes on and on and on. Heartbreaking to think of all of the opportunity we have lost, and continue to lose.

Lake Washington Sockeye, Puget Sound Sturgeon, Elliot Bay, Area 7 Blackmouth, Area 10 Summer Chinook, the list goes on and on and on. Heartbreaking to think of all of the opportunity we have lost, and continue to lose.

Well said... depressing.. but true.

nvm

Matt wrote:Unfortunately now we are in a holding patern/stalemate. The tribes are going to advise the state to proceed with caution on the openers.... If the state tries to open the tribes will likely push back. It's going to take a cooperative agreement to open them up at this point.

Here in lies one of the great dilemmas with posting knee jerk closures like the ones we are seeing now. These systems weren't even slated to open until September and the State posted closures in JULY without having a clue what the fall would look like. Now fall is here and we are stuck lying in the bed they already made....

In my experience once closures hit they stick:

Lake Washington Sockeye, Puget Sound Sturgeon, Elliot Bay, Area 7 Blackmouth, Area 10 Summer Chinook, the list goes on and on and on. Heartbreaking to think of all of the opportunity we have lost, and continue to lose.

It is my understanding that any closures decided by the State will be adhered to by the tribes as well, so it makes little sense they would 'push back' against opening any water unless they thought it crucial to escapement, and were prepared to abstain from fishing themselves.

You would think the main reason for the closures would have to be the water temp. And with this rain it should lower it pretty good.

i would HATE to go all year without the lower sky and wallace. i cant imagine them keeping the wallace closed... what a sad thing that would be.

bassbuzzer wrote:You would think the main reason for the closures would have to be the water temp. And with this rain it should lower it pretty good.

the other portion of the reason was the low water and "angler advantage" I think is what they called it. They have to be aware of the severe poaching especially during humpy year and what would happen if the fish are more accessible to anglers and poachers.

jonb wrote:i would HATE to go all year without the lower sky and wallace. i cant imagine them keeping the wallace closed... what a sad thing that would be.

I concur, that hands down is my favorite river and the most productive. Plus I live right down the street.........

I was in the Snohomish river today, and we saw temps of 16.5*c (62*f). Well below lethal levels for salmonids.

I've been watching the NOAA gage page for the rivers. The skykomish is right around 6 ft now and slowly climbing up. I'm not optimistic they'll open her up, but they should. Water temps are down and water levels up....even higher than normal for this time of the year. Hope the rain keeps up. This weekend looks sunny though. I don't mind fishing the Snoho, but the Skykomish is my home river. I live within walking distance of good water. Sucks she's closed.