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Skykomish River Report
Snohomish County, WA

Details

02/02/2013
Steelhead
All Day
02/02/2013
1
1303

After reading about the netting schedule on the Skookumchuck, I decided, last minute this morning, to head to the Skykomish instead. Got my line in the water at the hatchery side of Rieter at 7:00 a.m., tossing bobberdogged eggs first; I managed to find some Rays "egg candy" at a convenience store and decided to give it a try over the Alaska brand I got from Sportco. Very different product all together. Anyways, it ended up being a decent day weatherwise, a bit chilly when the sun came up and the wind picked up for a bit, but it clouded back up and was not too cold the rest of the day. Water was pretty clear, although still green I could see about 6-8 feet down.

No takers on the eggs. Tried fresh sandshrimp, no takers. Tried nightcrawlers, no takers. Tried a pink worm, no takers.

I then switched over to jigs. Tried about 10 different colors/patterns, a couple 1/4oz, mostly 1/8oz; pinks, oranges, nightmares variations, one was purple with chartreuse and purple maribou, some peach. Only solid color jig was all pink, the rest were mixed, mostly with pinks or whites. Even tried a bare, white jig head I found with a pink work on it.

No takers on the jigs.

I did get three takedowns, but they were all snags and the first two I lost all my gear (except the bobberstop above the bobber, both times) and that was with a palomar knot below the bobber.

3rd takedown, I got my second lost jig back. It was hooked into a leader, with the weight, corky and hook still attached, which someone near me was using earlier and had snagged a couple times. I didn't move around too much, I went maybe 100 yards either direction from where I started, trying to learn the water there by the hatchery.

Saw one relatively chrome fish come out right in front of the hatchery outlet, about 5-7 lbs I'm guessing. The gentleman said he had seen one other come out on the highway side, but when I left at 3:00 p.m. that was all that was caught.

Except a blue kayak was caught on the highway side.

Seems someone took a spill somewhere upriver. It was snagged by one of the fisherman on the other side, and brought to shore, with everyone wondering the same thing; where is the kayaker? He hadn't floated by, so either he was stuck under a boulder/log or he made it out. 30 minutes later another kayaker showed up, saying the guy was alright and on his way down the highway. 2 others showed up, but he walked out with his kayak while the others left down the river. My guess is he had some damage to it.

Anyways, a decent day on the river with nothing but memories to show for it. Still better than being at work, ANY day of the year.


Comments

HULI_ISDA
2/3/2013 8:40:00 AM
Nice to hear kayaker is alright,but u bet just being outdoor is awsome.
ripsomelip
2/3/2013 4:15:00 PM
fished 6-930 at the mouth on the hatch side. 1 bite on drift at 7. no takes on variuos jig patterns and back to drift....nothin. didnt see anything so i chalked it up to some fresh air and good conversation.
feeeshon
2/4/2013 11:25:00 AM
Just in case, I found the kayaker's paddles. I was fishing upstream from Rieter ponds around 330pm. I drove upstream from the ponds on highway 2 about a mile and parked by the train bridge and walked downstream. I swung some spey flies and then dragged some spoons, but no takers. About 100 yards down on the bank was where the paddles were in the rocks. I stood them up on the side of the river, so whoever might be looking for them might find them. Glad to hear everyone is okay.
Alextron
2/4/2013 3:06:00 PM
I thought that the season closed on the 31st did it get extended?
gonnahookit
2/4/2013 4:10:00 PM
@Alextron it is open till Feb 15th from the bridge on hiway 2 above goldbar (just downstream from the hatchery) to the forks.
Alextron
2/6/2013 9:07:00 AM
Awesome, thanks!
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Bottom to Top Charters

Phone: (406) 321-0504