Northwest Fishing Reports

Action: Open retention of hatchery chinook salmon on the Skykomish River.
Effective date: July 14 through Aug.15, 2012.
Species affected: Hatchery chinook salmon.
Location: The Skykomish River from the mouth upstream to the mouth of the Wallace River.
Reason for action: Early returns to the Wallace River Hatchery indicate that the hatchery run size is stronger than forecasted and that broodstock collection goals can be met even with a Skykomish River fishery.
Other information:
• Skykomish River, from the mouth to the Lewis Street Bridge in Monroe, daily limit 2 hatchery chinook, minimum size 12 inches in length. Starting August 1, night closure and anti-snagging rules in effect.
• Skykomish River, from the Lewis Street Bridge in Monroe to the Wallace River, daily limit 2 hatchery chinook, minimum size 12 inches in length. Night closure and anti-snagging rules in effect.
Trout and other game fish are open as listed in 2012-13 Sport Fishing Rules Pamphlet.
Information contact: Jennifer Whitney, District 13 Fish Biologist, (425) 775-1311.

Oops. Just posted this without checking to see if someone else did.

Christmas in July for all the sky fisherman?

You guys beat me to it, logged on site to report the same thing.

how do you get to the mouth of the wallace

PEOPLE NEED TO STOP TELLING EVERYONE ABOUT THE MOUTH OF THE WALLACE, SOON ITS GONNA BE SO OVER POPULATED AND BE POINTLESS TO FISH.

zefsidefishing wrote:PEOPLE NEED TO STOP TELLING EVERYONE ABOUT THE MOUTH OF THE WALLACE, SOON ITS GONNA BE SO OVER POPULATED AND BE POINTLESS TO FISH.

Shoot, I hope everyone goes to the mouth of the Wallace, that way the other spots on the river won't be so crowded. It's a big river, there are plenty of other spots.

bugmasta wrote:

zefsidefishing wrote:PEOPLE NEED TO STOP TELLING EVERYONE ABOUT THE MOUTH OF THE WALLACE, SOON ITS GONNA BE SO OVER POPULATED AND BE POINTLESS TO FISH.

Shoot, I hope everyone goes to the mouth of the Wallace, that way the other spots on the river won't be so crowded. It's a big river, there are plenty of other spots.

I have my secret spot...

i wish i could just go to my favorite spot on the wallace, id have my limit in 10 mins..damn wallace being closed.

There is no secret there. There are plenty of good spots on the river, and you'll probably pick up more fish downstream anyway, the mouth of the Wallace got blown out and the hole is now downstream from where you can reach it from the flat side. We've pulled more fish out of the flats upstream from the Wallace, which just goes to show how much they care for the shallow blown out section. They go up the Sky to better water to beat the heat. Plenty of water and fish to go around!

natetreat wrote:There is no secret there. There are plenty of good spots on the river, and you'll probably pick up more fish downstream anyway, the mouth of the Wallace got blown out and the hole is now downstream from where you can reach it from the flat side. We've pulled more fish out of the flats upstream from the Wallace, which just goes to show how much they care for the shallow blown out section. They go up the Sky to better water to beat the heat. Plenty of water and fish to go around!

Talking about secret other than the Wallace...muhahaha. Very very true about the Wallace though. I do agree.

zefsidefishing wrote:PEOPLE NEED TO STOP TELLING EVERYONE ABOUT THE MOUTH OF THE WALLACE, SOON ITS GONNA BE SO OVER POPULATED AND BE POINTLESS TO FISH.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but we have 6.8 million people in this state and I believe around 750,000 fishing licenses sold (but don't quote me on that). I think the mouth of the Wallace is a known location. That said, I will concede this thread is likely to add a few more venturing out to that spot. River angling is tough, unlike lakes, there are finite spots to fish. BUt as mentioned, there are locations if you're willing to explore. Those are the spots I'd be vague about.

Mike Carey wrote:

zefsidefishing wrote:PEOPLE NEED TO STOP TELLING EVERYONE ABOUT THE MOUTH OF THE WALLACE, SOON ITS GONNA BE SO OVER POPULATED AND BE POINTLESS TO FISH.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but we have 6.8 million people in this state and I believe around 750,000 fishing licenses sold (but don't quote me on that). I think the mouth of the Wallace is a known location. That said, I will concede this thread is likely to add a few more venturing out to that spot. River angling is tough, unlike lakes, there are finite spots to fish. BUt as mentioned, there are locations if you're willing to explore. Those are the spots I'd be vague about.

Mouth of the Wallace is not new - every year the parking lot is full. If you want to find a secret spot, just start exploring. They are out there. A hole here, a certain rock there. You just have to downsize your idea of a "secret" hole. The best time to do this is when the water is really low. Then go walk the banks and imagine the water 2' higher. Note where the fish would lie and they hit those spots next year. The area I fish regularly for steelhead is by no means secret, but no matter how many are there, I have many "holes" that produce on a regular basis (and find new ones each season). Each one is no bigger than an econo-car, but that is fine with me as I am the guy hauling out fish when others are just drowning bait.

Well put Gringo. I have some holes that people know about but they walk past them not thinking that they're are fish there. Wallace is going to be a bust. I'll fish below it our above it.

EAmon ___hoffman123 wrote:Well put Gringo. I have some holes that people know about but they walk past them not thinking that they're are fish there. Wallace is going to be a bust. I'll fish below it our above it.

If you are fishing for kings - I wouldn't be fishing above it. Might get a little spendy (see regs)

why is it going to be a bust? cause lots of people, or no fish?

probably be a mix, im sure there might be a fish or two pulled out but for the amount of people that will show up, you will have to get lucky. But who knows, it might be the hot spot of the day.

if the mouth doesnt work out, where is another good spot i should try? or is it just a matter of figuring it out for yourself?

Secrets are hard to come by when we have Google maps satellite view. I've got this secret spot on the Cowlitz that would blow you away. There is this big waterfall and the fish just stack up behind it and mill around! All you have to do is toss a gob of eggs and let it roll around and you'll catch a monster!

Seriously though, the mouth of the Wallace, Reiter, the cable hole, Soos creek, Flaming geyser north levee road, the entirety of the Skok and bloody run are all "secret spots" by that logic! Every year I see more anglers on the water at my favorite spots and I'm glad. More licenses sold, more money to our hatcheries, more people doing what they really should be doing living in this rainy state. Fishing and enjoying our wilderness. If you want to fish without company, you need to go catch cutthroat in a coastal stream, drive a few hours and put in the work to find fishy water.

That being said, there are lesser known spots on all of these popular rivers that will all have fish in them at some point in time. For those of us that put countless hours on the river, invest the effort of potentially fishless days exploring new locations, beating down brush and experimenting with unconventional gear will always be rewarded with awesome experiences. I've been fishing Washington for 20 years, when gas was cheap it was doritos PB&J and river water, instant coffee and a roll of green trails maps and for a weekend of bushwhacking, long hikes and sometimes incredible fishing.

This isn't a point and shoot picture, it's an intricate tapestry woven with time and experience, and that's where the fun comes in. Every trip is a problem, a puzzle with a myriad of variables, and that point when they all come together to catch that prize fish is the reward. The fish are all headed to the same place, and everyone knows where that is. I'm glad when I see new folks on the water. Busy areas are fun, when you get folks of all types hanging out to do the same thing. As long as you don't have the attitude that you are entitled to the river and resent the guy next to you, you're going to have fun. Because someone has fished that secret spot before you, and there are going to be folks out there that will fish it after you. I could tell you all my secret spots, mark them on the map and they still wouldn't be busy, because they just aren't convenient for most folks. And those that want to be on them can't be on them ever day like I am, so there's plenty of elbow room to go around. One of my favorite things is running into clients at my spots that I showed them and seeing them walk out with a limit of fish.

If you're looking for good king spots, there is a lot of water downstream from sultan and upstream from Monroe along Ben Howard road. There is plenty of room at the WDFW access across the way from the mouth of the Sultan, and you can hike from there along the bank downstream a long ways and upstream to even past the Wallace to get at some killer steelhead water. You can spend all day at the prison hole in monroe, and the lower river there is a lot more friendly to Chinook, they hang out in larger numbers there than in the skinny water as you get above the Sultan, it's just not king friendly. As the water levels continue to get down to the summer lows, I'd target the lower river more than the upper, the fish tend to blow through there and hit the hatchery as quick as they can. It's not an easy fishery, and it's even harder when you're shore bound but you can catch a lot of fish when you time it right.

Hey Nate my name is Mike.Longtime forum follower and barely ever a poster.I seen you mention the prison hole the.One of my favorites.Went there today and the road was closed.Do you know if this is temporary or permanent?