Skykomish Kings

Tomorrow June 1 st marks the opening of the Hatchery Chinook season for the Skykomish River from the mouth of the Wallace River downstream to the Lewis Street Bridge in Monroe. Though with the warming weather the river has come up a lot the last few days with the river at 12,200 cfs at about noon today. The river reaches peak flow around midnight every night and drops all morning and again starts to rise all afternoon and evening once again. Though a little high it would be worth a bet to give it a try in the AM.

Shad Numbers Soar! - Bonneville Dam

If you are interested in catching a lots and having a "Great" time with something tugging at the end of your line then its time to head to the Columbia below Bonniville Dam.The shad numbers have exploded the last couple of days over the dam. Here's some of the count for the past few days!

05/28/09 - 24,886
05/29/09 - 63,192
05/30/09 - 83,492

As you can see the numbers have just soared! It's time to plan a trip sometime during the next couple of weeks.

If you haven't tried this fishery you have missed out on alot of fun. Though not the best on the table they do make "Great" crab bait for this upcoming crab season or you can save a few for sturgeon bait.

We have lots of "Shad Darts" and spoons in Stock.

Have a "Great" time.

Shad - Columbia River

Shad counts over the dam have really started coming on strong the past couple of days, with numbers in the 20 - 30 thousand range the last few days. With numbers that high it is time to plan a trip in the next few weeks. Though not much on the table, they are a lot of fun on the line. This is a great fishery to take the kids to as they will have a fantastic time catching them.

We have lots of shad darts in stock in various colors.

Lake Stevens - Kokanee

Fishing Lake Stevens for kokanee continues to be quite good! I have talked with lots of the regulars the past couple of days and all are still doing quite well on these land locked sockeye. Most all of the successful anglers are fishing downriggers or lead core line and keeping their gear in the 20 - 3o foot zone. Silver Horde Kokanee Dodgers or Sep's Sling Blades with a wedding ring tipped with Gulp maggots, real maggots or shoe peg corn. Some anglers are fishing small #14 Spin-n-glo in a variety of colors behind their attractors, make sure to tip your hook with bait. Try to fish in the 1 - 1.2 mph range. If you are not doing well watch the ones that are and try to emulate them the best you can. These fish have been averagin in the 13 - 14 inch range with an occasional one pushing the 17 inch range.

This fishery has been extremely popular lately with as many as 50 boats on the water. Get there early to make sure to get a good parking spot or be perpared to park on the shoulder of the road!

Kings - Edmonds Pier

There have been a few kings hooked off the Edmonds pier this past week! Not every one was landed, but at least there have been a few hooked! There was a 10+ pound king landed yesterday off the pier. If you want a chance at a king in the saltwater before the opener on the 16th of July then this is the only game. The fishing should only get better with every week. Try fishing any lead minnow in the 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 ounce range. Point Wilson Darts, Mega Baits, Laser Minnows etc will all do the job - colors in pearl white, pearl green or silver / black back are all normal fair for the pier. Make sure to change your hooks to single barbless hooks and don't forget your pier net to land that fish.

Fly Fishing - Lake Chopaka

"Great" fly fishing reports coming from this popular Okanogon lake. Most everyone we have talked with are all touting how good the fishing has been . Lots of nice rainbows from 14 - 21 inches, with the average fish in the 17 - 18 inch category.
Numbers of fish hooked has also been quite good, with good fishermen landing 20 - 30 fish a day. Fly patterns have been very diverse, with chirnomids in black, olive and maroon being perhaps the best. There has been a little may fly action starting with Calibaetis adults hatching out in the late morning into early afternoon. When the fish are not on the chirnomids or may flies then drag out a leech pattern in black or olive and it should produce. If you decide to go this weekend be prepared for lots of angles as there will be a couple of fly club outings over the three day weekend.

Fly Fishing - Pass Lake

Reports over the weekend were fairly good for the fly guys fishing Pass Lake. There seemed to be good numbers of fish caught in the 14 - 21 inch range. The individuals that I talked with were doing well fishing leech patterns on a type 2 sinking line. Most were anchoring up and casting parallel to the drop offs or weed lines, casting out and counting down so that they were fishing just off the bottom or the tops of the weeds. A slow hand retrieve on the fly seemed to do the trick. Others were productive fishing chirnomids just off the bottom utilizing strike indicators.

Most fish that we heard of were rainbows with an occasional brown trout thrown in.

With the improvement in the weather we should start seeing a little dry fly action. Look for a little may fly hatch or if you hit it correctly the flying black ants.

Kokanee - Lake Stevens

With Wayne Kruse's article on Kokanee fishing at Lake Stevens in this past Thursday's Hearld put lots of pressure on the lake today. Ted Oden said that the parking lot at the launch was full early this AM with anglers trying their luck on these tasty landlocked salmon. Though there was lots of competition on the water today both Ted and his fishing partner did not have any problem catching their limits (ten kokanee each) in a couple of hours of fishing time. Ted mentioned that their were two sizes to their fish, about half were in the 13 -14 inch range and the others were around 11. Small #14 Spin N Glos in Rocket Red with Silver Mylar wings fished behind a Silver Horde Kokanee dodger, the hooks were tipped with Berkley Gulp Maggots were their ticket to success. Fish were in the 25 -30 foot zone. This fishery is just getting started and should only get better over the next month.

For additional waters to fish Kokanee in the local area you can give Samish, Cavanaugh or Watcom lake a try. For the most part these fish are an under fished resource in many of the lakes in the state.

Drano Lake Chinook

We have had some "Good" reports from Drano Lake the first part of the wee. Seems like the fishing has gotten a little better. We have seen some nice fish in the teens to low twenties this week. Most of our customers have been happy with the results that they have been having, most averaging at least a couple of fish per day for the boat. Though not exactly red hot, it is still the best bet if you are looking for Chinook. Most of the customers are doing just fine fishing a smaller plug cut herring (Red or Green) by itself. There are a few anglers that are fishing the herring behind a small in-line flasher (Fish Flash or Cone Zone) and are getting fish also. A few are trolling plugs such as Magnum Brad's Wigglers or Magnum Wiggle Warts in flame, flame herring bone, pink or fire tiger color patterns. The bank fishermen have been tossing a combination of Vibrex Spinners or the same plugs as the boaters are towing.

Weather has been the typical Spring weather we have been contending with up this way - just wait five minutes and it will be something else. Go prepared with everything from rain gear and warm jackets to sunscreen.

Fishing should continue for awhile as dam counts have still been good.

"New" Flashers

Just in time for summer Salmon fishing we have just recieved a new flasher from Hot Spot. "Mountain Dew" in 3 colors is now available and it looks like it is going to be a good flasher for both Kings and Coho. http://www.tedssportscenter.com/Mountaindewflasher.htm