Northwest Fishing Reports

Well it has been several years now that I participate in the June 1st opener for the rivers. You will usually find me on the skykomish looking to score a limit of hatchery steelhead. This year might be a different story for me as we all know that our puget sound rivers are shut down until the tribes and wdfw come to an agreement and the way things look, it might not be in time for June 1st. I have already asked for the day off and was really looking forward to that day. By now I have learned to live with the fact that I might not be able to enjoy my out on the river so my question is what's a guy to do now with a day off and no steelhead fishing insight. I could go trout fishing but that wouldn't satisfy my 10'6 lamiglass rod. I'm more interested in an open body of water where I may be able to still enjoy a day off work and go fishing. Preferebly an area I can still be back home in one day. Any suggestions would be appreciated thanks!!

If you have a passport and enough money for a non resident license, you could come up to bc and fish in almost all the rivers and lakes. They're all open up here, and there are definately some good fisheries to be fished at that time of year. Later in the year there are some pretty epic chum runs in the lower mainland too, apparantly 20 fish days are common with back to back hook ups. that would be worth the investment alone.

At very least you could take a 3wt out to the nf sauk above the damn and have a really good time (c&r only+ selective gear). Better than sitting at home. If i was in wa i would be fishing subalpine/alpine cutties and brookies this time of year. You wont regret trying the alpine experience in washington. I think every angler should try it at least once.

I might have to look into taking that trip up to bc. I enjoy trout fishing and hiking into secluded areas and do some fishing. At the moment I have a few trips planned for eastern washington where I know of a few lakes and streams where I usually satisfy my and practice my fly skills but I really enjoy that battle of chrome bright summer run steelhead at the end of my light weight tackle. Still a bummer that the closest place for that right now would be the cowlitz and that isn't for me. Way too many folks and way too far!

I knew that Salmon was closed didn't know this affected the Sky and steelhead also. So as of now no Steelhead opener June 1?>

Correct hookedonfishing. No fishing puget sound rivers below dams. That means reiter and etc. are closed.

Anadromous waters in puget sound are closed

Anadromus meaning sea run cuts as well?

riverhunter wrote:Anadromous waters in puget sound are closed

Let's_Go_Fishing! wrote:Anadromus meaning sea run cuts as well?

riverhunter wrote:Anadromous waters in puget sound are closed

Not exactly sure. Sorry I couldn't help.

I'm a bit confused by your post but thank you for the response. Broad stroking that "anadromous waters are closed" would imply cuts as well.

riverhunter wrote:

Let's_Go_Fishing! wrote:Anadromus meaning sea run cuts as well?

riverhunter wrote:Anadromous waters in puget sound are closed

Not exactly sure. Sorry I couldn't help.

Well what I was trying to say by saying that anadromous waters are closed is that freshwater streams, rivers and lakes that have anadromous fish in the puget sound area are closed. That means sea run cuts are closed in rivers and streams but I am not positive if they are closed in the puget sound as that is saltwater. There is but a few places past natural and man made barriers that are open for fishing but no sea run cut will make it up that far. Maybe a few resident cuts. Also there are a few lakes where sea run cuts make it up through small neighborhood creeks and those are definitely open to cuts but they will be more of a bonus fish then a targeted species as long as you catch them fishing those lakes that are open. Ballinger and stickney for example.

Sea run cutties are open for c&r in the salt. Puget sounds rivers and lakes that connect with the sound are closed to ALL fishing. Saltwater salmon fisheries are closed too.

Low land lakes, subalpine and alpine lakes aswell as tributaries of rivers above dams and waterfalls are open in the puget sound area.

Thank you Jon and Riverhunter for the heads up. It's important to know this. Why does the state wait months after general freshwater season opens to finally put the new reg books out?

Let's_Go_Fishing! wrote:Thank you Jon and Riverhunter for the heads up. It's important to know this. Why does the state wait months after general freshwater season opens to finally put the new reg books out?

They don't wait. New regs have been released at the same time every year for ages. You get all year to read and understand the regs for your opening day. BTW it's only the opening day for lowland lakes with special seasons. There can be no excuses as you have all year to familiarize yourself with the regs. There are also special and emergency rules that are only posted on the web site. Its 100% up to you to know the rules, no one said it would be easy, just the way it is and has been. If you want to play be prepared to pay.

Could we keep this thread on track? I'm looking for suggestions for June 1st. Let's start another thread for closures and open seasons please. Thank you

riverhunter wrote:Could we keep this thread on track? I'm looking for suggestions for June 1st. Let's start another thread for closures and open seasons please. Thank you

Ill send you a pm of places i would fish if i was living in washington state.

Have you considered heading over to Icicle creek or the Wenatchee river? Looking at old reports on this site, it looks like there should be some Chinook in there on June 1. That might be your closest option (although still not that close). Also, near the Cowlitz is the North Fork Lewis, which I fished years ago in the summer and enjoyed it- there are both chinook and steelhead around, and lots of large trout.

I've lived on the BC border and fished BC rivers for 20 years, and I don't know of a river where I would tell anyone to drive up and fish on June 1. Of the two rivers in the Fraser River valley with summer chinook runs, one opens June 1 and one on July 1, but I haven't seen a chinook in either one until later in July. There is a very small run of hatchery summer steelhead on the river that opens June 1, but that is a long way to drive for a very small chance of seeing a fish. If we still don't have a salmon opening in Puget Sound come September, you should definitely consider a trip up north. Until then, I'd look elsewhere.

Ive been in bc for 4 months now and know a river that should be in its peak run for bluebacks in june and its no secret. Im sure you know which one im talking about jakefish.

I appreciate the help! Now I have my mind racing to figure out which one will best suite me. Once again thanks!

jonb wrote:Ive been in bc for 4 months now and know a river that should be in its peak run for bluebacks in june and its no secret. Im sure you know which one im talking about jakefish.

Yep, although I expect it to be a tiny run this year, given the forecasts for coho everywhere.

Yeah could be, ive been told otherwise, that those fish mostly live in the nearby estuary and werent affected as much by the warm water blob in the pacific. They could be wrong though. Theres always ecvi summer runs and springers too. Or spring run steel.. Sorry i wont alude to where on the steel... Loose lips sink ships....