Skykomish; how high is too high?

A place for readers to talk about river fishing in Washington.
Forum rules
Forum Post Guidelines: This Forum is rated “Family Friendly”. Civil discussions are encouraged and welcomed. Name calling, negative, harassing, or threatening comments will be removed and may result in suspension or IP Ban without notice. Please refer to the Terms of Service and Forum Guidelines post for more information. Thank you
User avatar
gonnahookit
Lieutenant
Posts: 203
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:16 pm

Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by gonnahookit » Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:10 pm

Been watching the Sky flows steadily climb all day, currently at 9240 (up 200+ in the last half hour alone, up 3000 since this morning, and doesnt appear to be slowing down any time soon) and wondering how fast it will drop, and where on the gauge is it "back into shape"? it's up a foot and a half from when I was there yesterday morning, and that was a lot higher than when I took my first trips to the Sky this winter. Not knowing the river very well to begin with, add in the fact that what little I DO know about it (landmarks/boulders etc) is all now submerged, well, makes it a little difficult to decide on when to go.

Was planning a drive up to Reiter in the morning, or maybe the highway side (maybe going down to the cable hole) but now I am thinking I might hold off until Saturday.

Any thoughts?

User avatar
spoonman
Captain
Posts: 606
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:30 am
Location: monroe

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by spoonman » Fri Jun 21, 2013 4:21 am

Haven't checked this morning but I have hooked up with it at 12000. Go to the hatchery side and as long as there is room to stand and cast, you'll do just fine. I don't fish the highway side often so I couldnt say how that fishes high, but cable will be moving pretty good and any fish hooked you're likely to never get to the bank.

User avatar
chrome_chasin
Lieutenant
Posts: 265
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 11:47 am

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by chrome_chasin » Fri Jun 21, 2013 6:06 am

I was going to ask the very same question for the only reason of not ever laying eyes on this river before. I am headed up Sat and plan on throwing jigs and possible spoons but can not find anything on when that river is punched. If you dont mind me asking what were you throwing when it was at 12000?

User avatar
spoonman
Captain
Posts: 606
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:30 am
Location: monroe

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by spoonman » Fri Jun 21, 2013 7:39 am

Anything will work the important thing to remember is that those fish are closer to the bank than you think. Like pretty much right off your feet

User avatar
natetreat
Rear Admiral One Star
Posts: 3653
Joined: Sun May 23, 2010 10:11 pm
Location: Lynnwood

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by natetreat » Fri Jun 21, 2013 7:42 am

At about 10,000 is when the big rock at reiter goes under. There are fish in there, and they are fearless when the water is up, but reiter is where it's at. They aren't taking any detours on their way to the hatchery.

User avatar
racfish
Rear Admiral Two Stars
Posts: 4716
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 4:11 pm
Location: Seward Park area

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by racfish » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:04 am

The higher it is the more I like it. For plunking ,higher flows are better.

rcthepirate
Lieutenant
Posts: 202
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 3:01 pm
Location: Bothell, WA

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by rcthepirate » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:17 am

Up at Reiter, when it starts to drop, and I'm talking the moment it starts to drop, its going to be game on. Fish in tight.

User avatar
schu7498
Commander
Posts: 522
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:49 pm

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by schu7498 » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:33 am

Yeah seriously when it starts to drop its gonna be awesome!

User avatar
chrome_chasin
Lieutenant
Posts: 265
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 11:47 am

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by chrome_chasin » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:55 am

Well its a good thing I am working cause it is dropping now according to NOAA projections but looks to level off around 6 am tomorrow. I plan on bringing my own rock to stand on, as I have been told is the standard! But no plunking for me, just jigs or spoons.

User avatar
spoonman
Captain
Posts: 606
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:30 am
Location: monroe

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by spoonman » Fri Jun 21, 2013 10:30 am

Trying to get out of work and head up today but its hard to pass up some prevailing wage, espsecially overtime.

User avatar
gonnahookit
Lieutenant
Posts: 203
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:16 pm

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by gonnahookit » Fri Jun 21, 2013 12:55 pm

Awesome info guys and gals! I guess the biggest thing answered was if there would be safe spots to fish from. From what I saw of the highway side on a brief hike down the other day, it looked like any "beach" would be mostly gone at 8.5 to 9 ft high water (where it was last night). Didn't hike the river much from there though, and it didnt appear there would be much more standing room on the hatchery side either.

Ended up staying home today because it just didnt seem it would go down very quick with all the rain, followed by warming temps this morning, and had to sign a lease on a new place anyways (finally going to be able to keep bait in my own fridge!!!). It's still up a ways from a two days ago, right around 7500 last time I checked, but should be back down again by morning.

Hope there are some fish left over when I get there tomorrow, and maybe see a few walakers there as well. I'll be sporting a camo Seahawks ballcap, so if you see me, say hi!

User avatar
gonnahookit
Lieutenant
Posts: 203
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:16 pm

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by gonnahookit » Fri Jun 21, 2013 12:58 pm

natetreat wrote:At about 10,000 is when the big rock at reiter goes under. There are fish in there, and they are fearless when the water is up, but reiter is where it's at. They aren't taking any detours on their way to the hatchery.
I'm assuming you are referring to the big rock out in the middle of the current?

User avatar
schu7498
Commander
Posts: 522
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:49 pm

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by schu7498 » Fri Jun 21, 2013 1:04 pm

aw man the river is dropping fast! I cant help myself, just got off work. driving up there now. I will let yall know how it goes!

User avatar
bcustom1
Petty Officer
Posts: 66
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2011 7:12 pm

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by bcustom1 » Fri Jun 21, 2013 1:45 pm

Fished it today a little below cable hole. One 10 - 12lb native. Really slow, though. One other fish caught in sight for 5 hours and approximately 10 people.

User avatar
gonnahookit
Lieutenant
Posts: 203
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:16 pm

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by gonnahookit » Fri Jun 21, 2013 2:02 pm

Good luck shu, hope to hear a good report! It's holding steady at 7450 for the last couple hours.

Hopefully they'll be piling in this evening/overnight for some good action in the morning!

User avatar
spoonman
Captain
Posts: 606
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:30 am
Location: monroe

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by spoonman » Fri Jun 21, 2013 4:52 pm

I have a three hour window to fish tomorrow so the drifter has to stay in the driveway. I'll be kicking around up there somewhere.

chaosfisherman
Angler
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed May 01, 2013 4:49 pm

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by chaosfisherman » Fri Jun 21, 2013 5:03 pm

Just fished the hatchery side and saw about 3 fish caught, but all on the highway side. Also fished the cable hole with no luck due to extreme high and ragging water.

Dan Boone
Lieutenant
Posts: 284
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:52 pm
Location: Snohomish

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by Dan Boone » Fri Jun 21, 2013 5:13 pm

Might try it tomorrow at reiter.

luisdabeast206
Petty Officer
Posts: 82
Joined: Sat May 21, 2011 4:22 am

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by luisdabeast206 » Fri Jun 21, 2013 11:02 pm

I fished it until noon today it was slow. The water was high, but there should have been more fish. I covered lots of water and then had to go to work. The pressure has been high, I am sure there are some fish in there. Looks like lots of wa lakers made it out to the river today.

User avatar
bcustom1
Petty Officer
Posts: 66
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2011 7:12 pm

Re: Skykomish; how high is too high?

Post by bcustom1 » Sat Jun 22, 2013 12:11 am

Here's a pic of Friday's native. Pics or it didn't happen, right?
Attachments
20130621_120322.jpg
20130621_120322.jpg (219.29 KiB) Viewed 6351 times

Post Reply