Well, I guess more than one person wanted to squeeze in the last bit of fishing on the Sky this week. I joined the parade of sleds, driftboats, rafts and walk-ins for three of the last four days. It's been crazy! And from what I've seen, the fishing has been pretty tough. The water has been a beautiful steelhead green, 3.5 feet of vis. all week, coming of a big high water, so I thought it would be loaded. Yesterday I must have seen and talked to 30 people (12 sleds, 10 drift boats, several walk-ins) and heard of not a single fish landed. Maybe it's the full moon and 38 degree water. But it was good to fish through all my favorite spots, and lament not being able to fish it in March and April. And you can always get lucky.
Yesterday, I got lucky. Drove the whole Highway 2/Ben Howard loop, and there was someone or several someones in every spot, so I broke down and figured since I was going to be fishing behind someone everywhere, I may as well fish the water I like the most. Walked into one of my favorites just as a driftboat was pulling plugs right through the fly water. Bummer. I waited 'til they were gone and fished down through it, without much hope. Most of the way through, got a great grab and after a long, slow fight and about a 1/4 mile of staggering and slipping, I landed a gorgeous, chrome bright buck covered in sea lice. It taped out at 40" X 22.5"!
I kind of regret not taking pictures, which I usually do, but this fish, as soon as I was done measuring it, was just plain ready to go and it was so awesome, I just couldn't see holding on to it any longer. I even had the camera out and everything. So I pulled the hook and it headed for deep water. At the time, it seemed the right thing to do, but now I'm wishing I had a pic to remember it by. Oh well, I will just have to keep picturing it in my mind's eye.
Fished this afternoon with Howzer, and again was amazed at the traffic. With all the pressure and bright sun, we just fished a few spots, enjoyed the water and never touched a fish. Called it a day (and a season) early and ate ice cream cones in the sun. Anybody out there find some fish this week? Saw Rich across the river on Monday, and later heard he'd got one right before we saw him. Otherwise, mostly talked to gear guys as they floated past so I didn't get many reports from fly anglers. Guess I will see you guys on the Skagit/Sauk or the Peninsula sometime this spring. Here's to future March and April seasons on the rest of our Puget Sound rivers.
Peace,
Skookum
Yesterday, I got lucky. Drove the whole Highway 2/Ben Howard loop, and there was someone or several someones in every spot, so I broke down and figured since I was going to be fishing behind someone everywhere, I may as well fish the water I like the most. Walked into one of my favorites just as a driftboat was pulling plugs right through the fly water. Bummer. I waited 'til they were gone and fished down through it, without much hope. Most of the way through, got a great grab and after a long, slow fight and about a 1/4 mile of staggering and slipping, I landed a gorgeous, chrome bright buck covered in sea lice. It taped out at 40" X 22.5"!
I kind of regret not taking pictures, which I usually do, but this fish, as soon as I was done measuring it, was just plain ready to go and it was so awesome, I just couldn't see holding on to it any longer. I even had the camera out and everything. So I pulled the hook and it headed for deep water. At the time, it seemed the right thing to do, but now I'm wishing I had a pic to remember it by. Oh well, I will just have to keep picturing it in my mind's eye.
Fished this afternoon with Howzer, and again was amazed at the traffic. With all the pressure and bright sun, we just fished a few spots, enjoyed the water and never touched a fish. Called it a day (and a season) early and ate ice cream cones in the sun. Anybody out there find some fish this week? Saw Rich across the river on Monday, and later heard he'd got one right before we saw him. Otherwise, mostly talked to gear guys as they floated past so I didn't get many reports from fly anglers. Guess I will see you guys on the Skagit/Sauk or the Peninsula sometime this spring. Here's to future March and April seasons on the rest of our Puget Sound rivers.
Peace,
Skookum