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Skykomish River Report
Snohomish County, WA

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11/15/2013
Steelhead
Morning
11/16/2013
4
2745

Fish #1... Fished one of my favorite areas for early steelhead. Wasn't expecting much since its still pretty early. started off with a float and jig (pink/purple) but couldn't get rid of the chum so i moved to a different run and started tossing a 50/50 B.C. Steel to see if i could find any aggressive fish hanging around. About my third cast through the run my line goes slack and a good sized steelhead goes air-born out in the middle of the river. I reeled in as quick as I could to get some tension on the fish then set the hook nice and deep for good measure. SUPER HOT FISH, thing went bananas, tail-walking, cartwheeling, all that good stuff. Finally got him to the bank and turn out to be about a 10 lb native winter run! snapped a pic and off he went.


Fish #2... Fish the same run without much success for another hour or so with the spoon and jigs. Decided to move up to the Proctor Creek area and give it a go. Fished the lower hole for a minute then moved on up to the top. I went back to the jig for this spot because its pretty snaggy and B.C. Steels are expensive! Casting upstream parallel to shore and letting it drift back towards me I got a bobber down about 6 feet from shore. Set the hook and see a flash of green... stupid chum. Get the fish off the hook then cast again. bobber goes down in the same spot so I figure its another chum but this time a little hen steelhead goes air-born! after a short fight i slide a little hatchery hen onto the bank.

solid day of fishing! looking forward to more fish moving into the river soon. I got lucky because I know there aren't many in yet. Tight lines everyone.



Comments

tele_maniac
11/16/2013 1:36:00 PM
Great report and pictures! Looking forward to getting out to the Sky in search of Steelhead.
brandon_murray1
11/16/2013 6:45:00 PM
What size 50/50 B.C. Steel were you casting?
Brat Bonker
11/16/2013 7:00:00 PM
yeah great report, nice to hear some steelhead being caught
cohomojo
11/16/2013 7:29:00 PM
@ brandon_murray1
it was a 2/5 oz... seems to be the best all-around size for steelies
brandon_murray1
11/16/2013 9:28:00 PM
Thanks
TrophyHunter
11/17/2013 8:43:00 AM
Great report!
Not to mention a perfect picture of how to catch, capture a pic, and release a native fish as properly as can be done. Beatiful fish!
jesse.brady7
11/17/2013 3:27:00 PM
Hey just curious how do you know if it's a winter run or summer run? I know the time of year makes sense but some people were saying they were catching some late sr's and I just don't know how to tell the difference. And how far up the sky are you going, I have only had 1 steelhead on but I lost him, I was in sultan area is it farther up then that, any tips would be nice! Thanks!
jesse.brady7
11/17/2013 3:28:00 PM
Oh and what's the proper set up for the bc steels?
cohomojo
11/17/2013 4:06:00 PM
honestly I have no idea, I just assume they were winter-run fish because of the time of year, they could be late summers for all I know. Both of these fish were caught upstream from Sultan; one at a secret spot, one near Proctor Creek. As for rigging up a B.C. Steel, I just tie a snap swivel onto my mainline then snap it directly to the spoon.
Reel Priorities
11/17/2013 8:00:00 PM
cohomojo, excellent work; that is one beautiful "adipose containing," buck. Not sure how I feel about most Native fish these days... But they do fight different!

Glad to hear you slayed em' on bent metal, a technique that I always long to utilize. No wonder Proctor was so slammed on Saturday!

Keep up the good work. Tight lines, cohomojo, and thank you for sharing your immaculate report. Bravo!
cohomojo
11/17/2013 8:14:00 PM
Proctor Creek AREA... That pool at proctor creek gets fished too hard for my liking, never touch it. And spoons are my #1 method for winter fish. Definitely an underutilized tactic these days.
jesse.brady7
11/18/2013 8:35:00 AM
Sweet well i will need to try those this year, What pound test do you usually use for Steelhead? some say you need to go light so they dont see it but how light? or does that new Flourocarbon work? does anyone know?
cohomojo
11/18/2013 5:18:00 PM
I use 8lb test unless I'm out on the coast going after the big boys. But in reality it all depends on the conditions. When the water is up and has some color to it you can use heavier line. That being said I've had days on the wallace when I drop down to 4lb leaders because the water is so damn low and clear. I like Izorline a lot. That flourocarbon stuff works well for leaders but it seems to be a little stiff to use as a mainline. it also seems to get kind of "cloudy" after its been on a reel for a while
riverhunter
11/21/2013 3:42:00 PM
Usually you can tell winter from summer in how rosy the cheeks are during that time of year and how bright silver they are.
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709