Skagit River Sockeye "How to"!
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:29 amI've been getting a bunch of questions about this new in-river opportunity on the Skagit for reds.
The Skagit, from Highway 536 to the mouth of Gilligan Creek, will be open for sockeye fishing from June 16 to July 15 with a daily limit of three sockeye.
Meanwhile, the Baker Lake sockeye fishery will open a couple weeks earlier this year. The lake will be open July 1 through Sept. 4 with a daily limit of three sockeye salmon. Anglers fishing Baker Lake will be allowed to use two poles, with the purchase of a two-pole endorsement.
While lake fishing for red salmon or "sockeye" is fairly straightforward and techniques are fairly well known, river fishing for sockeye is a completely new challenge for many anglers...Read on Brothers...
"Tom,
I didn't get a chance to pick your brain at the last club meeting. but I think you have fished there lots.
Can I run a prop on the open part of the Skagit??? Where should I launch, etc.
And how do you fish for those little buggers in the river???
Are you thinking of doing a show from the Skagit or something???"
Great question!
Depending on flows, you can indeed run a prop in the Skagit up to Gilligan Creek which is the upper boundary of the fishery.
I would strongly consider getting a membership in the Wildcat Steelhead Club in Sedro Wooley as their club launch will be right in the thick of things.
Otherwise, there is a county ramp close to the WSC ramp in Wooley.
In every sockeye fishery I've been involved with from the Cedar River to the Chignik River and north to the Nehalem in the Lake Illiamna system, sockeye travel in lanes out of the main flow, generally close to shore.
Think "humpy water" in the Skagit and you'll be on the right track.
I would anchor in the lanes plunking a #4 Spin-n-Glo ahead of a sand shrimp tail. 18" 12lb sinker drop and a 36" 25lb leader.
If you have to use more than 5oz of lead... you're in too much current!
You'll see us cover this fishery "in depth" (pardon the pun) as it approaches but doing a show from the river? Sorry, our extension cords are too short
Thanks and see you on the crick. T
The Skagit, from Highway 536 to the mouth of Gilligan Creek, will be open for sockeye fishing from June 16 to July 15 with a daily limit of three sockeye.
Meanwhile, the Baker Lake sockeye fishery will open a couple weeks earlier this year. The lake will be open July 1 through Sept. 4 with a daily limit of three sockeye salmon. Anglers fishing Baker Lake will be allowed to use two poles, with the purchase of a two-pole endorsement.
While lake fishing for red salmon or "sockeye" is fairly straightforward and techniques are fairly well known, river fishing for sockeye is a completely new challenge for many anglers...Read on Brothers...
"Tom,
I didn't get a chance to pick your brain at the last club meeting. but I think you have fished there lots.
Can I run a prop on the open part of the Skagit??? Where should I launch, etc.
And how do you fish for those little buggers in the river???
Are you thinking of doing a show from the Skagit or something???"
Great question!
Depending on flows, you can indeed run a prop in the Skagit up to Gilligan Creek which is the upper boundary of the fishery.
I would strongly consider getting a membership in the Wildcat Steelhead Club in Sedro Wooley as their club launch will be right in the thick of things.
Otherwise, there is a county ramp close to the WSC ramp in Wooley.
In every sockeye fishery I've been involved with from the Cedar River to the Chignik River and north to the Nehalem in the Lake Illiamna system, sockeye travel in lanes out of the main flow, generally close to shore.
Think "humpy water" in the Skagit and you'll be on the right track.
I would anchor in the lanes plunking a #4 Spin-n-Glo ahead of a sand shrimp tail. 18" 12lb sinker drop and a 36" 25lb leader.
If you have to use more than 5oz of lead... you're in too much current!
You'll see us cover this fishery "in depth" (pardon the pun) as it approaches but doing a show from the river? Sorry, our extension cords are too short
Thanks and see you on the crick. T