Skagit Area Report

[House]

FRESHWATER

Lake Samish has still been putting out kokanee. Weekdays have not been very crowded at all. A customer just fished it yesterday morning and noted that the fish are a little deeper. Most guys are running 20-30 feet on their downriggers. The fish are still running larger than normal, averaging 13-14" with the occasional 17-18 incher. The north end of the lake is deeper and colder so it usually holds up longer than the main part of the lake to the south.

Heart Lake is now loaded up with jumbo rainbows. There were lots of rainbows weighing up to 9 pounds loaded into the lake last week for the kids fishing event last Saturday. The winning fish in the kids derby was about 7 1/4 pounds. This is a great event put on by the Fidalgo/San Juan Puget Sound Anglers along with the City of Anacortes Parks Department. There are quite a few of the big fish are still out there to catch! This is a sleeper, not too many people know about how many big fish were recently stocked.

Skagit springer fishing was pretty good on the opener. Stewart (tackleshop employee) and Curt (former tackleshop employee) hit the upper river and managed to land a nice 16 pound hatchery chinook along with a wild 10 pound steelhead which was released. They managed to catch both fish on plugs. John Koenig (johns-guide-service.com) 360-853-9801 has done well for kings and steelhead so far. He says he has still been doing well in the higher water using bait and covering lots of water. Reports out of the Cascade were very good for the opener and it has been holding up pretty well. The early morning bite is the best. Steve Stout (Marblemount Hatchery Manager) reported that opening day was really hot and lots of fishermen were leaving with limits by 9AM.

SALTWATER
Halibut fishing in local waters is now closed. Lingcod fishing is still open through June 15. Fishing should be good this weekend through next week as the tides slow down. The past few days have been huge tides so there haven't been too many fishermen going out.

Looking ahead, Marine Area 7 will open on July 1 for salmon. The whole month of July has been really good for good sized kings over the past few years. Expect some good fishing. Time to re-rig the boat again and start taking the bottom fish gear out of the boat and set back up for salmon.

This weekend will be free fishing weekend. Remember that catch record cards are still required for those species that require a card. State Parks are also allowing free day usage on the 9th (Saturday) so no Discover Pass is required.

Anthon Steen
Holiday Sports Center
Burlington, Washington
360-757-4361