Wednesday 15 April 2009 at 09:43 am
The snow level held below several hundred feet for two months. The dams stored, rather than released what little they accumulated. The flow dropped; the river exposed its bones. After a brief sputter in early February, the steelhead run ceased. Low water and "slim pickings" were the anglerʼs plight.
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Friday 27 February 2009 at 12:38 pm
Matt Drahos, Salt Lake City, Utah came out to fly fish the Skagit River last week and caught and released this grand chief steelhead. An accomplished angler, Matt demonstrated the necessary determination and skills to achieve this feat.
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Friday 13 February 2009 at 08:22 am
Maybe it's the flock of robins gathering at the riverside door. Maybe it's the lengthening and warming of the day. Maybe it's the rouge of the alders along the stream, flush with the new catkins they bear. Can't you feel it? Wild Steelhead are on the move and its time to be fishing the Sauk and the Skagit.
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Monday 17 November 2008 at 08:58 am
For the photo review of fly fishing the Grande Ronde this fall . . .
Grande Ronde '08
Wednesday 06 August 2008 at 11:05 am
Torrents of steelhead run the Columbia and Snake. Though yet to reach its September peak, the run already doubles last year's tally and is one and a half times the ten year average. Soon these sea-run Rainbow will enter the Grande Ronde.
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Wednesday 06 August 2008 at 10:55 am
It's summer and it's time to go fishing. The Yakima River is prime and that's where I want to guide you. That's where I'll be pulling oars to keep you over fish. It's the best of seasons on the best of rivers for the best of trout.
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Wednesday 20 February 2008 at 08:24 am
Cows calve, Indian Plum bud, and wild steelhead run the river. Spring arrives in the Sauk and Skagit valleys. Heavy snow mantles the mountains. The river flows gin clear and merganser and char gather in its shallows scouting fry. It’s the best of times for sport with the fly. Swing your creation in the current. Be patient. The fish are there waiting for the right presentation. If you are blessed and lucky, the mighty yank will come.
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Thursday 07 February 2008 at 11:42 am
For the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to sanctimoniously close a catch-and-release fishery in the name of conservation while otherwise ignoring the plight of wild steelhead infuriates me. Hypocrisy enough!
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Monday 04 February 2008 at 4:56 pm
For the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to sanctimoniously close the Sauk/Skagit catch-and-release fishery in the name of conservation while ignoring the statewide plight of wild steelhead infuriates me. Enough of hypocrisy! Heads up, WDFW Fish Program administrators. Off with the Gloves. Here come the punches.
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Saturday 02 February 2008 at 10:19 pm
Today I testified before the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in behalf of wild steelhead and confronted the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Department regarding a supposed closure of the Catch-and-Release season on the Sauk and Skagit Rivers where I have guided for the last 27 years. As a result, I spoke with Heather Bartleet, Director of Salmon and Steelhead for the Department. She assured me that the Department is about to announce that the Skagit system will remain open until the end of March.
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