Recent Fishing Reports for Washington. 8/03/04

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[size 1]Here are some recent fishing reports for your state. They come from the States report area and may include some flyfishing information as well as Salmon and Steelhead information. These reports will pick up from where the last ones left off. [/size]
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Cedar River - August 3rd, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=127,re"]Puget Sound Fly Company, LLC[/url]
RECORDED: 72 ° FISHING: Excellent
The Cedar River is almost as good as it was hyped up to be! The best water for big fish can be found from Highway 18 down to the mouth. Please stop by or call Puget Sound Fly Company at 253-839-4119, if you have any more questions.


Clark fished the river For three hours on this morning. He caught 14 trout, 6 of which were over 20"! I can't tell you exactly where but, you don't have to head far out of town to get there.

Techniques: In addition to having been caught a few times, these fish are gettting pounded by beer enthusiasts in truck tubes. Fish weekdays, early or late. Find deep dark spots well away from the road.
Nymph fishing with a strike indicator is the most productive technique. Look for 4’-8’ of “walking speed” water with some cover.

Streamer fishing is less effective than it was in the begining. Use either a sink tip or sinking leader with a steamer fly and an erratic retrieve.

Dry fly fishing has been better than ever. If you can stay untill dark, you stand a good shot at one of the rivers famous monsters, on a dry!


Hatches: The Cedar is surprisingly fertile and has some good insect activity. Currently we are seeing some very good ‘Yellow Sally’ (small tan/yellow stoneflies), Pale Morning Duns, and Caddis. Unfortunately the fish aren’t always looking up during these hatches. Try mornings and evenings.



Flies: Nymphs: BIG STONE FLIES!!! Bird’s Nest, Tan and Brown Sparkle Pupa, Rubber Legged Hare’s Ear, Copper John

Streamers: Conehead Muddler (olive, brown, black), Rag Sculpin, Trout Bait, P.R. Spider

Dries: Yellow Sally, Tan Elk Hair, Light Cahill, PMD, Yellow Stimulator.
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South Puget Sound - August 3rd, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=127,re"]Puget Sound Fly Company, LLC[/url]
RECORDED: 69 ° FISHING: Good
[url "http://www.pugetsoundflyco.com/"]Puget Sound Fly Company[/url] is proud to offer current fishing reports for the exciting saltwater opportunities available in the South Puget Sound. These reports come from staff fishing trips, our friends and guide Tom Wolf. Please call us at (253) 839-4119 if you are new to the area or estuary fishing in general.



FISHING: Brown's Point and Purdy Spit are producing good numbers of Searuns and imature Blackmouth. Fish early and late if you can. Customer Mitch Campbell, just caught a nice 6lb. fish off of Brown's a few days ago. These 'adult' fish should be showing up in greater numbers any day now.
FLIES: Clouser Minnow (White, Pink or Green), Bendback, Miniceiver, Muddlers, and other assorted baitfish are always good searching patterns.

TECHNIQUES: Take a 6 weight or better rod, as the wind can tear up lighter gear. Clear lines and an erratic retrieve will catch more fish, or if you prefer a floater and a beach slider can be very fun.
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Neah Bay - August 3rd, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=127,re"]Puget Sound Fly Company, LLC[/url]
RECORDED: 67 ° FISHING: Excellent
Neah Bay consistently offers saltwater anglers the best fishing in the Northwest. We at Puget Sound Fly Company hope that this report will help anglers plan their trip and prepare them with up to the minute conditions.



FISHING: Carl Murell just got back and offered nothing but complaints: His arm is horribly cramped from landing so many Silvers. I feel as bad for him as you guys probably do! If you have a boat or the skills to navigate a rental boat, go to Neah Bay now! I can't explain this too many times, this is my favorite fishing in the State, period.

There are a few examples of fish and flies in our photo gallery. If you are planning a trip be sure to call 253-839-4119 or stop by the [url "http://www.pugetsoundflyco.com/"]shop[/url].
Be certain to stay current with updated NOAA marine weather forecasts (see below). The fishing can be fantastic but not worth dying for!



FLIES: Shock and Awe, I.C.B.N.H. Tubes, Clouser Minnow
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Puget Sound - August 3rd, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=106,re"]All Star Fishing Charters[/url]
RECORDED: 70 ° FISHING: Excellent
All Star Fishing Charters weekly fishing report



Area 9

Salmon fishing in area 9 remains slow

This is a catch and keep Coho fishery and a catch and release Chinook fishery

Look for silvers in the rip tides off possession.

Crabbing in area 9 is open 7 days per week.



Area 8.2



Tulalip Special area fishery remains open for kings and it has been okay



Season open Friday through Monday noon each week through September.



Crabbing in area 8.2 remains open.

Crabbing is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday each week.

Still catching crabs on the jetty out side Everett.

Area 8.1

Open for crabbing

Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday of each week.

The north end of Camano Island continues to be excellent.

Open to salmon fishing for silvers

Slow so far



Area 10

Salmon fishing open for catch and keep on Coho.

Jefferson head is excellent right now.

These resident Coho are ranging from 2 to 3.5Lbs.
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Skykomish River - August 2nd, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=140,re"]The Avid Angler[/url]
RECORDED: 80 ° FISHING: Fair
A few reports here and there of a few fish, but generally the season has been very slow.

The water in general is very low. Stephen fished on Sunday and found the water below High Bridge to be very low and difficult to find good swing water. I would recommend fishing from above High Bridge into the forks. A few fish have been reported here.

Same program as last report. Fish early and late on bright days and generally keep your wet flies small. Don't be afraid to fish dries and use big ones at that!

Keep the faith and you'll get a grab. And if you lose faith, think about the Cowlitz and Kalama as the SW WA rivers have generally had very good returns.
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Skagit River - August 1st, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=66,re"]John's Guide Service[/url]
FISHING: Fair
[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/current?type=skagit&group_key=basin_cd&search_site_no_station_nm="]River Levels - click here[/url]

Skagit River:
[b]River Conditions:
Skagit above the Sauk is running at normal flows with 6-8 feet of visibility.
Skagit below the Sauk has 2-4 feet of visibility right now due to warm temps and glacial melt on the Sauk.
[b]Fishing Report:
A few Summer-run Steelhead around but lots of Dollie Varden around.
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Sauk River - August 1st, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=66,re"]John's Guide Service[/url]
FISHING: Fair
[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/current?type=skagit&group_key=basin_cd&search_site_no_station_nm="]River Levels - click here[/url]

Sauk River:
River Conditions:
Sauk river is running a tad high less than 2 feet of visibility below the Suiattle. Above the Suiattle there's 2-4 feet of visibility.
Fishing Report:
Lots of Dollie Varden!!
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Cascade River - August 1st, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=66,re"]John's Guide Service[/url]
FISHING: Fair
Cascade River:
River Conditions:
Running normal flos for this time of year but can color up quickly as temps warm
Fishing Report:
Lots of Dollie Varden here too!!
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Stillaguamish River – North Fork - August 1st, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=48,re"]Dickson Flyfishing Steelhead Guides[/url]
FISHING: Good
"Rain For Rent?"
After flyfishing for past some forty years, I have come to the conclusion we flyflingers are natural whiners. We complain if the water is too high, too low, too clear or too dirty.

Right now is a great time to hit those tributaries and alpine lakes you have waited all year to become fishable. I managed to get off of work early enough to fish the upper upper S. river the other day. The water was clear and cold. Air was fresh and cool. It felt good.

The sun was still out on the water, so I only made a feeble attempt at fish surface dries. Even though I was way the heck and gone, riverside foot prints preceded me everywhere. Several river crossing still brought little separation. I came upon a lovely little run that I remember a small wild steelhead that made short work of my trout rod a year ago, but today, I was trout fishing.
I set up with a two fly rig. Probably my favorite in the no hatch zone, is a beadhead Hares Ear as a dropper, and a PTN as the point. My strategy is simple. When the fish aren't looking up, I fish down. Surface fish are usually the most aggressive, and the first to get eliminated from the gene pool. Guys tend to fish the surface, only a few really nymph well. I was too tired from chasing steelhead all day, to tromp any farther in pursuit of virgin waters. Such is dealing with fishing pressure.

Too funny. Funny how we lock ourselves into modes. Here I am, working my way up a lovely run. Seems like every few casts I was into another fish. There was one large bright flash and a parted leader, but mostly it was tributary sized rainbow trout. Jeez......if Whitefish were suppose to be fun, I was having a ball.

Way too funny. I swear everytime I would hook another trout, I took off my deep rig, and try another surface dry. Stimulators, Wulfs, parachutes, and even cripples. Nothing was doing. I would put the "worm rig" back on and "Whack", I am into another fish. I ended up leaving it on. Sometimes you just want another fish.

I finally finished at the head of that run and I come across a pretty little run further upstream, I call the "Log Jam" pool. (As if every corner in every western stream didn't have large woody debris.) In Fisheries, we term it as LWD.

Anyway, it's a short little run which drops quickly into a deep swirly pool. Big fish water. I cast my little rig in there just kind of enjoying the drift I was getting, and the line stops. I lift. At first I thought it was fish, (that's why I set), then I thought it was sunken sweeper, and the next second, a Chinook hen above 15 pounds comes completely out of the water, tail dancing across the logs and pool. In the corner of her jaw (she was only about 20 feet away) was one of my two little nymphs.

All I could say was "Oh oh....."
Zzzzzz went the Tioga and the 4x parted. Hmmm, I decided, thats a good time to go home. Such is life on a mountain stream.

Jonathan has been chasing steelhead, Dollies, SRC and a few salmons out on the coast. He says we need more water. Oh really? Fishing was decent.

Mike and I have been staying pretty local. He has been fishing well on the Stilly, while I have spent time in the upper local watersheds. I did catch my first SRC of the summer. Time to start playing the tides in lower estuary waters. If you are new to saltwater beaches, you really ought to try it. At first you will think it is way different than your stream fishing, but if you will fish your tides as you would a river seam, it is closer than you think. Some day I will write about adventures of beach fishing, I really enjoy it.

On the Political Front: I don't have to expound my views on wild steelhead moratorium. If you have followed my writings anytime in the past 5 years, that is pretty obvious. Wether you consider the WDFW part of the problem or solution. I will let you be the judge of that.
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Snoqualmie River - August 1st, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=140,re"]The Avid Angler[/url]
RECORDED: 80 ° FISHING: Good

I fished the North Fork in conjunction with my [url "http://avidangler.com/custom.php?member=140&page=195"]Trout Rivers, Trout Tactics[/url] class and my students caught a few fish throughout the day. The fish were responsive to various dry flies including a yellow stimulator, parachute adams and an elk hair caddis. Pretty standard stuff.

We didn't see a whole lot of insect activity and I imagine the best time to fish these forks is right at dusk. Generally you'll get a good hatch of either caddis or midges from about 8pm on.

All the forks are low, so look for the most highly oxygenated water you can find and fish in those areas.

I would have a variety of attractor dries, both small and large. Give us a call or stop by if you need assistance with flies.
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Sol Duc River - July 28th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=90,re"]Westside Guide Service[/url]
FISHING: Fair
Super low and gin clear. What water at Maxfield ramp?I It's way below the ramp already. Fishing is slow. Sockeye are in. A few summer salmon and some summer-run steelhead are scattered.
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Bogachiel River - July 28th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=90,re"]Westside Guide Service[/url]
FISHING: Fair
Stream height and flow [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/current?type=flow&group_key=NONE&search_site_no_station_nm=Bogachiel"]click here[/url]]
Tides [[url "http://www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/tides04/tab2wc1b.html#134"]click here][/url]

Very low and clear water conditions. Fishing has been slow. Retention on hatchery steelhead only.
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Calawah River - July 28th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=90,re"]Westside Guide Service[/url]
FISHING: Fair
River Level and flow [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/uv/?site_no=12043000&PARAmeter_cd=00060,00065"]click here[/url]]

Some hatchery Steelhead. Fish are at the ponds or the lower river. Also super low and clear.
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Quillayute River - July 28th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=90,re"]Westside Guide Service[/url]
FISHING: Fair
A few salmon and summer steelhead are still coming in!
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Hoh River - July 28th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=90,re"]Westside Guide Service[/url]
FISHING: Fair
River Level and Flow [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/current?type=flow&group_key=NONE&search_site_no_station_nm=Hoh"]click here[/url]]
Tides [[url "http://www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/tides04/tab2wc1b.html#134"]click here[/url]]

River is up and down with the weather. 1-2 ft visibility. Summer kings are through out the river! Summer-runs are here too. August and Sept. will be good for steelhead.
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Queets River - July 28th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=90,re"]Westside Guide Service[/url]
FISHING: Good
Steelhead are in good numbers. Check your reg
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Lewis River - July 28th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=90,re"]Westside Guide Service[/url]
FISHING: Good
Low, lots of steelhead around.
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Cowlitz River - July 28th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=90,re"]Westside Guide Service[/url]
FISHING: Good
Good fishing. Starting to slow down a little. Steelhead from Blue Cr. down to Toledo
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Yakima River - July 27th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=47,re"]The Evening Hatch[/url]
RECORDED: 90 ° FISHING: Good

Yakima River Report for Monday, July 26th, 2004

Much of the same! Fishing remains good early and late. Flows have been mildly fluctuating between 3700cfs and 4200cfs throughout the lower canyon. If anything changes, either fishing or weather related, we'll be the first to let you know; but just in case, here is the weather forecast for the next week.

Remember, there are plenty of options that can provide some great fishing other than the lower canyon this time of year!
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