Skagit River

December 21, 2007

On the Mixer

I decided to start Winter right with a day of winter steelheading on what arguably is the best winter steelhead river in Washington - the Skagit.   I've lived in Washington over 17 years and still hadn't fished this river so I knew that I had to do it this year so I got up early, drove up I-5 then headed east on Hwy 20 in the snow and ice until reaching Concrete where I met up with John Farrar of Northwest Fly Fishing guide service.   After grabbing a latte we headed up to Rockport where we would launch to really start the day.

We started out heading down to the Mixer which I fished for quite a while but any steelhead there wanted nothing to do with me, or my bad initial casting.  Once I got the hang of the Type 6 head down though at least I didn't have that excuse.  We fished a few small runs back up to the launch then headed up river towards Marblemount.   The day went on fishing run after run.  We had snow around lunch and then had some sun breaks and warming in the afternoon.  I saw more bald eagles than I'd ever seen before and some of the biggest eagles I'd seen too.

Launching at Rockport	Swinging through a nice run
Here's why you need a spey rod	Good run overlooked by eagles

Finally at one run I had a grab, the first of the day but I missed the fish.  Heading back down river at the last run of the day I was about 1/4 the way down when I had the next grab and was into a fish this time.   The fish didn't go on a tear so I figured it was a Dolly Varden which, after a short fight, it turned out to be.  My first Dolly, a 20+" fish that got off just as we were landing it.   A few casts later I had a pull, missed it but stripped in line and the fish nailed it hard and I got to land my 2nd Dolly and finally got a photo of one.  I had another good whack a few casts after that too but the fish came unglued right away.   All my hits came on a Purple Pick 'yer Pocket, nothing else I tried elicited any interest.   No winter steel  but the Dollies made up for it along with the eagles and the good company of John on the river, not a bad way to celebrate the solstice.

Changing flies	End of day light (probably only 3:30)
Dolly Varden on a purple Pick 'yer Pocket

* photos by John Farrar