Recent content by johnnyboy

Fishing year round in certain marine areas and seeing the Skagit/Snohomish get runs of 100k+ coho again. Sadly we are moving in the opposite direction. I remember some good days in early October in MA9 and would like to have that back.

I don’t think getting younger anglers aware of the issue will be a problem. Just maybe need them to get more engaged on things like NOF, etc. Anyone fishing in the puget sound region that has half a brain is well aware that recreational sport fishing has taken unnecessary cuts and is no longer...

The fishing could be good but isn’t because they haven’t been planting the numbers like they used to due to transitioning to the broodstock program and WDFW having their hands tied behind their back by WFC. Only 26k smolts planted in 2023 and 35k in 2024 means not many returners for this year...

It looks like they updated the proposed fisheries section on the site today that reflect these numbers. I see MA 9 & 10 are tentatively scheduled to open on different weekends (MA 9 on 7/16-7/18 and MA 10 7/23-7/25). Makes sense when it comes to run timing, but wouldn’t help the issue of...

Forecasts seem better around the board this year for coho, but looking at the proposed seasons, it doesn’t look like that will lead to more opportunity. Haven’t been able to make any of the meetings this year but I wonder what the logic is.

They have a new guy managing the hatchery there. He has been there for 2-3 years now, but he does a fantastic job and cares about the place, which is the most you can ask for. Tragic though that those Skamania brats are gone. I wish I can experience another June/July of fishing up there (with...

Not looking good. But we still got February, March, and April left. We’ve had years recently where there was some catching up on snow in those months.

One morning I woke up and my cat had a twitching jig lodged in the corner of his mouth. I forgot to put it away after coho fishing the day before and he must have played around with it like a toy. Let’s just say it was an expensive visit to the vet to get that out.

The Whidbey steelhead fishery is done from the same popular beaches that produce salmon. Steelhead travel the shoreline and get caught in very shallow water at times. They can be caught by both gear or fly. I’ve met locals that have done well stripping flies for them in years past when the...

Skykomish at 99k cfs now! Hopefully it is cresting.

Skykomish approching 50k cfs and the rain isn’t stopping yet

I have dozens of memories of bleeding after unhooking fish, but those are all from coho. Those bastards have lot of little, but very sharp teeth that can scratch up your finger pretty good. Never got infected, even though I usually just rinse the wound in water and keep fishing.

They finally decide to open the coho season when it is just about over in that system. Or at least towards its tail end with the vast majority firetrucks. Very confusing fisheries management to say the least….

I was right. Got an email from WDFW that they are closing the Skykomish until further notice. No October 13th opener.

If they aren’t planning on reopening the Snohomish until November 1st, I wouldn’t count on the Sky opening as planned sadly.