Lower River S River SRC

[speedbird]

Thought I would ask you guys thoughts on SRC fishing in the lower S rivers. With saltwater coho fishing slowed down and our boat coming out of the water next week I am hoping to switch my focus over to the streams. I have my local area 9 beach which put out tons of spinner and spoon fish for me this time of the year but in my experience it is very tide sensitive, not fishing well during ebb tides, and I also have wanted to try SRC fishing in rivers. I managed to catch a number of resident cutthroat and rainbows on dry flies this summer and there is something I really love about that style of fishing.

I know the NF Stilly used to be legendary for it's SRC fishing in late Summer but that fishery is long taken from us. (Except I just checked the regs and realized I missed it, dang it!) Are the lower stretches of the S systems any good? Any recommendations to get me started? Both the Stilly and Sky are close enough to give me a couple hours of fishing after work

 

[Salmo_g]

Yes, they are quite good. Although a boat is pretty necessary on the lower Skagit, unlike the Stilly.

 

[Paige]

If they were only open!

Skagit excluded, but visibility is an issue on it, and doesn't afford many good days of cuttie fishing.

 

[Smalma]

All the North sound "S" rivers can produce excellent fishing for sea-runs in the late summer and early fall. That fishing typically holds up into depending on the flows. The cutthroat is a low water game.

My advice is select a "S" river that you find interesting and spend some time on it learning its water and the sea-runs. The things you learn in those efforts will be transferable to other waters. Like all of our salmonid species in our local waters the sea-run cutthroat have specific habitat preferences and respond to specific presentations and patterns. I firmly believe that an angler beginning their sea-run journey is best served by an intense effort on their selected home water.

Curt

 

[skyriver]

I meant to reply just after Curt's great reply. Start the quest in August!
October is too late.
A boat helps a lot, but if no boat find the walk-in spots. Unless it's open for summer kings you'll probably be alone fishing. The main traffic is the occasional rubber/bikini hatch.

 

[speedbird]

Did you ever end up getting out there and giving it a try?
Curious how it went for you, especially with the rivers running a bit differently this time of year.

Sadly I did not

 

[speedbird]

I meant to reply just after Curt's great reply. Start the quest in August!
October is too late.
A boat helps a lot, but if no boat find the walk-in spots. Unless it's open for summer kings you'll probably be alone fishing. The main traffic is the occasional rubber/bikini hatch.

I hear things get "hot" when the rubber and bikini hatches occur at the same time