Tilton river thoughts

[aheinz]

So as a new fly angler (haven't actually don't much besides practicing in the yard) I was thinking of trying out Tilton river around Morton, Wa. When I was younger I conventionally fished the river and remember seeing plenty and able to catch also remember there being a good amount of bank space and fairly clear water. Have always wanted to go back the spot and fosh it again.

Was wondering if anyone has in recent years.

 

[nwbobber]

I've never fished it, but it looks like stonefly habitat to me(mostly riffle with less pool), and I would start fishing it with a stonefly nymph of some sort, heavily weighted. If you do and you do well, don't talk about it on the internet, please. I rarely see anyone fishing there, best to keep it that way especially if it's close to your home.

 

[aheinz]

I've never fished it, but it looks like stonefly habitat to me(mostly riffle with less pool), and I would start fishing it with a stonefly nymph of some sort, heavily weighted. If you do and you do well, don't talk about it on the internet, please. I rarely see anyone fishing there, best to keep it that way especially if it's close to your home.

Thank you for the thoughts and for the habitat thoughts I know very little about that kind of thing, as much as I've looked into it probably haven't dug deep enough

 

[nwbobber]

I'm not an expert on entomology, but stoneflies like to live in areas with a lot of current and actually spend a lot of time quite deep in the rocks. When they crawl out close to the surface they are vulnerable to getting washed into the current. This gives the fish an opportunity, and the benefit to fishermen is they can try to trick the fish. Look for holding water near the fast water behind rocks, logs and such, where you can get your fly to drift through without a lot of drag.

 

[aheinz]

Awesome thank you, I've been watching stuff and trying to learn, but it probably won't fully click until I'm on the water

 

[Stonedfish]

Used to fish it back in the day and caught some decent trout out of it. That was back when they stocked trout in nearly every stream. Can’t think of any they stocked trout with trout now.
They do put some salmon and steelhead in there from the Cowlitz.
Can get a bit busy with people playing in the water in certain areas during the summer. Definitely worth a try.
SF

 

[2MANY]

We ride our horses around it all the time.
Periwinkle.

 

[Wetswinger]

The river upstream of Mayfield Res. is a stunningly beautiful place. Reminiscent of the Green River Gorge with waterfalls cascading into the river from steep canyon walls. When I could, it was my favorite kayaking river by far..

 

[Salmo_g]

Tacoma Power no longer stocks catchable rainbow trout in the Tilton since Cowlitz hydro project relicensing. The Tilton is once again considered an anadromous fish stream. There are natually produced coho salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout in it, and I think it is supplemented with some hatchery coho as well. I'm not sure what the current management protocol is.

If you want to fly fish for small resident trout, I think you will find a decent population in the E. Fork. Don't expect destination type fishing, but there should be enough resident trout around for you to learn how to fish both dry flies and nymphs.

 

[aheinz]

Tacoma Power no longer stocks catchable rainbow trout in the Tilton since Cowlitz hydro project relicensing. The Tilton is once again considered an anadromous fish stream. There are natually produced coho salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout in it, and I think it is supplemented with some hatchery coho as well. I'm not sure what the current management protocol is.

If you want to fly fish for small resident trout, I think you will find a decent population in the E. Fork. Don't expect destination type fishing, but there should be enough resident trout around for you to learn how to fish both dry flies and nymphs.

Yeah I remember when they stocked with trout. I wanted to try it mainly and I remember areas exploring some of the main river as a kid

 

[SculpinSwinger]

The river upstream of Mayfield Res. is a stunningly beautiful place. Reminiscent of the Green River Gorge with waterfalls cascading into the river from steep canyon walls. When I could, it was my favorite kayaking river by far..

That was such a great mix of creek and play boating, plus the scenery. It was worth the flat water paddle out, and the long drive from the south end of the Willamette valley every time.

 

[aheinz]

That was such a great mix of creek and play boating, plus the scenery. It was worth the flat water paddle out, and the long drive from the south end of the Willamette valley every time.

I'm hoping to try my hand at some still water or calm water via my paddle board this year

 

[2MANY]

Tacoma Power no longer stocks catchable rainbow trout in the Tilton since Cowlitz hydro project relicensing. The Tilton is once again considered an anadromous fish stream. There are natually produced coho salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout in it, and I think it is supplemented with some hatchery coho as well. I'm not sure what the current management protocol is.

If you want to fly fish for small resident trout, I think you will find a decent population in the E. Fork. Don't expect destination type fishing, but there should be enough resident trout around for you to learn how to fish both dry flies and nymphs.

Back when Tacoma Power had to live up to their original mitigation agreement, after flooding one of the best valleys in the nation, all of the rivers in that area were great.
Environment, back stabbing crooks.

 

[Elijah777]

So as a new fly angler (haven't actually don't much besides practicing in the yard) I was thinking of trying out Tilton river around Morton, Wa. When I was younger I conventionally fished the river and remember seeing plenty and able to catch also remember there being a good amount of bank space and fairly clear water. Have always wanted to go back the spot and fosh it again.

Was wondering if anyone has in recent years.

 

[Elijah777]

So as a new fly angler (haven't actually don't much besides practicing in the yard) I was thinking of trying out Tilton river around Morton, Wa. When I was younger I conventionally fished the river and remember seeing plenty and able to catch also remember there being a good amount of bank space and fairly clear water. Have always wanted to go back the spot and fosh it again.

Was wondering if anyone has in recent years.

Ive caught a 17 in rainbow and others the last few days. The fish are here. Mornings and evenings. Ive been using a black ant and stoneflies ( we called them periwinkles). Juat walk up and down the river and find those spots

 

[aheinz]

Ive caught a 17 in rainbow and others the last few days. The fish are here. Mornings and evenings. Ive been using a black ant and stoneflies ( we called them periwinkles). Juat walk up and down the river and find those spots

Thank you, and I've been meaning to try and get up there just have had a very busy schedule, now I do want to get up there, and I've always called them periwinkles as well

 

[Stonedfish]

Thank you, and I've been meaning to try and get up there just have had a very busy schedule, now I do want to get up there, and I've always called them periwinkles as well

We also referred to caddis larvae, not stoneflies as periwinkles.
SF

 

[Shad]

I used to love the Tilton. I still do (beautiful area), but the fishing is not nearly as good as it was when they stocked it. I've only fished it about once every two years since then, and consistently, it's been a lot of walking to find a handful of cutthroat, with the occasional dandy thrown in. It's definitely worth a shot. It's rarely crowded, and you never know when you might run into a returning salmon or steelhead (the Region 5 biologist told me they were starting to see some returns a few years ago).

Oh... this time of year, fish dry terrestrial patterns, and don't be afraid to skate them. The fish that are around will eat them. Streamers work, too, but if you can get 'em on dries....

 

[aheinz]

I used to love the Tilton. I still do (beautiful area), but the fishing is not nearly as good as it was when they stocked it. I've only fished it about once every two years since then, and consistently, it's been a lot of walking to find a handful of cutthroat, with the occasional dandy thrown in. It's definitely worth a shot. It's rarely crowded, and you never know when you might run into a returning salmon or steelhead (the Region 5 biologist told me they were starting to see some returns a few years ago).

Oh... this time of year, fish dry terrestrial patterns, and don't be afraid to skate them. The fish that are around will eat them. Streamers work, too, but if you can get 'em on dries....

Thank you for the tip, and shoot for me would enjoy the walking and such, being out in nature I need to do it more life's been crazy busy I need to take the time to carve out for being in nature.

 

[oakbrookjeff]

It used to be very productive for 8 to 12 inch fish with the occasional larger one. My favorite method was to dead drift a size 14 olive elk hair caddis and then let it swing around at the end of the drift. I think I caught as many fish on the swing as on the dead drift. But I haven't fished it for a number of years.