Skagit report

[nmullens]

Went out this weekend, it was a great trip other then running into other fisherman around every bend. It was packed this weekend I guess I wasn't the only one with the great idea of fishing the Skagit on a nice sunny Saturday. Even with all the traffic I still managed to catch enough trout to keep a grin on my face for a few days. I had luck with a tent wing caddis, olive caddis pupa, yellow stone fly nymph, and an Adams fly.

[zugger]

i was up on the skagit too this weekend and it was definately the most ppl ive ever seen on the river.....caught lots of fish though....adams and green drakes and blue dunns...even one on a mini stimulator.

[Chroy]

So i got up the the Skagit as well this weekend. Sunday though, and it wasn't nearly as busy as it sounded like it was on Saturday. I spent 3 hours there and only saw one other person. Fishing was all right. I caught a few small fish mostly on adams and elk hair caddis patterns. Spent most of my time playing around with a new camera. Ive never been up through that valley before and it is beautiful. The perfect place to test out a new camera.

[BCBound]

So I'm think of taking an overnight trip to the Silvertip campground either middle of this week or next ( if I can convince my wife to let me go ). Spend a couple days roaming around the area solo. I have a couple of questions to ask before I take off as I've never been there. First of all, this time of year, are wadders necisarry? Or is the river low enough and warm enough to just plod through in pants or shorts?

Second, how is the Silvertip campsite? I'll be tenting it if I go, not going to drag the trailer up if it's just me. Is it usualy pretty crowded during the week days this time of year?

Thirdly, how is the bug / bear sittuation. I'd likely get some bear spray as I'm planning on going alone, but just thought I'd see what peoples experiences have been in the past.

Lastly, from the camp site, what are the river conditions like above and below 26 mile bridge. Are they similar or is one direction better then the other?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Scott.

[Big Yellow Bear]

Silvertip campground will not be crowded mid-week, and you should be able to find a spot easily. The Ross Lake campground is another option as well. Mosquitos are pretty thick everywhere up there right now, so bring the heavy-duty repellent. Waders are good if only to keep bare skin covered so the mosquitos and deerflies don't have a feast. The water level right now is easily wadeable with only a few spots where some crossings might be up to your crotch, with water temperature measured last week at 52F mid-morning. I fished below 26 Mile Bridge last week and it was quite good for both wading as well as fishing. Saw a bear cross the river about 50 meters away from me at one spot. Just make enough noise to let the bears know you are there, and they will leave you alone. I see more deer than bears up there anyway.

The river above 26 Mile Bridge is more of a rocky pocket water affair with a few runs and pools, more "small stream-like" than "river-like". Below the Bridge the river gradient flattens out a little bit and it's more riffles, runs, and pools. Pull into any one of the four day-use parking spots along the river south of the Bridge (Strawberry, Rhododendron, Nepopekum, and Chittenden) and you will find good fishing after a bit of walking and wading to get away from the main access points. Nepopekum requires a 15 minute walk in along a trail through the woods, but the rest are a short walk to the river.

[BCBound]

Gotcha gotcha,

So the river north of the 26 mile bridge is the more "small stream like". Looks more like it will end up being a day trip, but I'll give it a shot and post a report of the action.

Thanks.

[BCBound]

So I went up to the Skagit on Tuesday, fished from about 9-4 at Rhododendron, Strawberry, and Nepopekum. Great day, although I only had 2 takes, and lost both. Not many people on the river, the road was in great shape about 90% of the way, a little washboard on the further reaches closer to Ross Lake.

The weather was a little cooler, and there was limited action on the dry flys, I'm still learning so I was struggling with nymph fishing. There were a couple of people with some action on a couple very small Adams patterns.

Got a good look at some of the Dollies in the system. A few really large ones holding in a pool close to one run, but couldn't convince them to take a nymph or a streamer.

I didn't get to stick around for the dusk hatch that I've heard so much about, but I imagine with the cooler day it would have been a limited action anyway.

Gonna try to get back there one more time this September, hopefully next week. Will have to see though.

[Fly-Guy]

Thanks BCbound for the report...

I'm heading up Saturday am for an overnighter. I expect to fish many spots from the bridge, right down to Ross lake. Will post a report when I get back.