Skagit River Fishing Report: 12/08/24 (bottom of page)
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Tailwater
Species
Steelhead (native and hatchery)
Coho Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Pink Salmon
Sea-run Cutthroat
Dolley Varden Char
Resident Cutthroat
Size
Medium to large
Location
Northwest Washington
Nearest Towns
Rockport
Season
June 1-April 30.
Varies by species
Access:
Good
USGS Real Time Stream Data:
Near Mt. Vernon
Non-Resident License
State of Washington
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
Spring:
Winter steelhead fishing peaks in April.
Summer:
A few Chinook and Pink Salmon (every other year) are in the river in August.
Fall:
Chum Salmon are in the river in late Fall. Sea run cutthroat trout are in the lower river.
Winter:
December through April, has runs of steelhead with the best wild steelhead fishing beginning in March.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
For Steelhead and Salmon
Fly Line:
7, 8 , 9 or 10 weight for appropriate typerod, sinking, sinking tip and floating
Leaders:
10#, 12# in 9 to 15 feet lengths
Tippets:
10# and 12#
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly 7, 8, 9 and 10 ft. single hand rods
Fly Reels:
For 7 to 10 weight lines
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
KISS Strike Indicators, Lanyards, etc.
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Fly Fishing On The Skagit River In Washington
The Skagit River is one of Washington’s larger steelhead and salmon streams. It begins in Canada and flows from Ross Lake, which is dammed by Ross and Diablo Dams. It has a large variety of different species of fish including summer and winter steelhead runs, all five species of Pacific salmon, sea-run cutthroats and Dolly Varden char.
Fly fishing the Skagit River is a little different from many northwestern streams in that its winter steelhead run occurs later than most. Hatchery raised steelhead begin entering the river in December, but the large, wild steelhead that the Skagit River are known to enter the river in late Winter and the peak fishing season is in March and April. From Dalles Bridge upstream to Bacon Creek, a distance of about 25 miles, from March 16 through April 30, it’s “catch and release” only. The fish average about ten to twelve pounds and go up to twenty.
The Skagit River is classic steelhead water. It’s a big river that’s wide with long shallow runs and plenty of deep places for the fish to hold. It’s full of large rocks and boulders. The water above the confluence of the Sauk River, a large tributary covered elsewhere in this section, is rarely dingy. The Skagit River, a tailwater, stays gin clear most of the time. The Cascade River, a major tributary that enters at Marblemount, will dingy the water at times during Winter but other than that, the upper Skagit stays clear. Below the Cascade River confluence, the Skagit River becomes wider, and on a lower decline with slower riffles and runs. Downstream of the glacier fed Sauk River confluence is a different thing,
especially after heavy winter rains. It can become high and very dingy and mess up the lower Skagit River.
There’s a small run of summer steelhead that starts in June. In the summer there’s a few Chinook Salmon but the Pink Salmon that enter every other year, and the Silver Salmon, are the main salmon attraction. Fishing for them is best during the late Summer. Right behind the salmon come runs of Dolley Varden and sea-run cutthroats that feed on the salmon eggs. The Chum Salmon and first hatchery steelhead enter the river in the late Fall. The wild steelhead, the Skagit’s main attraction, enter the river the first of the new year.
Fishing Reports:
04/26/21 The river is still turning out a few winter run steelhead but for all practical purposes, the winter run is about over for the season by the end of the month.
05/05/21 The steelhead fishing is over for all practical purposes.
05/17/21 The river has some Chinook salmon in it. Pink salmon will be back this year. Fishing for resident cutthroat trout should be good.
06/01/21 There should be some summer runs starting to show. Pinks will show up a little later on.
08/27/21 The stream levels are low. Now is the time to get prepared for upcoming sea-run cutts, coho, chinook and steelhead. Send us an email for a list of flies and gear.
09/30/21 Rain has the stream levels high and should start bringing salmon in. Now is the time to get your flies and gear ready.
10/14/21 We are getting reports of Chinook salmon in the river as well as a few sea run cutts.
10/27/21 Lots of reports on pink salmon. The river is full of them. Coho salmon reports are also coming in.
11/03/21 More reports have come in on both pink salmon and Coho salmon.
11/11/21 We received one good report from a customer catching Coho. There are still plenty of Pinks.
11/21/21 Coho are being caught by our customers in good numbers. Swinging and using our salmon nymphs both work.
11/29/21 The rain has the stream levels very high. Fish as soon as it drops. Coho are still being caught.
12/14/21 Coho is about done. Stream levels are down to just a little above normal levels.
12/23/21 We didn’t receive any reports this past week. Get ready for winter steelhead. They will show up any time if not already.
12/31/21 I guess the Xmas holiday kelp anglers at home because we didn’t receive any reports. Stream levels are normal and the water in good shape.
01/08/22 We still didn’t get any reports from anyone fishing this past week. Conditions are okay. It is a little early for winter steelhead but now is the time to get ready for them.
01/24/22 We still don’t have any winter steelhead reports but they should be entering the river soon if not already. Now is the time to get your tackle and flies ready for them. We can help you with that.
02/22/22 Closed as of 1/31/22.
11/01/22 Some Coho salmon are being caught by our customers. Both swinging and using our salmon nymphs work.
11/17/22 We have been getting occasional reports of Coho being caught.
01/01/23 Stream levels have been falling, but are still above normal. Good winter hatches are taking place and fish are being caught.
05/14/23 Now is the time to get your flies and gear ready for the new season usually starting June 1st.
06/12/23 We are getting some reports on pink salmon. The river should be full of them. Good Coho salmon reports are also coming in.
06/29/23 We received two more good reports on pink salmon.
07/10/23 More good reports from customers catching pink salmon. They are fun to catch fish.
08/07/23 Pink salmon are still being caught. The water is very low and rain is needed.
08/17/23 The stream is still very low.
08/24/23 Stream levels are still well below normal.
08/31/23 Pink salmon are in the stream with good numbers being caught by our customers.
09/07/23 Stream levels are low. There are lots of pink salmon in the river and most anglers are reported good catches.
09/14/23 There are more good reports from customers catching pink salmon. The water is still low and it will be better when it comes up.
10/05/23 We are getting good Coho salmon catch reports from customers. There are still some pink salmon but mostly Coho.
10/14/23 The stream level is up some and is turning out some good Coho catches.
10/27/23 Coho salmon fishing is very good. We are getting good reports regularly.
12/12/23 Coho and Chum salmon are in the river in good numbers and being caught.
12/19/23 More good reports have come in on Coho and Chum salmon.
01/08/24 It is still a little early for winter steelhead but you should be getting ready for them. Call us for a selection of the right flies and gear.
Click Here to see our Steelhead Flies: Click Here to see our Salmon Flies.
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly and gear recommendations.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh