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N. Fork - Feb. 6, 2000
Thanks to: Frank Cavender
Got to the river about 9:30. Fished the slide area again and missed one fish just above the slide. Decided to go upstream to Hazel. Talked to a flyfisherman who got one earlier up at the claybanks hole so I hiked up there to give it a try. Fished through the hole twice with no luck so I gave it about a 20 minute break. Went back to the head of the hole and got 2 hits on my first 2 casts but missed them both so I stopped and sharpened my hook. Went down to the tailout and spotted a couple of dark rocks that just had to hold a fish. First cast, right where I figured the fish would be, and bang she nailed it. After about 15 minutes of jumping and running all over the river I got her beached. Another CHROME bright 6lb. hen. Not bad for a rookie, 3 fish in the last two trips.
N. Fork - Feb. 4, 2000
Thanks to: Frank Cavender
Hit the N. Fork about 9:00 this morning. Fished the slide area for about 1 hour and FINALLY!!!!! hit my first steelhead ever. A beautiful 6-lb. 26" hen. She hit out in the fast current and instantly jumped about 6 feet in the air!! Took me about 15 minutes to get her in. She made 4 strong runs, taking 30-40 yards of line and jumping all over the place. About 30 minutes later I hooked into another steelhead just below the slide. He fought for about 10 minutes then came straight for the beach. Just as I was sliding him up on the beach he took off for the other side. 15 minutes later I finally got him in. He was almost 30" long. He was kinda old looking (probably a summer fish) and had something grey growing next to his dorsal fin so I revived him and sent him on his way. Finally got one!!!!! YAHOO!!!
Sept. 28, 1999
Thanks to: Brian Dingess
Pink fishing is still good in the lower Stilly. Released numerous fish and lost several really nice ones (probably silvers). Traditional humpy gear seems to work well. Lots of Silvers coming up now.....heard of a sweet 13 pounder caught/released. Please remember, it's illegal to keep Silvers on the Stilly.
Sept. 22, 1999
Thanks to: Brian Dingess
Fishing is still good in the lower Stilly. Released 5 large humped bucks and kept 1 fresh hen. Lost 6 or 7 nice ones as well, all in 1 1/2 hours. You need to be careful and know what your different salmon look like as the Silvers are starting to roll up the river and they are illegal to keep in the Stilly, but what great fun to catch and look at....beautiful fish, just do the right thing and treat them gentle and send them on their merry way. I say that because I heard rumors of several people keeping silvers on the Stilly. Game Warden came down last Saturday and issued 17 citations (barbed hooks, treble hooks, etc. Don't be one of the dumb, inconsiderate fisherman...obey the rules.
Sept. 19, 1999
Thanks to: Brian Dingess
Found a fantastic hole on the lower Stilly and have been fishing and limiting for the last 3 days. My God, this hole is stacked with fish! It's not uncommon at all to limit out here in 30 minutes. This doesn't even include the fish that spit the hook on me (too many to count). I have been hooking into plenty of dark fish as well, but I just cut them loose and wait for the inevitable fresh one to hit. Hooked into a nice Silver as well (about 10 lbs.), but had to break my heart and release her due to the Stilly regs. Seems the same traditional Humpy gear works here (pink spoons, Dick Nites, jigs, etc.)...lots of sucessful guys using Buzz-Bombs as well. Anyway, looks like I have my fishing cut out for me on the Stilly until the Pinks get too dark to worry about...by that time it will be time to bust the Silvers on the Sno or the Samish (which is full of Kings now by the way...hint, hint). If anyone needs any fishing info on the Stillaguamish they can email me at vorpalsb@ix.netcom.com and I'd be more than happy to assist. Happy fishing guys/gals...Fish-on!
Sept. 5, 1999
Thanks to: Karl Brethauer
Drove down to the tide water in the lower river in Sylvana. Put in my 10 ft Livingston at the boat launch along with about thirty other boats. My plan was to go out for a day of flyrod cutthroats and some solitude. Wow, was that launch packed! Not only was it the holiday weekend, but the word is out! The lower river is rolling with pink salmon! Searched for a spot of my own but couldn't find any "cutts". After a while I decided to switch to "pink tactics". Well, by that time the pinks had gone off the bite. Talked to some others in boats and it sounded like most were being taken on small pink jigs thrown with spin gear. Fished for several hours and the crowd thinned to about ten boats. Saw fish rolling consistantly in one spot about 200 yds. above the bridge so I motored up and anchored. I was using a 5 wt. rod with a ten foot fast sink line. My fly was a pink marabou feather tied about one inch long on a weighted #10 hook. This combination was it! Caught 8 pinks in a little over an hour!!! Was really surprised at the fight these pinks put up. When you first hook up it feels like your snagged. Then the familiar head shake, and then they go nuts!!! Twisting running all over the place! "Fly guys", you gotta try this!
Aug. 5, 1999
Thanks to: 0tyler
My friend and I were going camping at the Turlo camp ground we got there around three and started to set up camp. Two guys showed up around 3:15 and started fishin the river right below our campground. Soon we heard commotion coming from the water and 1 of the guys had a steelie on on his first cast the fish was a very strong native about 8 lbs that made nearly 10 strong runs after the release. We went back up to start setting up again and about 5 minutes later he had another on that was almost identical to the first again making many runs. He was using shrimp and a very small corkie. I didn't get any action though because I forgot my licence!
June 10, 1999
Thanks to: Brandon Harding
Floated river from just below Cicero brige to haller park at the fork two weeks ago. Water was really dirty still and quite fast. I saw no fish and both my brother and I were flyfishing. Found fish about 15-lbs on the bank dead. Caught nothing. Floated South Fork today from river medows to the fork again. The water was a little lower and not as fast. I saw one trout rising to take a fly but still caught nothing. River is still muddy and water coming in from Jim Creek was dark, dark brown. I flyfished and my brother used a hot shot but still no luck. Remember to catch and release so they'll be there for the rest of us!
April 4, 1998
Thanks to: Brian Dingess
Myself and Michael Pulley decided to hit the N. Fork of the Stilly for a full day of
Steelheading and you couldn't ask for a better day. The river was a little up and
stained (about 2 ft visability). Only 30 minutes into our fishing Mike hooks up with
a steely on a jig head with a pink plastic worm. The run he hooked it in was probably
the least expected one to hold a fish (out of the ones we fished). However, that didn't
matter now, there was a fish on! Mike hooked the steely not far from where he was standing
in the river which was probably why the fish didn't have much of a chance to make a run
for the current. He did break the surface and went slightly airborne once, but still a
good fight to be sure. The steely ended up being a fine 8lb, 26 inch native Buck. After
admiring the fish for a few seconds (and cursing ourselves for not bringing the camera!)
the fish was released. Not bad, a steely only 30 minutes into the trip, we thought this
was going to be a great day.
It actually did turn out to be a great day, but no more fish were to be found. We fished
numerous great looking runs HARD throughout the day with not even a nibble (except from
the occasional small trout). Once the clarity comes back to the river we intend to hit
this same stretch again, there's sure to be fish in these nice runs. This was also my
first time ever Steelheading and I am hooked on it.
March 21, 1998
Thanks to: Brett Wedeking
Yesterday I had the oppoptunity to fish the Stilly for the first time this year, in hopes of a
slab of chrome. All I got however was a couple good pictures. I fished at Cicero bridge
where the water was cloudy with only about a foot of visibility. Lots of clay junk on the
rocks makes it VERY slippery. Up river though, the water had better color and visibility.
I did manage to lose most or all of my terminal gear four times, and got snagged up numerous
other times. That's what I get for bait-casting on the Stilly. I talked to a few other guys
but none of them had caught any or seen any caught. Maybe next time.
March 6, 1998
Thanks to Saul Bankaitis for the following report:
We launched bright and early from Cicero and floated the Stilly down to the confluence
with the south fork. The river was in good shape, 1-2 feet of visibility. Fished most
of the holes real hard, pulling plugs and throwing corkies. Not one take. Where are
the fish?
November 7, 1996
Thanks to Ken Elsea of Steelhead Sue's
Guide Service (360) 653-5924 for the following report:
Stillaguamish river. Lots of Chum salmon are waiting for you all through the system. Try
your favorite haunts.
June 17, 1996
Thanks to Ken Elsea of Steelhead Sue's
Guide Service (360) 653-5924 for the following report:
Main Stilly has been pretty good, mostly natives right now. There is no real pressure
here mostly plunkers. A few chinook have been caught, remember that they must be
released.
March 13, 1996
Thanks to Ken Elsea of Steelhead Sue's
Guide Service (360) 653-5924 for the following report:
Water visability is less than 2 feet. Drift boaters should be trying your plugs and be
sure to fish all the way into the tailouts. Bank fisherman should concentrate on the
edges near the tailouts where the boats can't go. Don't be afraid to fish in as little
as 1-1/2 feet of water.
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