Skagit River SRC

It was time to take a look at the lower river and see if any sea run cutthroat had made their way up to fresh water yet. Called a friend and we decided to meet at the launch at 6:00 AM. This is a humpy year (projected return at 1.2 million pink salmon) so we thought getting on the water early we might avoid some of the salmon fishermen. Wrong. Someone decided to have a salmon fishing derby without telling us. There were somewhere around 30 rigs already in the launch parking lot. Now, the Skagit is a big river but 30 boats already on the water at 6 and we are thinking things may get crowded.

Got the boat launched and worked our way down stream to one of our favorite cutthroat spots at the forks. First thing after setting the anchor a large beaver came over to greet us good morning with a loud tail slap. We set up our rods and proceeded to thrash the water for an hour or so working our way slowly down through the hole by lifting and resetting the anchor. Only 1 small bull trout to hand to show for our efforts. Time to move.

Ran up river through the 30 to 40 boats now anchored just above the forks of the lower Skagit to our second cutthroat location. We watched as one fisherman landed a pink salmon while slowly motoring thru the boats. Only one we saw caught.

At the second location we witnessed a small river drama play out as a red tailed hawk was disturbed by the presence of a large bald eagle and proceeded to dive bomb the eagle over and over. After several minutes of constant harassment from the red tailed hawk the eagle had finally had enough and flew further downstream to resume his vigil for a salmon dinner. After several hours of casting, covering water, pulling anchor and drifting down to do it all over again we had only one hit from what may have been a sea run cutthroat trout. Then the worst thing that can happen while fishing for cutts surfaced not 50 feet below us. A seal was now working the same water we were. Any cutthroat or other fish that may have been in the vicinity was now likely gone or thinking of being gone. Time to call it a day.

Back at the launch we loaded the boat back on the trailer and stowed the fishing gear in the trucks. Not a bad morning on the river even if a bit early for any real cutthroat action. The parking lot was now overflowing with trucks and trailers from all the salmon derby fishermen and more still coming in. Many asking us how we did. They looked at us like we were a bit odd when we said we were fishing for cutthroat trout. I know what was going through their minds; why fish for cutthroat when there are so many salmon? The reason being is the sea run cutthroat is such a special fish and maybe the only true wild fish we have left. Perhaps in another week or two the sea run cutthroat will make their way into the river. We will be waiting for them.