Fished the Cowlitz from above Blue Creek to the Mission Boat launch with Steve BUckner and VEE, using Steve’s SLED. I gotta get me a sled.
We each brought at least 11 Sea Run Cutthroat to hand during the day and missed almost that many. I had a brief hook up with a summer run steelhead. By brief, I mean he hit the fly, shook his head a couple times, shook his head a couple times more and came unbuttoned. All in all a great day fishing and the catching was pretty great too.
REE
Nice goin’ Ron. I’m jealous. Glad you and VEE had a good time.
Nice one Ron, any pics? I take it a sled is a boat with a water jet engine?
All the best.
Mike.
Mike,
Right you are, Mate. Here’s a couple of pics til the article gets published.
Here’s Steve (back to camera) his sled and me.
Here’s a couple pics of Sea Run Cutthrost Trouts. The more silver they are, the fresher they are from the salt water. More coloring and they’ve been in the freshwater system longer. Like steelhead, these fiesty fish make multiple trips into the freshwater to spawn, then return to the sea.
These fish are just incredibly aggressive in their attacks on flies. Once they hit, you know the fight is on.
Some people would like to see them gone from the river systems because they steal the bait from steelhead fishermen. This is a real shame as they provide great action to between steelhead for the guys swinging flies. The Sea Run Cutts are magnificent fish who deservee to be in their natural range.
Wonderful pictures Ron. Thanks for sharing. I too, love the searun cutthroat. If they were five pounds instead of one and a half we would never fish for steelhead focusing all our attention on SRCs. The last truly wild fish left; at least in the Skagit.
I spent a morning on the Skagit this past weekend fishing cutthroats, bringing 5 to hand in the first hour but then the boat ramp got going strong and the boat traffic on the river resembled the interstate thru Seattle. After that the fish went down and in the next 3 to 4 hours I only managed 2 more fish.
Hey Kerry,
Steve did a great job of keeping us in fish all day. At one point VEE and I were so tired from fighting fish we were sharing a rod between us so we could take a break while the other was fishing.
Your right about the Sea Run Cutts. They are a wonderful fish. If they went 5 pounds I’d have to give fishing for them a second thought. Do I have a rod that heavy in my quiver?
The fly for the day was a black, silver ribbed, reverse spider with mallard flank for the hackle and tail. Fished on a dry line they were hammered through the day.
Having been on the Cowlitz with a driftboat and a sled now, I’ll go for the sled. Since VEE got her first ride in a sled yesterday, I now have permission to buy a sled and a truck to pull it. Only condition…we have to fish more.
Now do you see why I married this woman?
REE
Wow Ron, that is a very sweet wife you have there!
Thanks for the pics, those cutts look great and that sled looks like it would go like stink (as they say here in NZ).
All the best.
Mike.
Thanks Ron,
Looks like you and VEE had great time…Nice pics, I hope to try SRC’s
I guess it is on my Bucket list lol
Flyfisher121
Flyfisher121,
If you and your wife get over to this side of the mountains and the fish are running, let us know. Would love to wet a line with you.
REE
“Now do you see why I married this woman?”
Sir now thats a classic quote…
I enjoyed yours and Vee’s outing, thank you… 
Tim
REE and VEE -
Great report and pics, and enjoyed the information on the searun cutts. Just thinking that Lolo is a lot closer to the Cowlitz and the Skagit than Rigby is. Hmmmmmmmm …
Be in touch.
John