First winter was Jan. 2, 1996 on the Raging right above where I-90 crosses it. I was drift fishing a black/red aerofly. Line stopped mid-drift so I set the hook and was surprised to hook and land a little 5 pound hatchery buck.

First summer was a year or two later on the little Green. My cousin spotted it holding under a big log that jutted out over the river. I crawled out a bit and dropped my corkie and sandshrimp straight down in front of it. Sure enough that fish darted forward and hammered it. That one was a nice 10 pound two-tone chromer. I can still see it eating that shrimp.

That same cousin and I used to love to fish the Sultan, Raging, Tolt, and rest of Snohomish system. We would mainly stick to the tribs. I've lurked this board for years, but these stories got me excited enough to join in. I still fish the Sky for summers, but haven't bothered for winters for several years now.