Dave Vedder -
Interesting that you mentioned the MF Snoqualmie and its CnR season. I grew up fishing the forks of the Snoqualmie and had fly fished the MF for more than 25 years prior to the start of the CnR season (1986?). Interestingly during the late 1950s through the 1960s the trout were much larger than today. In those days the norm were 10 to 16 inch cutthroat with 20 inch fish a possibility. By the mid-1970s the size fell dramatically with most fish 5 to 10 inches. Even the conservative management of the CnR season was not able to reverse that change.


Curt,

In spite of the small size of the trout in the upper Middle Fork, I still fish it several times each summer. The area is just so damn pretty. (If you want to take the family for a picnic in a really spectacular setting head up the Middle Fork Road. Go as far as you can - the road gets rough in places) If you want more adventure cross the river and hike up the Pratt River. My largest fish from the Middle Fork was a 14 inch cutthroat, but I didn't start fishing it until around the mid 70s.

I fish a handful of small P.S. area streams each summer and fall. Most have fish in the 6-10 inch range, but I love it because they can be very spooky in crystal clear water, they are 100% wild, they are beautiful, and I seldom see another angler. My favorite stream has given me several in the 14-17 inch range but they do not come to hand easily. I usually eat one a year. Last year I killed my one and put it on a forked stick in the water. When I came back downstream it was missing. I think I fed a mink.