I'm thinking about floating from High Bridge to Sultan for the first time this week. It sounds pretty easy except for the section right below the bridge launch.

Can ya'all give me advice on that section? I have done the lower part of the river a number of times, the Skagit, Yakima and Bogie. Is this section any more difficult than seen on these?

J

It's pretty easy, really.

Launch-go a bit left of center in the first drop then go all the way left on the second drop.

It maybe a bit high this week. You may want to wait until the weekend, but who knows.

Tony's directions are perfect and at this water level it'll be hard to make a mistake.
I'm doing it on Friday if you want to follow.

Don't leave anything of value in your rig...Tweakers seem to like that parking area. Or you could call Jerry for shuttle

And think twice about floatin if the infamous upper Skykomish Valley wind is blowin...i've been in some nasty low water/rapids/wind situations up there that have not been too fun...have fun...

Is High Bridge to Sultan much bankable? I was looking into it and havent found that much.

I'd follow seastrike on Friday if you could. I imagine the weekend might be crowded up there. Just don't catch all the fish.

If you can't follow someone then make sure you go left when there's a side channel. Guys and gals, correct me if I'm wrong, but you always go left when it splits. Might not be much of an issue at the current flows though. Be safe, and yes, it can get windy up there.

Jim,
The freeway meets the river twice in Gold Bar where you can get out and walk up or down from each spot, or access at Startup and walk up or down.

Plenty of good spots in the lower Sky too. In and around Monroe. That's where I usually concentrate my efforts from the bank. One doesn't need to drive all the way up to Gold Bar to find fish..

Good luck out there Friday guys.

Thanks Skyguy, I fished the monroe area alot before i had any idea what I was doing, now that I am 2% proficient in steelheading I figure I can hook up a steelhead but still dont feel confident down around monroe. Maybe a little higher.

I am about to start hoeing boatrides if i cant get out soon.

Look out for BFD pluggin from his sled up high...:)

Oooouuuuch! Thought that might raise some eyebrows. My bad.

Just caught me off guard buddy...u roll however ya want:)

+1

The upper drift is not technical on winter flows, but the chilly East venturi can really get nasty up there. The only thing good on days like that is the stunning views looking back at the mountains. I've been flushed out fishless and frozen too many times to take the tub up there on a forecast like this:


Statement as of 3:07 AM PST on December 16, 2010


... High wind watch in effect from Friday evening through Saturday
morning for the east Puget Sound lowlands typically exposed to
strong east winds...

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a high wind
watch for the east Puget Sound lowlands typically exposed to
strong east winds... which is in effect from Friday evening
through Saturday morning.


* Some affected locations... North Bend and Enumclaw.

* Winds... east winds 25 to 40 mph with local gusts to 60 mph.

* Timing... Friday night and Saturday morning.


Good luck.

I am curious to know is High Bridge located at the Big Eddy, just past Reiter Road off Hwy 2?

I don't have a drift boat, but have seen this mentioned several times and just needed to have my questioned answered!

Thanks in advance.

yes it is...Rod

Thx Rod for the clarification, I have fished there a couple of times for metal heads!

Hey, thanks for the wind forecast. I was thinking of fishing up that way Saturday, but might wait til Sunday or hit the river a little lower.

At any rate, I'll make sure to bring some hardware since it'll probably be hard to work a float properly in the wind.

Coming out of the big eddy , just like any thing, point your nose at it and row away from it. Just don't pull back to far and get up on the bar on your right. Oh yeah, bring your windbreaker.

I can vouch for the wind up there. Was up there years ago in a big blow and watched a couple big fir trees blow down into the river, luckily the closest one got to us was about 100ft. Still scary to be going by them as they were creaking and graoning and then to hear a loud bang as one finally gives way.

Saw a rather infamous female guide up there that day and watched her and her two clients get blown clear to the wrong side of the river going down a riffle. They made it but it was a loud and bumpy ride for them. She just didn't have the upper body strength to overcome the wind, it was all I could do to keep the boat on the correct side of the river.