looks like I am not missing much by not making it out there, no reason other than hitting the summer fall hard and cant get myself to make the 1.5 hour drive to chase......

the SW Wa. tribs are also proving to be low in brat returns so far. I have only touched one steelhead this winter and it was a late summer run. I have not seen a fish caught either.

this all comes as no surprise, sense the WDFG has been cutting smolt returns for years now.

January 3, 2014

Portions of the Cascade and Stillaguamish rivers will close to fishing

Action: Portions of the Cascade and Stillaguamish rivers will be closed to fishing.

Effective dates: Jan. 6, through Jan. 31, 2014.

Species affected: All species.

Locations:

The Cascade River, a tributary of the Skagit River, from the Rockport-Cascade Road downstream to the mouth.

The North Fork Stillaguamish River, from the Swede Heaven Bridge downstream approximately 4 river miles to the French Creek confluence. This closure includes the Whitehorse Hatchery intake and Fortson Hole area of the North Fork Stillaguamish.

Reasons for action: The Marblemount and Whitehorse hatcheries have been unable to collect enough returning hatchery winter steelhead broodstock to meet egg take needs. Closure of the fisheries are needed to collect sufficient fish to meet egg take needs.

Other information: On Feb. 1 the fisheries will re-open to fishing as listed in the 2013-14 Fishing in Washington sport fishing pamphlet or sooner if egg take goals at the hatcheries are met.

Information Contact: Jennifer Whitney, Stillaguamish River 425-775-1311 ext. 107. Brett Barkdull, Skagit River 360-466-4345 ext. 270

I'm surprised that the Nooksack isn't already on the list, too...it's the yearly "closing it to hatchery fish so that we can make a handful of hatchery fish that you won't get to fish for in a couple of years when they come back because we need all of the returning adults to make more hatchery fish...that you won't get to fish for in a couple of years..."...thing.

Fish on...

Todd

Todd,

This is the first time I remember Kendell Creek getting more steelhead than Fortson and Marblemount at this point in the year. It is very strange to see because it is usually the opposite. Usually Kendell is falling far behind right now. Actually, Kendell is kind of having a typical year, which isn't saying much.

Now what is really strange is why my earlier post in this thread got deleted.....

Jason you made a post in a diff similar thread that was deleted in entirety.
I've given up on Hatchery fish this year. The returns are so low it seems futile to fish for them.

Made a "christmas week annual trip" for the first time in several years. We managed to hook 2 steelhead landing 1. In years past and time frame, it used to produce near limits every year.

Sad to see such shotty fishing...

Keith

This season's been really slow... While I've personally only been out a few times, everyone I know is also having a slow year with 1 here and there.
Today I did manage to spoon up a decent little hatchery buck on the Snoq and saw one caught downstream from me. At least the Dollies have been around for some fun.

I have had one exceptionally good day for brats on the OP, which I guess puts me in the minority, but the local fishing has been a bust for me so far. Trying again Monday; we'll see.

Steelhead really are a tough nut to crack. In years where every species native to our waterways has been returning in great (or record) numbers, the steelhead seem to be dropping off even further. The answers are out there, but man, are they elusive.

Drifted high bridge to sultan saturday. Fished all the good water. Between 2 of us we didn't get a sniff. Nobody else we talked to reported fish.

-S

For Snohomish basin I beg to differ. Can't speak for other locals but it flat out sucks around these parts and we are about done for the season.

Its tough this yearon the Sky. I had steel 3 ot of my first 4 trips. Had some decent dollie fishin too. The last 3 trips were nada. Wish I could blow some smoke, but never even had a bite. Had a few dollies. Some were about 5 lbs. Never talked to so many folks that were getting blanked. There was one day about 1 1/2 week ago were every boat I talked to had a fish or two. Im wore out on the fishin close to home. Time to travel. Maybe rufus or something.

I agree...the last couple of high waters produced pathetic numbers of fish in the terminal zones. There have been no "banner days"...on a typical year there are usually a couple of 50+ fish days during or after a good high water; this year those days were 5-10 fish days. The traps have no fish either....I anticipate other terminal area closures to happen here soon.

Last year we were catching the wild fish pretty good by now, this year I've heard of a couple, mostly caught by Bantam.

I've given up on the brats too Ryley....the March on the OP may happen sooner than normal this year.

Ike

No doubt a pretty sh!tty hatchery winter toilet trout season indeed. Ive never seen it this bad ever! Its not only the my local system, its everywhere from the coast to the PS rivers and all the way to the SW streams.... Ive put in a lot, I mean a lot of time in November and December and its pretty depressing to think about how many river hours have been to put in for the lack if fish caught. Normally its been game on in early November, well we're coming into the second week of January and they're still aint SH!T for decent steelhead fishing in PS area this year.....

These are sad times and I sure do hope this is a fluke, or all of our future steelheading opportunities may soon come to an end...

I agree. I've hit the Kalama a few times in Nov and Dec with only one fish. The water is really low, and the fish are nowhere to be seen. The river came up in the third week of December with the heavy rain, but when it dropped, there still weren't any fish. That is unusual. Ever since, everyone says it has been really, really slow. The returns to the hatchery are far behind too, so it's not just me. I've heard the same for other SW Washington rivers including the NFL and the Cow, but I haven't been on those rivers.

Been tough...but a few around.Good luck,

SZ

what sucks is when all the seattle boys don't catch fish they start to venture. the fishing is TERRIBLE down here. JUST ATROCIOUS. heard the Cowlitz is flaming.

We're on our way Merg

It sure is. Which is why they just announced the closure of the whole river. What a [Bleeeeep!] joke. Shut that POS hatchery down and just be done with it. EVERY year, they shut down now during hatchery season in order to get enough hatchery fish back to do it again next year.

The only impressive thing about a Nooksack hatchery fish is how expensive they are.

Yeah, but without that "robust" Kendall Creek Hatchery run how would they justify the tribal fisheries?

Fish on...

Todd