Didn't see this posted yet so here goes.

Yep, the Snohomish and the Skykomish up to the Wallace opened at daybreak Saturday. A friend weighed a 12.5 # clipped fish in at Ted's (and bought a derby ticket) and they told him it was closed. WRONG! Went back out this evening and plenting of people and boats had got the word and were doing some serious bonking. I got an 11 # buck and a chromer hen, just what the doctor ordered!

TK

Dont know where you got your info from TK, but there is no press release from WDFW saying that either the Snohomish or Skagit system is open yet for silvers. Talked with Snohomish system biologist, Kurt Kramer, last Wed. and the Skagit river biologist, Pete Castle. Both said that rumors are true that they may open, BUT NOT UNTIL YOU See a press release issued. TEDS Sport Center is usually one of the first places to receive the news. If anyone will know Mike, Brian or Kent will.

That was a nice big coho that Robert caught today.We (in our defense) had not heard anything about an emergency opener and did not want to see anybody get any tickets.There was nothing posted this morning on the dept website,only later on the hotline.And besides,we did not say that it was closed,only that Robert was a good poacher(just kidding Robert).Good fishing.
ReiterRat

I picked up some sand shrimp for steely fishing on the Sky tomorrow and was told by the folks at Ted's that the river was opened up this morning for silvers. I can't find anything to confirm this. The WDFW website emergency rule changes site ( http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/regs/fishregs.htm ) doesn't show anything about it either. I called the WDFW "Hot Line" and got tired of listening to messages about everything but the Sky. I'd like to have something hot off my printer that says it's open before I walk off the river bank with a silver...any ideas? Also, on another MSG topic I saw on this bulletin board there were some questions as to whether it's legal to fish the Sky right now...period. I don't see how there is any question as it is specifically listed as open for steelhead. I catch my steelhead and silvers on the same exact gear (9'G-Loomis drifting eggs/sandshrimp) in the same exact spots on the Sky, so as long as the salmon are immediately released I don't see how there could be any argument of it being legal to fish the river right now. If I keep catching silver after silver and releasing them while fishing for steelhead, which is my target, I am fishing legally as far as I'm concerned. I can't find any mention of this topic in the rule book that raises doubts for me fishing for steelhead while the salmon happen to be running at the same time. Why the confusion? I have a sled that I have fished on the Cowlitz for years and we catch incidental salmon all the time while steelheading and release them and report it to the fish counters at the pull out and have never had any problems with the WDFW people there.

I emailed Kurt C.(area 4 biologist) and Jeff K.(director of WDFW) directly. They said the official word would be posted on the WDFW site. If ANY fish were to be taken it would be a short opener Sept. 29th through Oct. 4th. Most likely the opener would be posted by Tuesday.

I see there are alot of people bonking fish, maybe some enforcement is necessary. I'll have to talk to Bill Hebner( area 4 enforcemnet) when I see him tomorrow morn on 8-2.

For those people out there bonking away, the solid early show of silvers doesnt necessarily guarentee high enough returns to open it up. Kent at Ted's did not say it was open. And besides, if you bonk now, your going to screw it up for the rest of us later. They might not open it up because of the poaching.

=)Your right STEELYBOB, your in conformance with the targeting issue, however if your casting #4 super vibrax at holding silvers, that might be a different story!.

If you see a coast guard helicopter flying over the sky tomorrow, that will be Bill H. I highly suggest you stay away from the mouth area of the wallace below the train trestle bridge with spinners.

Ted's has "Snohomish open for salmon Sept. 23" posted on their reader board for all to see that pass by on highway 99...so whoever runs the reader board at Ted's is most definitely saying that the river is open and the sign still reads that way as of 10:50 AM Sunday 9-24-00...FYI When I was at Ted's Saturday night, 9-23-00, a young, thin featured, blond haired fellow said that the Skykomish was also open for silvers up to the Wallace, but I couldn't get an explanation from him why it wasn't posted by the state on the Internet. I think I'll just play it safe and wait till it's posted and I can have a copy of the Emergency Rule Change in my vest.

[This message has been edited by SteelyBob (edited 09-24-2000).]

Hey guys no big secret how to get this info.

I called Mill Creek Friday afternoon and they told me that it was opening Saturday morning. If you called the Hotline you would also be able to confirm it. If you guys want to wait until you see it in the paper, that's fine with me..I'll be fishing.
The Triangle Beverage was also informed very early Saturday morning about the opening.

ITS OPEN!

TK

On the dept hotline (360)902-2500 press 2 for rec fishing and than press 4 for tribs of puget sound, it states that the Snohomish and the Skykomish below the mouth of the Wallace is open for two coho.It also has info on the Skagit opener