Going to try fly fishing again, after 40 years away from it. Built a couple of rods this Winter, accumulated gear based on your suggestions here and tied up a bunch of nymphs and wollyworms. Am close to the North fork of the Stilly, need some idea of when I should expect the 1st of the summer run to begin showing up.

I fished it EVERY SINGLE DAY last summer, and didnt hook my first steelhead until Late July. All natives, I never even saw a hatchery fish all summer, although I dont hang out at Fortson too much.
I hooked several BIG dollies/bulls during June and July, but no steel until later. I have heard that traditionally, the Deer Creek Natives start showing up around the end of June, but not last year. Once I started hooking fish though, I caught something every day from then on out. Mostly pinks and cutts.... only 3 steelies hooked all summer, all in one week, although I was mainly targeting the pinks and cutts when I didnt actually see any steelhead

Why were you fishing for a fish that isn't legal to catch on the N/F. In fact all salmon on the N/F are off limits.

Jim

I just double checked the regs, because I know I was fishing legally this summer, to the best of my knowledge, I always check the regs.

it says Mar1-Nov 30: Fly-fishing only, catch and release except up to 2 hathcery steelhead.
Trout: min size 14" Daily limit 2
Other game fish: statewide min size/limit

I dont see anything about salmon. I did talk to a warden in June who said I couldnt target the school of Kings that was underneath the C-Post bridge, and I didnt.
Considering I only hooked about 5 pinks and landed (and released) 2 all summer up there, it should be a non-issue considering the poachers I ran into regularly up there taking chinooks, pinks and native steelies with treble hooks and big gaffs.

OTS,

I've caught summer runs on the NF Stilly as early as Memorial Day weekend, but not often. The last week in June has usually had fishable numbers down below Oso. And 4th of July has been pretty consistent on the upper NF. It's nice to get as much fishing in as early as possible because the Stilly can get so dreadfully low, making for lots of dour steelhead. They can still be caught of course, but with far less excitement than when water conditions are prime.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Fly_guy. Last year they had restrictions on the river about using weighted flies or any kind of weight because of all the salmon poaching going on. If it were open for salmon it would of so stated and salmon are not game fish. Went through that once before someplace else..

Jim

Fly_Guy,
According to the regulations, "ALL FRESHWATER AREAS are CLOSED to fishing for SALMON, Dolly Varden/bull trout and GRASS CARP unless listed as open in Special Rules"(p. 20).

The North and South Forks of the Stillaguamish are closed to fishing for salmon at all times. The main river, below the confluence of the North and South Forks, is (or was last year) open to fishing for salmon from Septmber 1st to December 31st

well now I know.....

And I never used a weighted fly or sinktip all summer. Strictly dry lines/flies.....

I guess I wont skate them across big pools on the Stilly any more, but boy was that fun. The first humpy I hooked was an accident. I had a small knot in my fly line by the reel, I was trying to get it out and my caddis fly was skating all over the place out there and whammo!!!! I soon lost it, I had no idea that a humpy would take a dry fly until I did that and then did it again the next day.

One more thing You can't go by the regs as there is a emergency closure on the river and it doesn't open up until the 1st of June. All this info in on the WDFW web site. Should be a link around here some place.

Jim

Thank you Salmo g. That's what I was looking for.

Just checked this on the WDFW site:

There are no emergency fishing rules currently in effect for Stillaguamish River (includes all forks) (Snohomish County). Please refer to the current Fishing in Washington Sport Fishing Rules Pamphlet.

It's stupid the way they post it on their website, but the Stilly IS closed.
https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=132
"Action: The North Fork Stillaguamish River will close to all fishing March 1, 2004. The closure includes the March through May catch-and-release season."
It was announced in February.

You're right! You have to be a site guru to make sure you are getting the right info.

I contacted WDFW about the error and finally got a reply back today. They changed it so that when looking up individual rivers online, it lists the North Fork under an emergency closure.

Guys,

The way the NF Regs read they can easily be interpreted as Salmon being Catch and Release:

All Game Fish May 1-Nov. 30 Catch-and-release except up to 2 hatchery STEELHEAD may be
retained.

FYI there is a great run of chrome bright Sockeye that hang in the same water as the Steelies and take the exact same small purple patterns. If you ever hook up on a chrome Sockeye you will see why I prefer to interpret this as a C&R exception.

Salmon are not a game fish. They are food fish. See page 31 in the regs.

Jim

I always forget about that that and I stand corrected. (not calling a Salmon a gamefish just don't seem right does it?)

While I don't think you would be able to convince a judge that your articulated 4/0 Bunny Bug in Chartreuse was being used for Steelhead, I would argue that the line between "untargeted fish" and "C&R fish" is blurred when I hook and release the fish in question (eg; Silvers, Humpies, and Sockeye) using the "exact" same flies, "exact" same techniques, and in "exactly" the same holding water as Steelhead (and C&R species such as Dollies and Cutthroat).

Hey now

Don't be going and telling the Old Man he's right; his head will swell (LOL )

If you were fishing durning the Fly only season and were using a 4/0 fly. You probably would still be breaking the law. The hook gap in fly only water cannot excede 1/2 an inch. I believe that a 4/0 is bigger than that.

And yes Homer,I'm always right when it pertains to these stupid regulations.

Jim

I know your pretty good when it comes to that

Just busting your chops