The Lower Skagit has been producing a fair number of chum this last week, also finding a few big Coho as well. We also had a nice surprise last week and caught our first hatchery winter run steelhead of the season.
The Coho run has been a disappointment so far this season, but still have hopes of getting a good push of fish on the first high water. I talked to one of the guys that operate the fish trap at the Baker river yesterday. They have only been getting 3 to 5 fish per day the last couple of weeks. He also said the this summer's Sockeye run was 3 weeks late, but they did show up in good numbers in the end. Hopefully the Skagit Silvers are on the same time line.
There are a few Coho around, we are usually picking up 1 to 3 a day, and filling limiits with Chum. Spending a lot of time pulling Kwikfish lately, and throwing some jigs for Coho on occasion.
Also had a chance to do some fly fishing for cutthroat this last week on the lower Skagit, was nice to get away from the salmon for a day and what a blast these fish are on light gear. A 3 or 4 weight rod with a med sink fly line, 6 pound test tippet and either a cone head Woolly Bugger, or small streamer, seemed to work the best.
I still have a few dates available for fall salmon, and also booking winter Steelhead on the upper Skagit.