Skagit, Snohomish and Skykomish Salmon and Steelhead Fishing

Overview

The Skagit system includes the Sauk, while the Skykomish and Snoqualmie join to form the Snohomish.

Plan coho fishing on the Skagit in September and October and winter hatchery steelhead fishing in December and January. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules before every trip.

Check Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishing regulations and emergency rules before departure.

Overview separates the Skagit and Sauk from the Snohomish and its Skykomish and Snoqualmie tributaries. — The Sauk belongs to the Skagit system. The Skykomish and Snoqualmie join to form the Snohomish. Check each river section separately. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules before every trip.

Best months: Jul–Apr — see July, August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March and April.

Getting There

For the Skagit corridor, leave Interstate 5 at Cook Road exit 232 and head east toward Sedro-Woolley, following signs for the North Cascades Highway. The North Cascades Highway is State Route 20. River-section landmarks farther upriver include Concrete, Rockport and Marblemount.

On the Skykomish, Highway 2 reaches the river bridge east of Gold Bar beside Big Eddy access. Lewis Street Park is at Monroe’s southern entrance along State Route 203.

Check the WSDOT Travel Center Map before leaving Seattle. If your approach crosses Stevens Pass, check its current conditions.

The mountain section of SR 20 has a seasonal winter closure tied to conditions and avalanche risk.

Licenses, Passes and Permits

Review WDFW’s fishing-license guidance, including age eligibility and the catch record card for salmon or steelhead.

The WDFW Vehicle Access Pass covers WDFW lands and comes with certain fishing and hunting licenses. The Discover Pass covers a broader state recreation-land program. Check WDFW’s parking-pass guidance for your chosen site. Some WDFW properties have another agency managing water access, with that agency’s rules applying.

For a powered-boat trip, review Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission boater education card eligibility and exemptions.

Treaty tribes are co-managers of fisheries with Washington state. Use the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission for background on that relationship.

Checklist separates fishing paperwork, exact river rules, parking and boater education with a co-management background link. — Check fishing documents, river special rules, emergency changes and the access pass. Review operator education before a powered-boat trip.

The Rivers

Use the landmarks below to find the exact river section in WDFW’s special rules.

Skagit

The Skagit river system includes the Sauk, Suiattle and Cascade tributaries. Plan Skagit coho trips in September and October and hatchery steelhead trips in December and January. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules before every trip.

The Skagit River special-rules entry uses landmarks including Memorial Highway Bridge at Mount Vernon, Gilligan Creek, Dalles Bridge at Concrete and the Baker River mouth. Farther upstream, landmarks include the Highway 530 Bridge at Rockport, Marblemount Bridge and Gorge powerhouse at Newhalem.

Marblemount Hatchery is at 8319 Fish Hatchery Lane.

United States Geological Survey (USGS) gauges cover the Skagit at Marblemount, 12181000, near Concrete, 12194000 and near Mount Vernon, 12200500.

Sauk

The Sauk is part of the designated Skagit river system. Its WDFW special-rules entry uses Darrington Bridge (Sauk Prairie Road Bridge) and the White Chuck River as section landmarks.

Use USGS 12189500, Sauk River near Sauk, for the named Sauk station.

Snohomish

The Skykomish and Snoqualmie meet at the upstream end of the Snohomish River section described in WDFW’s special rules. The Snohomish River entry also uses Highway 9 Bridge and Burlington-Northern railroad bridges as landmarks.

Two useful station links are USGS 12150800 near Monroe and USGS 12155500 at Snohomish.

Skykomish

The Skykomish River special-rules entry separates water using the boat ramp below Lewis Street Bridge in Monroe, Wallace River, the railroad bridge at Big Eddy and Reiter Ponds outlet.

Reiter Pond Hatchery is at 45300 Reiter Road, while Wallace River Hatchery is at 14418 383rd Avenue SE. Fish Reiter Ponds from the bank for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January.

The river station near Gold Bar is USGS 12134500.

Snoqualmie and Nearby Context

The Snoqualmie River special-rules entry uses Plum access boat ramp, Tokul Creek mouth and Snoqualmie Falls as landmarks. Tokul Creek Hatchery is at 37501 SE Fall City-Snoqualmie Road. The gauge near Carnation is USGS 12149000.

The Stillaguamish is a separate Puget Sound steelhead watershed.

Where to Fish by Method

Work current seams, tailouts, side channels and boulders in walking-speed flow; start near the bank and work outward.

Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules before every trip.

Lower Skagit (Mount Vernon to Sedro-Woolley)

Edgewater Park. Plunk sand shrimp behind a Spin-N-Glo for coho in September and October.
Edgewater Park. Cast spinners or drift soft beads under a float for coho in September and October.
Johnsons Bar. Use the bank access off Whitmarsh Road upriver of Young’s Bar and Edgewater Park in September and October.
Below Sedro-Woolley. Approach by boat in September and October and cast and retrieve flies for coho with 6–8 weight single-hand rods and floating, intermediate or light sink-tip lines.

Middle Skagit (Hamilton to Concrete)

Sedro-Woolley to Marblemount. Swing and strip flies for coho in October and November; begin the retrieve before the fly slows at the hang-down.

Lower and Middle Skagit Spots map with 16 numbered references for fishing features, public access, gauges and services; no routes. — Named features, access sites and service references orient the trip. Gauge pins mark monitoring stations. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules. Stay out of the Baker River below lower Baker Dam and check the Skagit exclusion area at its mouth.

Upper Skagit (Rockport to Marblemount)

Above the Sauk and below the Cascade. In December and January, fish flies through the broad, relatively flat riffles and runs; the Skagit above the Sauk runs clear but can color during winter high water.
Marblemount to Rockport. Fish flies for hatchery winter steelhead in December and January.
Cascade River near Marblemount. Fish yarn under a bobber or cast spoons for hatchery winter steelhead in December and January.

Sauk

Sauk below White Chuck. In December and January, swing flies for hatchery steelhead from the head of each run through the tail and let the fly reach the hang-down.
Suiattle to Native Hole. In December and January, find wider water with large boulders and faster sections below the Suiattle confluence.

Snohomish

Snohomish mainstem. Drift Dick Nite spoons or twitch jigs for coho in September.
Legion Park. Cast small metal jigs such as Buzz Bombs, Pline Lazer Minnows or Kokanator Jigs for coho. Fish in September.
Lowell-Snohomish River Road pullouts. Cast small metal jigs for coho; cast and retrieve Dick Nite spoons or fish them under a float in the tidal, slow-moving water. Fish in September.
Downtown riverfront trail. Cast Buzz Bombs, Pline Lazer Minnows or Humpy Special spoons for coho in the deep riverfront water or drift Dick Nite spoons; reach the water from a separate public approach. Fish in September.
Snohomish beside the Pilchuck River mouth. Troll Wiggle Warts or anchor and fish Dick Nite spoons for coho. Fish in September. Keep the boat in the Snohomish mainstem and out of the Pilchuck.
Douglas Bar. Drift Dick Nite spoons for coho. Fish in September.
Thomas’ Eddy. Cast Buzz Bombs, Pline Lazer Minnows or spinners for coho. Fish in September.
Short School Road. Drift Dick Nite spoons for coho. Fish in September.
Highway 522 Bridge. Drift corky and yarn or Dick Nite spoons for coho; cast #3 or #4 spinners for coho. Fish in September.

Use the downtown trail as a reference point; steep slopes separate it from direct river access.

Plan a separate public approach to Thomas’ Eddy and obtain permission for Douglas Bar’s private access.

Skykomish (Monroe to Sultan)

Sultan to the mouth. Swing flies through the shallow, broad runs for sea-run fish in higher water. Fish in December and January.
Gold Bar to Monroe. Cover the broad, sweeping runs with a Spey rod. Fish in December and January.
Sultan to Monroe. Float eggs or back-troll bait divers or plugs for winter steelhead from a sled or drift boat. Fish in December and January.
Below the Lewis Street bank-only stretch to the Snoqualmie confluence. Side-drift bait or back-troll bait divers through the long runs for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January. Keep boat fishing outside the restricted stretch below the Lewis Street ramp.
Cracker Bar. Drift fish, bobber fish, swing spoons or fly fish for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January.
Sultan gravel bars and flats. Fish flies or light tackle for hatchery steelhead. Fish in December and January.
Ben Howard. Fish the sweeping gravel bar for hatchery steelhead at lower water. Fish in December and January.
Sultan River mouth and Sportsman Park. Use the bank-fishing water at the mouth. Fish in December and January.

Snohomish and Lower Skykomish Spots map with 32 numbered references for fishing features, public access, gauges and services; no routes. — Named features, access sites and service references orient the trip. Gauge pins mark monitoring stations. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules. Fish the restricted Lewis Street and Plum–Tokul stretches from the bank. Keep boats out of the Pilchuck. Check Snohomish salmon emergency rules before choosing water.

If Bob Heirman Wildlife Park is closed for construction, use the alternate map, which leaves out the park entrance.

Alternate map without the park, with its 1–31 key

Snohomish and Lower Skykomish Spots map with 31 numbered references for fishing features, public access, gauges and services; no routes. — Named features, access sites and service references orient the trip. Gauge pins mark monitoring stations. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules. Fish the restricted Lewis Street and Plum–Tokul stretches from the bank. Keep boats out of the Pilchuck. Check Snohomish salmon emergency rules before choosing water.

Skykomish (Gold Bar to Reiter and Index)

Reiter Ponds. Float a jig for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January; tip the jig with bait in the bouldery water. Fish from the bank.
Reiter Ponds. Drift fish or swing spoons for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January. Fish from the bank.
Reiter hatchery bank stretch. Float eggs or pitch jigs or hardware for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January. Fish from the bank.
Cable Hole. Fish for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January at low to medium water. Fish from the bank.
Proctor Creek access. Fish for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January. Fish from the bank.
High Bridge and Big Eddy. Fish the small bank area for hatchery steelhead. Fish in December and January.

Wallace

Wallace River hatchery stretch. Fish from the bank outside the hatchery weir exclusion area; float eggs for coho in November or a jig for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January.
Wallace River mouth. Fish from the bank at the mouth in December and January.

Snoqualmie

Below Snoqualmie Falls to Fall City. Fish flies through the runs and riffles or practice Spey casts from the walk-in water in December and January. Keep clear of the falls and fish-passage exclusion water.
Tolt River mouth. Drift fish for winter hatchery steelhead near Carnation in December and January; stay below the USGS trolley cable and follow selective gear rules in the Tolt.
Below Carnation. Plunk for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January in the slower, deeper water.
Tokul Creek mouth to Carnation and Fall City. Fish spoons, spinners, floats and jigs, roe or sand shrimp from the bank for steelhead in December. Pull Hot Shots or other diving plugs from a boat only below Plum access; fish the Plum–Tokul stretch from the bank.

How to Fish It

Reading Steelhead and Salmon Water

Start close to shore, then cast farther out; fish can hold near the bank.
Work current seams where fast water meets slow water, tailouts and side channels; fish boulder breaks in walking-speed current.

Schematic river run marks seams, boulders, side channels and near-bank water. — Start near the bank. Work seams, tailouts and boulder breaks.

Drift Fishing

Cast 30–45 degrees upstream and let the rig drift to 30–45 degrees downstream; adjust weight to touch bottom about every foot while moving at roughly current speed.
Build the salmon rig with mainline, snap swivel, a 12–48 inch leader, corky above an egg-loop hook and yarn on the hook; attach pencil lead in tubing or a slinky at the snap.
Add roe or sand shrimp. Follow Drift Fishing.

Salmon drift rig with alternative weights and upstream and downstream casting angles. — Cast upstream and drift near bottom. Adjust weight to keep the rig moving with the current.

Side Drifting

Drift the boat downstream and cast toward shore about 45 degrees upstream; use enough weight to tap bottom every 3 to 5 seconds.
Fish yarn or roe rigs and adjust weight to flow and depth. Follow Side Drifting.

Plunking

Anchor the presentation in a holding area or migration path; work soft water near the bank when high water pushes steelhead toward the edge.
Slide a Slido onto the mainline and attach a sinker; the sliding steelhead example uses 4–8 ounces, a buffer bead before the barrel swivel and an 18–24 inch leader.
Place a bearing bead and Spin-N-Glo above the egg-loop hook. Follow Plunking.

Sliding plunk rig separates mainline sinker from the Spin-N-Glo leader. — Hold the rig in soft water near the bank. The slider carries the sinker and the leader carries the Spin-N-Glo.

Float Fishing

Set a bobber stop and bead above a slip float, then add a swivel, weight and a leader to jig or bait; the salmon example uses a 12–24 inch leader.
For steelhead, set the presentation about one foot off bottom; mend by lifting and flipping line to remove its belly between rod and float.
For salmon, adjust the stop to fish within a foot of bottom after the sun hits the water. Follow Float Fishing.

Slip-float setup distinguishes leader length from full fishing depth and shows a line mend. — Set the fishing depth with the bobber stop. Mend the line to remove its belly.

Swinging Flies

Cast across or slightly downstream, make a large upstream mend and hold a tight line as the fly swings directly below you to the hang-down.
Start at the head of a long run, work out to your longest cast and take two or three steps downstream between casts.
Use a sinking leader, sink-tip or weighted fly to get down in the water column. Follow Swung Flies.

Fly swing arcs downstream from an across-river cast to the hang-down. — Mend upstream and follow the swing to the hang-down. Step downstream between casts.

Pulling Plugs and Back-Trolling

Hold the boat against the current with oars or a trolling motor and slip downstream more slowly than the current.
Let current dive the plug near bottom; the winter steelhead example uses 30–70 feet of line out, adjusted to water speed and depth.
Back-troll bait divers or plugs through the Sultan–Monroe reach for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January; keep boat fishing outside the restricted stretch below the Lewis Street ramp. Follow Pulling Plugs and Spoons and Spinners.

Back-trolling diagram separates a diving fishing plug from a hookless diver and trailing bait. — Hold the boat against current and slip downstream slowly. Current drives the plug toward bottom. Keep boat fishing outside bank-only stretches. Use oars on the Sauk and leave combustion motors off. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules before every trip.

Launches and Bank Access

Walk the approach before unloading. Match the boat plan to a launch and identify the return point. Fish the restricted stretch below the Lewis Street ramp from the bank. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules before every trip.

Skagit and Sauk System

Site	River	What’s There	Address or Site Type
Edgewater Park	Skagit	Concrete ramp.	600 Behrens Millet Road, Mount Vernon.
Sedro-Woolley	Skagit	Concrete ramp.	WDFW access site.
Hamilton	Skagit	Concrete ramp.	WDFW access site.
Faber Ferry	Skagit	Concrete ramps; flood exposure.	WDFW access site.
Young’s Bar	Skagit	Access site without a launch.	WDFW access site.
Howard Miller Steelhead Park Campground	Skagit	River access, campsites and restrooms.	52804 Rockport Park Road, Rockport.

Read the Edgewater Park access notice before departure. Faber Ferry is exposed to flooding.

Snohomish and Skykomish System

Site	River	What’s There	Address or Site Type
Lewis Street	Skykomish	Concrete ramp.	WDFW access site.
Lewis Street Park	Skykomish	Trails to the river; parking connected with the adjacent WDFW launch.	561 South Lewis Street, Monroe.
Big Eddy	Skykomish	Launch access beside the Highway 2 river bridge east of Gold Bar.	WDFW access site.
Jonker	Skykomish	Access site without a launch.	WDFW access site.
Simmons	Skykomish	Access site without a launch; no on-site parking.	WDFW access site.
Oscar Hoover	Snohomish, Thomas’ Eddy	Access site without a launch.	WDFW access site.

Walk the public approach and identify parking before carrying tackle to the bank. Respect property boundaries.

Tackle, Bait, Fuel and Boat Service

Skagit Valley (Mount Vernon, Burlington and Sedro-Woolley)

Name	What It Offers	Address
Holiday Sports	Rods, reels, nets, lures and bait.	895 Nevitt Road, Burlington, WA 98233
NW Custom Lures	Custom fishing lures and spinner building.	725 Township St, Unit 105, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
Master Marine Boat Center	Boat sales, service and parts for C-Dory, Weldcraft, Thunder Jet and Starcraft.	506 Jacks Ln, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Tom-n-Jerry’s Boat Center	Boat sales, inboard and outboard repair and trailer service.	11075 Josh Green Ln, Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Upper Skagit and Sauk (Concrete to Marblemount and Darrington)

Name	What It Offers	Address
Logger’s Landing	Road fuel and convenience store.	45284 SR 20, Concrete, WA 98237
Grady Creek Grocery & Gas	Road fuel and convenience store.	39952 SR 20, Concrete, WA 98237
AJ Food Mart / Mobil	Road fuel and convenience store.	60101 STATE ROUTE 20, MARBLEMOUNT, WA 98267
Mountain Loop Country Store / Shell	Road fuel and convenience store with deli.	1000 Emens Avenue N., Darrington WA 98241
Market Fresh Concrete	Fishing tackle, bait, ice and groceries.	44546 State Route 20, Concrete, WA 98237
Cascade Supply	Fishing and camping gear; hardware.	45900 Main Street, Concrete, WA 98237

Everett, Snohomish and Monroe

Name	What It Offers	Address
Pacific Fly Fishers	Fly-fishing and fly-tying products, classes and private instruction.	1018 164th Street SE, Ste. A-22, Mill Creek, Washington 98012
Cascade Marine Service, LLC	Sportjet, outboard-jet and inboard-jet service; impeller sharpening, stator-fluid service and Tohatsu outboard sales and service.	2925 West Marine View Drive, Everett, WA 98201
John’s Sporting Goods	Fishing tackle, bait and downrigger parts.	1913 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201
Hookup Hut — Everett	Bait and tackle vending: jigs, herring, anchovies and squid.	607 10th St, Everett, WA 98201
Sportsman’s Warehouse	Salmon and steelhead tackle; reel spooling.	505 SE Everett Mall Way Ste 1, Everett, WA 98208
Coastal Monroe	Fishing licenses and outdoor supplies.	19881 US-2, Monroe, WA 98272
Big 5 Sporting Goods — Monroe	Live bait and fishing licenses.	18669 State Route 2, Monroe, WA 98272
Rich’s Marine Repair	Boat repairs and routine maintenance.	1618 Holly Vista Drive, Snohomish, WA 98290-1911, US
Harbor Marine	Fishing gear, marine supplies and gas-engine sales and repair.	1032 W Marine View Dr, Everett, WA 98201
Performance Marine	Outboard and gas-engine repair; boat sales.	930 W Marine View Drive, Everett, WA 98201
Bayside Marine	Boat sales, outboard repair and marine supplies.	1111 Craftsman Way, Everett, WA 98201
Port of Everett Marina Fuel Dock	Diesel and non-ethanol unleaded marine fuel.	Central Marina between Guest Dock 3 and Central A-Dock, Everett.
Snohomish Co-Op — Snohomish	Ethanol-free road gasoline and diesel.	168 Lincoln Ave, Snohomish, WA 98290
CJ Bluestar / Mobil	Road diesel and convenience store.	19090 US 2, Monroe, WA 98272

Sultan to Index

Name	What It Offers	Address
Sky Valley Visitor Information Center / Chamber	Fishing licenses and maps.	320 Main St, Sultan, WA 98294

Lodging and Camping

Name	What It Offers	Address
Cascade Mountain Lodge	Motel lodging.	44618 State Route 20, Concrete.
Mt. Baker Hotel	One- and two-bedroom suites.	45951 Main Street, Concrete.
North Cascades Inn	Rooms.	60117 State Route 20, Marblemount.
Darrington Motor Inn	Hotel/motel lodging with kitchenettes.	1100 Seeman Street, Darrington.
Bush House Inn	Hotel lodging.	308 5th Street, Index.
Howard Miller Steelhead Park Campground	Campsites and river access.	52804 Rockport Park Road, Rockport.

Winter Steelhead

Fish for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January on the Skagit below Marblemount, Sauk below White Chuck, Skykomish mainstem and Snoqualmie below the falls. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules before every trip.

Puget Sound steelhead populations include wild and hatchery fish. Read the current WDFW identification and retention provisions before fishing.

Skagit steelhead planning involves tribal co-managers and federal review. For the Skagit and Sauk, begin with WDFW’s Puget Sound steelhead management page, then check the current rules and emergency rules.

Salmon Planning

Fish for coho on the lower Skagit in September and October. Fish for Wallace coho from the bank in November outside the hatchery weir exclusion area. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules before every trip.

Washington pink salmon runs occur in odd-numbered years.

Baker Lake is a Baker River reservoir northeast of Concrete and is among Washington’s sockeye waters. Baker sockeye fishery timing varies with in-season abundance. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules before arranging that trip.

Rules and Management

Identify the exact river section, species and date. Read WDFW’s current bait, hook, selective-gear and retention provisions. Read the catch record card instructions and repeat the rule check when you move.

Fish Reiter Ponds, the restricted stretch below the Lewis Street ramp and the Plum–Tokul stretch from the bank. Fish the Wallace and Pilchuck from the bank; stay below the former diversion wall on the Pilchuck. Keep fishing below the USGS trolley cable on the Tolt. Keep clear of the Wallace hatchery weir exclusion area, fish facilities and the exclusion water below dams and fish ladders. Stay out of the Baker River below lower Baker Dam and check the Skagit exclusion area around its mouth. Keep clear of the closed water at Sunset Falls and above the North Fork Skykomish boundary below Bear Creek Falls. Use oars on the Sauk and leave combustion motors off.

Check Tokul Creek’s exact reach boundaries and daily fishing hours before approaching; stay below the posted boundary downstream of the diversion dam. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules before every trip.

Use WDFW’s fishing regulations and emergency rules together. Separate special-rules entries cover the Skagit, Sauk, Snohomish, Skykomish and Snoqualmie.

Treaty tribal co-management is part of the region’s fisheries management. The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission provides background. Use WDFW’s current rules for the visitor fishing plan described here.

Safety, Flows and Weather

Read the Gauge

Use the gauge links in The Rivers to open the named station. A hydrograph is a graph of a river measurement over time. Discharge means flow and gauge height means water level.

Read the station, measurement and timestamp before the trend. Compare the rise, peak and drop with conditions at the river.

Dam Releases and Changing Flows

Seattle City Light’s Skagit project includes Ross, Diablo and Gorge facilities. Flows through those dams are adjusted on seasonal, monthly and daily schedules for fish protection.

Puget Sound Energy’s Baker project is on a Skagit tributary and includes two dams, with Baker Lake and Lake Shannon as reservoirs.

Cold Water, Wood and High Water

Cold-water shock is an immediate involuntary response to immersion. A properly fitted life jacket helps keep your head above water.

High water, floods and snowmelt can move debris and create snags and strainers, wood that catches material in moving water. River channels can change with the season. Logjams can trap swimmers.

Boulder Drop and Sunset Falls are dangerous rapid or waterfall areas on the Skykomish.

Put on a fitted life jacket before boating. Walk the return path before fishing and move to higher ground when water rises. Keep clear of logjams and strainers.

Weather and Flood Warnings

Check National Weather Service Seattle and its hydrology page. River forecast links include the Skagit near Mount Vernon and Snohomish at Snohomish.

Gauge-reading sketch explains flow and water level beside a dam-operation context box without numerical readings. — Read the station, measurement and timestamp before the trend. Compare the graph with conditions at the river.

Seasonal Calendar

Plan by Reach

Use these months to plan fishing practice for the named reaches. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules before every trip.

Month	What to Plan For
January	Fish for winter hatchery steelhead on the Skagit below Marblemount, Sauk below White Chuck, Skykomish mainstem and Snoqualmie below the falls.
February	Prepare tackle and review reach boundaries for the next trip.
March	Practice rigging and review access for later trips.
April	Prepare sockeye tackle and check Skagit reach boundaries.
May	Review Skagit salmon rules and emergency rules before choosing a reach.
June	Prepare for Skagit sockeye fishing between Memorial Highway Bridge and Dalles Bridge.
July	Fish for sockeye between Memorial Highway Bridge and Dalles Bridge.
August	Fish for coho on the lower Skagit below Memorial Highway Bridge.
September	Fish for coho on the lower Skagit and Snohomish mainstem; check emergency rules before choosing Snohomish water.
October	Fish for coho on the Skagit.
November	Fish for Skagit coho only after checking the extension and emergency rules; fish for Wallace coho from the bank outside the weir exclusion area.
December	Fish for winter hatchery steelhead on the Skagit below Marblemount, Sauk below White Chuck, Skykomish mainstem and Snoqualmie below the falls.

Twelve month rows match the page's reach-specific fishing and trip-preparation advice. — Plan fishing practice by month and reach. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules before every trip.

First Trip Checklist

Choose one river section and one target species.
Locate both section boundaries in WDFW’s special rules.
Read WDFW’s current rules and emergency changes.
Review WDFW’s license and salmon or steelhead catch record card guidance.
Match the parking pass to the access manager.
Read the access manager’s current notices before departure.
Review boater education eligibility for the operator and vessel.
Open the named USGS station and check its timestamp.
Read the weather and river forecast.
Check the WSDOT Travel Center Map for the drive.
Fit life jackets and discuss a return-to-shore plan.
Agree on a turn-around decision and a backup activity.

Methods

Use these lessons to compare presentations and learn the vocabulary before the trip:

Guides Who Specialize in This

Browse North Cascades steelhead guides and North Cascades salmon guides, comparing the river, species and method with the trip you want.

Ask your guide for their WDFW guide license number before you book.

FAQ

Where Should I Plunk on the Lower Skagit?

Plunk sand shrimp behind a Spin-N-Glo for coho at Edgewater Park in September and October. Check WDFW’s current rules and emergency rules before every trip.

How Do I Fish Reiter Ponds?

Float a jig from the bank for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January and tip it with bait in the bouldery water.

Are the Skagit and Skykomish the Same System?

The Sauk belongs to the Skagit system, while the Skykomish joins the Snoqualmie to form the Snohomish.

Can I Begin From the Bank?

Lewis Street Park has trails to the Skykomish. Reiter Ponds is a named steelhead location. Check the exact public approach and WDFW river rules before going.

When Should I Fish Reiter Ponds?

Fish from the bank for winter hatchery steelhead in December and January.

Do Pink Salmon Return Every Year?

Washington pink salmon runs occur in odd-numbered years. Check the year first, then check WDFW’s rules and emergency changes for the river.

Which Gauge Should I Use?

The Skykomish station near Gold Bar is 12134500, while the Sauk station near Sauk is 12189500. The Skagit has stations at Marblemount, near Concrete and near Mount Vernon.

Does a Fishing License Settle the Parking Pass?

The WDFW Vehicle Access Pass comes with certain licenses and covers WDFW lands. Discover Pass has broader state recreation-land coverage. Check the manager and pass instructions for the place where you will park.

Continue with Puget Sound salmon, Olympic Peninsula winter steelhead and Hood Canal chum. For species background, read steelhead, salmon and coho.

Sources for this guide are listed on our Credits page.

— The Salish Guide

Skagit, Snohomish and Skykomish: Salmon and Steelhead Rivers North of Seattle

Overview

Getting There

Licenses, Passes and Permits

The Rivers

Skagit

Sauk

Snohomish

Skykomish

Snoqualmie and Nearby Context

Where to Fish by Method

Lower Skagit (Mount Vernon to Sedro-Woolley)

Middle Skagit (Hamilton to Concrete)

Upper Skagit (Rockport to Marblemount)

Sauk

Snohomish

Skykomish (Monroe to Sultan)

Skykomish (Gold Bar to Reiter and Index)

Wallace

Snoqualmie

How to Fish It

Reading Steelhead and Salmon Water

Drift Fishing

Side Drifting

Plunking

Float Fishing

Swinging Flies

Pulling Plugs and Back-Trolling

Launches and Bank Access

Skagit and Sauk System

Snohomish and Skykomish System

Tackle, Bait, Fuel and Boat Service

Skagit Valley (Mount Vernon, Burlington and Sedro-Woolley)

Upper Skagit and Sauk (Concrete to Marblemount and Darrington)

Everett, Snohomish and Monroe

Sultan to Index

Lodging and Camping

Winter Steelhead

Salmon Planning

Rules and Management

Safety, Flows and Weather

Read the Gauge

Dam Releases and Changing Flows

Cold Water, Wood and High Water

Weather and Flood Warnings

Seasonal Calendar

Plan by Reach

First Trip Checklist

Methods

Guides Who Specialize in This

FAQ

Where Should I Plunk on the Lower Skagit?

How Do I Fish Reiter Ponds?

Are the Skagit and Skykomish the Same System?

Can I Begin From the Bank?

When Should I Fish Reiter Ponds?

Do Pink Salmon Return Every Year?

Which Gauge Should I Use?

Does a Fishing License Settle the Parking Pass?

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