The changeover between seasons is always bittersweet. Sometimes it evokes mourning for a time soon passed. We reflect fondly on the trips we took, the hours spent with the important people in our lives, and of course, those most memorable fish we were fortunate to share a moment with. Still, we can't help but lament the things we didn't do, rivers we didn't visit, fish species we didn't target (like carp) or friends we simply missed connections with. At the same time, there's always a bit of excitement about what's yet to come and the new opportunities that will inevitably arise.
Summer is a lovely time in the Northwest. We either make or find the time to go places when they're less obscured by snow and rain clouds and we get to remind ourselves what it's like to fish dry flies (and be successful doing it) once again. The turning leaves, intermittent showers and that coolness to that breeze coming off the water in the late afternoons all seem to point towards a coming of the next season, though we're still just over a month from the autumnal equinox. It's hard to be too dejected about the end of summer when fall is a such a favorite time for many. Golden yellow sea run cutthroat with their vivid red jawline slashes filling the Stillaguamish, silvery coho salmon filtering into the Skagit and transforming into their bright crimson and olive spawning garb and even the non-native brook trout that proliferate our mountain creeks and lakes will don their most dramatic colors of the year. All of that against a backdrop of fiery red, yellow and orange vine maple and one can't help but imagine that everything around here just got a fresh coat of paint.
Everyone has a special place to fish around these parts and if you're lucky, probably several. One of mine is just north of the border and while I enjoyed almost two decades of never missing an opportunity to fish it at least several times a summer, I hadn't been back in too many years between forest fire closures, Covid border restrictions and massive road washouts. I got to go back up there for a few days recently and the place was still much as I remembered it. I went with two friends who had never fished the river before. We all only get to experience the magic of a first encounter with a new place once, but it's a close second when you can absorb the marvel in a buddy's eyes as they first step into the cool waters. The fishing was either better than I recall or I've learned a few new tricks since the last visit. The rainbow trout seemed to broadcast a little more neon pink in their lateral lines. The bull trout seemed a little more widespread and over eager to run down a big, rapidly retrieved streamer. The multitude of critters that call the place home like black bears and moose popped up here and there during the trip as if to say, "where've you been buddy?" Even the awesome display of lighting and booming thunder and the ensuing squall that forced us to retreat into a damp and foggy car to eat tacos literally could not rain on our parade. It was a most enjoyable homecoming and I can't wait for a return visit sooner rather than later.
You've kept us plenty busy over the summer at the shop and we're thankful for that. As we shift gears towards fall we're going to try and offer some more tying events at the shop since we have quite a bit more room than we did in our old space. Believe it or not, we've been in our new home for one year now! Thanks to all who came out for our summer Spey Wednesdays. Those are always a fun time that we look forward to. We'll be having one final spey event at Nugents Corner on the Nooksack on Wednesday, September 11th from 5pm till dark, featuring Erik Johnson with Sage, Redington and Rio. We'll have lots of demo rods set up for you to try and of course, free spey casting tips and assistance. There is no limit to the number of people who can come to this one, just please RSVP on our contact form so we have a sense of how many folks will be there.
In the meantime, savor the last of summer, get yourself geared up for what we hope will be another fish-filled fall and we'll look forward to seeing you in the shop and on the water.
Rivers
We've been continuing to enjoy summer trout fishing in our local rivers and streams draining the western Cascades. Upper tributaries to both the Nooksack and Skagit Rivers have been productive for small trout and char with the occasional surprise larger fish. Now is the time to be fishing your light 2 and 3 weight rods, floating lines and a variety of dry flies. Para Wulffs, Royal Wulffs, Purple Haze, Humpies, Rio's Dry Humper, small PMX's and Stimulators are great choices for the creeks. Don't overlook the bubbly, turbulent white water heads of runs as these areas provide both great cover and oxygenated flows in the low water of summer.
On the Skagit above Rockport, you'll generally find clear water this time of year and can search the wide riffles and runs for bull trout as they migrate towards the headwater sections and tributaries to spawn later in the fall. This is largely a streamer game with Dali Llamas, White Sculpzillas, Meat Sweats, White Zonkers and a few smaller options like Kiwi Muddlers and Wounded Sculpins being great flies to have on hand. In the lower portions of the Skagit and down into the forks below Mount Vernon we should be seeing the first cutthroat making their way back into the river from Skagit Bay shortly. It's hard to beat GB Rolled Muddlers, Black or Olive Woolly Buggers and Hot Bead Buggers for these fish, concentrating on areas around slow water and woody debris.
The mainstem of the Nooksack opened up on August 1st and should begin to see some coho salmon moving through the lower portions of the river. As water clarity is limited, bright offerings like the Manhattan Beach or Pixie's Revenge are your best choices, along with flashy Deuce Wigalos and Dirk Wigglers. Salmon fishing in the rivers should improve markedly as we get later into September.
The Methow has been fairly low and warm this month but typically cools off in September. Next month is a fine time to skate large dries like Orange or Gold Chubbies, larger Orange Stimulators or Morrish Caddis Adults when the big October Caddis are out and about. You can also swing Morrish Deep October Pupa just about any time of the day to attract larger cutthroat and rainbow. Access to the upper Skagit in BC is once again available with the Silverhope-Skagit Road open all the way to where Ross Lake would be were it not incredibly low. Please note that the Hozomeen Campground on the US side is currently closed but there is fee camping available at the Ross Campground on the BC side.
Lakes
Fish high for trout or low for bass. In the heat of summer, most of our lowland lakes are simply too hot to prospect for trout, but are perfectly suited for swimming or targetting bass and panfish with top water presentations. Kermit, Froggy, Neon or Luna Poppers, Rio's PTO Poppers and Dry Rind Frogs have been working well on the bass lakes, particularly late in the evening. Don't be afraid to make some noise and create a large commotion with your bass flies on the surface this time of year. Smaller Bream Poppers, Mini Chernobyl Ants and Flying Foam Beetles are working well for panfish on your lighter rods.
Alpine lakes are a great option this time of year as most will be snow free for another month or two. Small Parachute Adams, Mosquitos, Black Gnats and Royal Wulffs along with a Zug Bug and Soft Hackle or two are typically all you need to fool high country trout.
Salt
It's go time for the beaches! We start watching the Puget Sound Creel Reports closely this time of year and as we see coho numbers increasing around the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, we can expect fishing to start firing up along the western beaches of Whidbey Island. Fly selection and equipment selection is pretty easy for the most part. You'll want a 6-8 weight rod, stripping basket and selection of Clouser or Stinger Clouser Minnows. It's never a bad idea to carry a few Psychedelic Herring, Flash Drives or Shock & Awes too should you encounter visible feeding activity. The name of the game is cast, cast, cast and strip your fly back quickly. The more you focus on keeping a fly in the water the better your odds are at getting slammed by a fresh coho. There have been a fair number of larger resident Puget Sound coho hanging out around the south end of Whidbey as well. Here's an article I wrote on the local coho beach fishery a few years back if you'd like a refresher.