There's nothing quite like those fall colors and they've grown more dramatic by the week. Whether it's the fiery red and orange vine maples, the bands of golden yellow western larches erupting in the North Cascades or the crimson sides of salmon blazing their way up an icy creek, it's a pretty amazing time to be out and about in Western Washington. Add in a fresh dusting of snow along the jagged mountaintops and you've got one unbeatable landscape going on. Fishing has remained really good in a lot of places whether your pursuing salmon close to home, trekking to Montana for one last trout adventure before it gets too chilly or visiting a favorite lake a final time before either the season closes or the ice beats you to it.
I just got back from several days up at Ross Lake, which has for years been one of my favorite fall trips. I enjoy the scenery, the solitude, the serenity and very much the people I typically go up there with along with some of the new folks I encounter along the way. Of course, the fish and the fishing are a huge draw for me as well, and while the fishing can sometimes be tough in the face of unpredictable fall weather, each and every fish is stunningly beautiful in its own right. I maintain that the Ross Lake/Upper Skagit, BC rainbow trout might just be the prettiest ever iteration of Onchorynchus Mykiss to swim its natal waters. Bold olive backs and deep red to almost neon pink stripes along the lateral lines. They are a sight to behold and like to pull well above their weight class too.
While they remain the crown jewel of the North Cascades, we find some nice bull trout up there at times and a few less common catches. This was the first trip I've ever gotten a Ross Lake super slam, catching rainbows, bull trout, brook trout and the less common west slope cutthroat all in one day. I don't think it's included in any slam but I also ended up getting Covid that same day which pretty well slammed me right back. I guess fall has a few pitfalls as well with all the crud going around right now. Nonetheless, I'm very much looking forward to next fall up there and to enjoying the rest of it navigating our local rivers.
The IF4 is this Thursday and there are still plenty of tickets available through the Lincoln Theatre. If you've never been, these fly fishing film festivals are a total blast and we always have a really good time. Our North Sound Trout Unlimited chapter is having a raffle as well, so if you buy some raffle tickets, you just may walk away with a new Sage Foundation 8 weight or even a guided fly fishing trip for two on the Skagit. We certainly hope to see you there!
Also, we just had a spot open up for our Saturday, November 2nd all day spey clinic with Tim Arsenault. The class will be from 10-4 at Youngs Bar on the Skagit. Tim is a fantastic instructor, spey line designer and you will likely learn more skills to improve your spey casting in a single day than you could figure out on your own over several years. You can sign up for the last spot here.
In the meantime, stay healthy and enjoy the best fall has to offer on your favorite waters and if you need anything at the shop, rest assured we are very well stocked with a huge fly tying materials order coming in next week.
Rivers
We still have lots of river options available on both sides of the hills and some exciting recent fishing related announcements as well. The coho fishery on the Skagit has been extended through December 31st as salmon numbers appear better than initially forecast for the season. Between more regular episodes of rain and cooling temperatures, expect some fish to move around become a little more grabby. There has been no shortage of coho in both the Nooksack and the Skagit this year, but we've heard from fly and gear anglers alike that they've been a little timid about taking anything during our last prolonged low water period. We expect that should change as the water drops from the big rains over the weekend. Fly selection doesn't really change much for us with a mix of larger patterns like Starlight Leeches, Deuce Wigalos, Dirk Wigglers and Popsicles being ideal for off color water conditions and the Coastal Buggers, Hot Head Woolly Buggers in olive or black, Xmas Trees and Barbell Egg Sucking Leeches between optimal for clearer water. In case you missed it, we recently put out a tying video on the Coastal Bugger which has been a top coho pattern on our local waters.
In addition to the scores of coho, we should begin seeing the odd chum salmon showing up. They favor similar water and will typically eat the same flies, particularly in combinations of pink or fuchsia and purple. We are also finding some bull trout reappearing in the rivers after migrating well upstream to spawn as well as good numbers of sea run cutthroat. With lots of active chinook spawning, fishing egg patterns or streamers with a pink or orange hot spot is a really good bet. Just be careful as you wade to avoid stepping on chinook redds. Look for areas of clean gravel scoured by digging and deep pits followed by pronounced mounds. There seem to be a lot of them this year, especially in the Skagit above the Sauk entrance.
The big news is that the Methow actually opened up for hatchery steelhead and coho retention for the first time in nearly a decade. This is a very heavily monitored fishery and you are required to retain the first two hatchery steelhead you land and stop fishing. All wild fish must be kept in the water and released. You can read the full emergency opener details on the WDFW site. As for swinging flies, we really like Bennett's Last Light, Bennett's Halo, Silver Hiltons, Steelhead Muddlers, Fighting Gravity, Wine or Black Hoh Bo's and Egg Sucking Leeches in black or purple. If you're nymphing, Egg Sucking Stones, BH Stones and Lead Eye Egg patterns are the jam.
If anadromous species aren't your preferred target, you can still get in on some fine trout fishing on the Yakima River during the fall. October caddis and blue winged olive mayfly imitations are go-to patterns and this is prime time to swing large sculpin streamers for big rainbows as well.
Lakes
Many lowland lakes will close at the end of October. Fall is a great time to fish leech and streamer patterns for trout trying to fatten up a little more before winter sets in. Pass and Lone Lakes are unfortunately still closed due to the presence of toxic algae but the counts are at least moving in the right direction. You can check the state Department of Ecology site for the most current levels. Once they open, expect a decent late fall, winter fishery using Blobs, Boobies and Bloodworms.
Beaches
September came and went and with it, most of our local saltwater salmon fisheries. Many of our North Sound sea run cutthroat are up in the Nooksack, Skagit and Stillaguamish Rivers right now as well, so there's not a ton of beach fishing happening at the moment close to home. Further south in the Sound and Hood Canal offer some great fall cutthroat fishing and an opportunity to catch chum salmon in a number of saltwater estuaries as well.