Thought some of you might be planning a visit up the the Skagit/Baker for the opening of the month long Sockeye season that opens July 1.

River ain't looking to hot...



See that brown stuff covering most of the river? That has maybe 3"- 4" of visibility to it...

There is a very clear distinction between Skagit water and Baker water..notice the nice green water on the North bank? (Yeah, that little 10' string). That is Baker water running on the N. side, and it has 3' visibility or better from Baker down about 1/2 mile. By the time it gets to the Dalles Bridge it has blended with the mud from the rest of the river and visibility there is about nil.

Best bet for decent water is to fish the Baker itself (be sure to bring plenty of armor, shoulder pads, etc.), but its only open from the mouth to the Hwy. 20 bridge (about 200 yds.), or walk in through the Ten Acres land and fish the N. bank of the Skagit in that small ribbon of clear water.

I don't expect this condition (high flows, muddy waters) to change over the next week. Been too warm, snow melt is running hard in both the Skagit and Sauk. Fish may just be blasting right through, considering the high flows and high water levels. I haven't checked at the hatchery for counts, however.

Have only seen 2 Sockeye so far...one I saw jump a week ago, and one a poacher flossed from the N. bank 2 days ago.

Mike

Mike,
First, I've never fished the Skaj for reds. But the Kenai sounds like a similar situation during red season with high flows and concrete colored water the norm. Actually these conditions actually made it easier to catch fish in the big waters of the Kenai. The high flows forced them to travel along the edges and the milky color of the water allowed you fish them only 3'-5' from the waters edge in about 2-3' of water without spooking them as pods cruised on by. The Skagit and the Kenai aren't that much different in a lot of ways. I'd head for a spot in that dirty water where the current runs in close by the rocks and short-line (no casting) just inside the current break with a bright red marabou fly off a 14-18" leader on a standard drift rig set up. Sooner or later you're bound to connect if they're there. Good luck