thought i would try somthing deffernt.: Steelheader.net- Steelhead, Salmon and trout fishing

so i offered to try writing an artical on fishing for the Index Times called The Index Hooker. here's a tast.

Well the Humpies/Pink Salmon are in there finle spawning grounds with an estimated 2,000,000 fish to complet there jurney to spawn and die and soon we well be hoping for some high water to wash the dead fish stink down to Sultan.

So what's next to fish on? Well that would be the Coho/Silver salmon and where we don't get the numbers we used to in the upper Skykomish river (seemed there numbers droped off with a few floods right after there spawning season)we will see some. These fish will usualy appear black on there backs and white/silver on there bellys with the sides turning red as they spend more time in the river and the larger males getting a down turning hook on there top jaw. Unlike the Humpies the Silvers flesh stay firm and pink for good eating long after they enter the fresh water and make these fish just a deliciuse option for dinner or smoking.

Skykomish Silvers waight range is 4-20+ pounds and are famous for having lockjaw (as in they don't bite), but in my opinion the reason they don't bite is more about clear water and skitsh fish. If you deside to try fishing for these frusterating fish here is one way that migjht help you hook up.

For the low clear conditions of the river we live on the best advice i can give is think small presentation. Dick Night spoons in the wee 50/50 (a small spoon that is half silver and half gold) are famous for catching silver on the Sky river but are hard to figure out how to fish.

Here is one way to fish Dick Night Spoons.

Take the end of your fishing line and tie on a small snap swivle, then take a Dick Night and tie it to a 5-7 foot piece of 8lb mono (the leader), then on the other end of the leader tie anouther snap swivel, at this point you would be able to attach a slinky waight (round lead balls cramed into a fabric tube and melted shut at both ends) between the two snap swivels to create a inline sinker. This set up can be casted out and reeled in very slowly so you can feel it bump the bottom of the river once every second or two.

Silvers are open from the confluance of the North Fork and South Fork of the sky down with the best fishing being below the Wallace (the coho hatchery is on the Wallace) and on the Wallace. You may keep 2 fish a day and anti-snagging rules apply (no treble hooks, only single point hooks).

Somthing to remeber when fishing for Coho is rain is your friend, after a good rain when the visability of the water drops to under 2' silvers start biting alot more. next week i'll give you some ideas on what to use for low visability silver fishing.
Fish On!
pete gott.

pic: me with a sky Coho caught on a Dick Night.

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"Don't underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups."

"Gettin' old ain't fer wimps!!"
In memory of Lonnie aka. Bigdogg2250

Ain't no Sunshine when she's gone