The famed rivers of the North Puget Sound, including the
Skagit, Sauk, Skykomish, Stilliguamish, and Nooksack Rivers offer flyfisherman the opportunity
to fish some of the most productive waters in Washington, all within a mornings drive of the
metro Seattle area. With the North Cascades as their headwaters all of these rivers offer a
picturesque setting that has few rivals in the West. The crown jewel of the North Sound, the
Skagit River system, holds the "Wild and Scenic" designation from the federal government and
is only matched in discharge on the west coast of the United States by the Columbia and
Sacramento Rivers. With over 200 glaciers feeding this great river system, anglers liken it
to fishing amidst the Swiss Alps. It's no wonder we call it our home river.
King, silver, and chum salmon all enter these river systems in the fall and provide great
flyfishing clear into early December. On odd numbered years millions of pink salmon enter
these river systems in August and September and provide outstanding flyfishing action. This
fishery is a great primer for those just getting into flyfishing or for anglers looking for
non-stop action under sunny Pacific Northwest skies.
Once the fall salmon diminish in December is when we turn our attention to
winter steelhead and dolly varden. Hatchery steelhead enter the Skagit, Stilliquamish, and
Skykomish Rivers first and provide action from early December into the latter part of January,
with their wild counterparts beginning to enter these rivers in February. Dolly varden are
present in our rivers throughout the entire winter and provide great action on the fly. For
taking steelhead on the fly it's the months of February thru April that we most enjoy, however.
These months offer steelhead anglers the best opportunity at taking a trophy wild steelhead on
the fly. The big water of the Skagit offers the long, sweeping runs that have made it famous,
and the Sauk River offers everything from classic gravel bars to pocket water and deep, fast
slots.
Of course, it isn't just the flywater that draws steelhead flyfisherman from
around the world to these waters, it's the chance at hooking up with one of the finest strains
of steelhead anywhere that brings fisherman back year after year. From early February on thru
the last day of April virtually any run on this great Wild and Scenic river system can hold a
trophy steelhead over 20 pounds, and 30 pound steelhead aren't unheard of. Whether we're
wading the great flyfishing bars of these river systems or nymphing pocket water and slots
from the boat, the thought of hooking a freight train over 20 pounds will never cease to haunt
you.
We tempt these fish with everything from large marabou and bunny leeches,
to classic spey
patterns, to egg patterns, to stout, bristly flies like the General Practitioner. The majority
of the flies we fish, however, have one thing in common...movement. To coerce a steelhead into
striking the fly must pulsate and take on a life of it's own as it swings thru the steelhead's
water. Match the flies movement with the correct presentation and your in the business of
taking winter steelhead on the fly.
We've been taking salmon and steelhead on the fly from the North Puget Sound
rivers for over 10 years and our trips are amongst the very best in the Northwest. Few other
guiding operations can match us when it comes to experience, service, and hard work.
All material Copyright
Pacific Northwest Sportfishing, 2004
Contact Rob
King, silver, and chum salmon all enter these river systems in the fall and provide great
flyfishing clear into early December. On odd numbered years millions of pink salmon enter
these river systems in August and September and provide outstanding flyfishing action. This
fishery is a great primer for those just getting into flyfishing or for anglers looking for
non-stop action under sunny Pacific Northwest skies. 
classic spey
patterns, to egg patterns, to stout, bristly flies like the General Practitioner. The majority
of the flies we fish, however, have one thing in common...movement. To coerce a steelhead into
striking the fly must pulsate and take on a life of it's own as it swings thru the steelhead's
water. Match the flies movement with the correct presentation and your in the business of
taking winter steelhead on the fly.