[Hem]

I have in-laws who live in LaConner,we visit for Christmas every other year.Wondering if there is any fishing opportunity this time of year.I would prefer on-your-own fishing locally,but would maybe consider a day of guided fishing .Any serious and friendly suggestions would be appreciated,a little information to get me started with research.Would also consider a swap, a day of fishing in Washington for a day of fishing or hunting in Montana.I have a pretty good arsenal of rods,6,7 8,9, 10 weight, all single hand.Thanks for any suggestions and/or the name of a good fishing guide. Hem

 

[BDD]

Hem,

I'd love to take you up on your offer but there isn't really much close to LaConner fly fishing wise, especially at that time of year. First thing came to my mind was smelt jigging but you said serious suggestions...and it can be difficult to cast a 1/2 ounce bank sinker even on your 10 weight. Plus you are about a month too early.

Best close-by bet might be the Samish River for a small chance at one of the hundred hatchery steelhead that come from the river. If you wanted to drive an hour, the middle/upper Skagit always has a few fish around. There is always a chance at a hatchery steelhead. An even better bet would be a native char or chum salmon but the latter is actually closed for fishing this year I believe.

 

[Bob Jones]

Hem, The near by rivers all are open until the 31st for salmon. Depending on the river. the chinook or coho have to be released. The Stillaguamish the Skagit and the Samish and the Nooksack are all fairly close.You would need to check the regs on line to be sure and I would talk to a fly shop up that way to find out better information. I just read the regs and they may have changed since then. I can't help any more than that as I don't get up that way. A shop would get you a guides name too. The closest shops that i know are Orvis in Bellvue or All About the Fly in Monroe. Hope this helps, Bob

 

[Camo Clad Warrior]

What about Pass lake. It produces fish this time of year. The only down side would be you are gonna need a boat of some sort....

 

[Old Man]

I have in-laws who live in LaConner,we visit for Christmas every other year.Wondering if there is any fishing opportunity this time of year.I would prefer on-your-own fishing locally,but would maybe consider a day of guided fishing .Any serious and friendly suggestions would be appreciated,a little information to get me started with research.Would also consider a swap, a day of fishing in Washington for a day of fishing or hunting in Montana.I have a pretty good arsenal of rods,6,7 8,9, 10 weight, all single hand.Thanks for any suggestions and/or the name of a good fishing guide. Hem

If I was you I would wait until you get back to Montana to fish. You'll only be disappointed in the quality of the fishing in Washington State. Like Was said. The only open water will be the Main Stilly and both forks, The Skagit and the Samish. The Skagit is a big river and is best fished from a boat of some kind. There is always the Nooksack, but that will be a long drive for nothing.

If it rains around that time of the year you can just pack your rods up and forget about. I know as I lived and fished in that state for over 40 years. Why do you think I left.

Jim

 

[KerryS]

The Skagit will have some hatchery steelhead and perhaps a few early natives at that time. This is a tough fishery and usually requires some specialized equipment. 8 weight or better rods, sink tips and big flies. The same could be said for all of the close by rivers at this time of year.

Pass Lake is a catch and release fly fishing only lake about 40 minutes from La Conner but requires a boat of some sort to really fish it. There is very little shore access. You could try Cranberry Lake in Deception Pass Park a little past Pass Lake on the same hyway. More shore access and a fishing dock but still better fished from a boat.

I might be able to take you fishing on the Skagit but that will depend on water conditions and family holiday commitments. If you know anything about using a 2 hander I can outfit you with one or I also have an 8 wieght single that is setup with a shooting head and sink tips for winter steelhead fishing. Drop me a PM when you are here and we will see if we can get together.

 

[Hem]

Thanks for all the replies.Yeah,though I'm mostly ignorant about fishing on the west side,I had a gut feeling there wasn't much going on around the holiday....at least nothing of much significance.My brother-in-law runs a dairy farm in Mt.Vernon with access to the Skagit.He put some sort of dock in,so there is a spot to do some casting(I'm guessing better for a two hand 'cuz of the steep bank,but unfortunatly I'm not either equiped or versed with this technique just yet).Really not much interested in freshwater lake fishing i.e. Pass Lake,plenty of that sort where I live.Would prefer some larger pursuits on the salt,or rivers.Thanks again!

 

[gone johnson]

Go with Kerry if you can. If he is busy, PM me and I'll take you upriver. And like Kerry I can set you up with rod and line.

 

[Hem]

Thanks Kerry and WW.Appreciate the generosity in making some fishing possible for a day.I will pm closer to the arrival.Again,happy to make my gear applicable i.e.I'm guessing either my 8 wght. XI2, 9wght. Zero Gravity,or 10 wght. T and T (all single hand) will suffice.I have reels for the above but would be willing to purchase the proper line,or a multi-tip line for the fishing.Probably would prefer to use as much of my gear as possible,in the event there is a mishap ex. a fly swatting a tip,whatever, rather it mine than yours.No mention of boats,or not.I take it most you guys use power,but if you drift,I have plenty of experiance rowing on Montanas trout streams(Madison,Yellowstone,Missouri) and rafting whitewater.Its always fair to share the rowers seat,so equal fishing time.Suffice to say i would simply be psyched to get out on a river and do some casting,fish are a bonus.Nate

 

[Mike T]

Last December we had great rezzie fishing in the south sound, I imagine you'd do well if you hit the beaches on Whidbey.

 

[KerryS]

Hem,

Perhaps the three of us can get together for a day. I run a sled on the river; no rowing needed or we could do some road fishing. Most of the good spots on the upper river where the hatchery brats will be are as easy to get to by truck and foot as by boat. Not as cold walking the river as it is running it in a sled in December.

I have a Tioga reel with a custom made shooting head for an 8 weight that you can use. I haven't used the reel in a few years now and keep it around as a loaner for people that don't have the need for such a setup except a one time fishing trip for winter steelhead. Your call.

 

[Blake Stedman]

Hem:

For a local day trip like this, I have used Dickson's Guide Service in the past with great success. He guides the Skagit and Stilly in your area. The link to his calendar is below. I'm partial to the Skagit myself!

http://flyfishsteelhead.com/guiding.htm

Blake