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After the Arlington EAA Fly-in air show we fished the Lower Stilly for sturgeon. We were in the river and checking out the various holes by 5:30. We looked for fish in the shallower holes down in the estuary and did not see any fish so we moved upriver a ways and metered around until we located fish. The first area was an 18’ deep slot that ran right along the bank. We double anchored and sent three globs of sand shrimp over the side. An hour later no fish so we moved. Our next and final spot was a 23’ hole with a pretty abrupt tail out. We metered a number of fish holding on the downstream side of the hole. Anchor in and sand shrimp away, we started the waiting game while we listened to the Mariner game on the radio. A few minutes later we had a sharp hit and after a brief pause the fish started swimming away. At that point we removed the rod from the holder, set the hook and the fish starts to run. It seems that it ran right into a snag pile because we ended up having to break the rig off and retie. A short while later another rod starts the pick it up-spit it out routine we let this go on for about 5 minutes and finally the fish is swimming away. Same deal, once the fish was swimming away we removed the rod from the holder and set the hook and it was fish on. The fish must have followed the first fish because after a brief fight we were in the snag again. At that point it was getting late and we had to collect one of the kids from their friend’s house so we pulled the hook and headed back to the ramp. No fish but it was a very peaceful evening on the water.

natetreat

7/12/2010 9:32:00 PM

Is the Silly open for stugeon fishing? I was looking at going out, but the regs said that unless otherwise stated in the special regs sturgeon fishing isn't open. Was I wrong in my understanding? These new Puget Sound Tributary rules are super complex.

Matt

7/12/2010 10:06:00 PM

You misinterpreted the regulation. On page 26 of the pamphlet it reads, "Fishing for COMMON CARP, WHITE STURGEON, SHAD, or forage fish (unless specifically noted in Special Rules) is open only during open game fish or SALMON seasons." So basically it is open in any body of water unless specifically listed as closed and as long as other game fish seasons are open.

Thanks for the report rseas, my buddy and I hit it today with nuthin to show for it. Second time out with this result. Pretty sure I marked and pursued fish in one of the same holes you speak, no takers though, go figure.

rseas

7/13/2010 10:56:00 AM

The regulations for the Stilly are confusing. Where the mouth of many if not most rivers is defined in the WDFW regulations pamphlet, for the Stillaguamish it is not. Depending on who you talk to (Including the local enforcement officer) they indicate that you should have a combination license when fishing the Stilly below Marine drive. Although the mouth a river is generally defined by a line projected between the outermost lands that are not covered during ordinary high water the enforcement officer may at their discretion determine whether or not a fish was caught in marine area 8-2 or the Stillaguamish River. That said the regulations (page 37) indicate that downstream of Marine Drive it is open for “Trout” and “Other Game Fish” year-around with statewide minimum size/daily limit applied as additional rules. Page 27 under the “Food Fish” heading and sub-heading “White Sturgeon” reads “Unless specifically noted in special rules open only during open game fish or salmon seasons". All that said, because the Stilly is open year-round to trout and other game fish it is also open to white sturgeon.

drewboy11

7/15/2011 8:01:00 AM

when doesthe stillie open around arlington

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