I've got a bass boat and can't go into the Sky or smaller rivers. But, I sure enjoyed my first year Coho and Pink fishing in the Snoho. I'm from CO and feel blessed to have such a fishery so close to me now. I hope you guys know how lucky you are.
My season report: From not knowing salmon to catching fish. I caught scads of Pinks. My wife and I smoked up so many we were giving them away. I caught 14 Coho that averaged about 8 lbs. A 12 lb buck was my last. Everyone seems to know what to use for the pinks. The Coho are more of a mystery. I admit to anchoring and feeling lost at first. I followed everyone to just above the Pilchuck. (I couldn't go farther cause the water gets too shallow for my motor.)

Right after the last rain so many Coho moved up even I could see where they were. I had 3 days where I felt I was in fishing heaven. Loaded the boat with my limit and could hardly leave it was so fun. One day my wife and I both limited with all about 8 to 9 lbs. They were all over the Wiggle Warts and only the color varied. Then the water level dropped and the fishing got tougher. Tried Vibrax spinners and the corkie types- no good for me. Finally settled on jointed Rapalas. Trying to give the overfished Coho something new to look at. It worked a little. Could also be I needed to drop the size of the lure.

On the 22nd I could see the numbers of rising fish were really slowing down. Very few boaters caught much. The Coho seemed to stay in the fast water and were also in the mouth of the Pilchuck. Pretty cold and slow. I decided to store the boat. Great fun seemed over. But, i'm wondering - do the Chum move in to the Snoho in catchable numbers? they sure are big and ugly, but I'm always willing to catch a fighter which is good for smoking.

Thanks to everyone for this forum. I have learned a bunch. Also to Triangle Tackle and Joe for guiding me in early in the season.

cheers

HillbillyGeek

10/24/2013 5:14:00 PM

Thanks for the report! I must have missed the coho surge this year. And I agree that they are not rising near as much as they were a week ago.

fishee2

10/24/2013 8:35:00 PM

Chum use to be awesome in our Puget Sound rivers, it use to be thick. I've caught them with bobber/jigs, drift gear, plunking, you name it, and they will attack. Not to mention fly-fishing for chum is a blast. Unfortunately, with unlimited amounts of commercial fishing, our Chum Salmon had dwindled down, the chums are definitely here. But not in great numbers.

soundkite

10/24/2013 10:33:00 PM

Goldrigger, the Snoho and Sky (and some other rivers) look to be off limits for chum according to the regs.

Goldrigger1

10/25/2013 7:14:00 AM

Soundkite - I read that too. There was no year attached to what I read and I've seen regs change quickly. Too bad the State allowed the Chum to be overharvested. I can understand the financial benefits though. How about winter Steelhead? I have read they move to the Sky in the summer but, wondered about a winter run.
For those interested, the jointed Rapala in bright green and yellow seemed to be an alternative. They also hit a big black and silver which was as long as a herring. No fish on the big one, but they would bump it. The jointed Rapala has a nice wiggle like the Wiggle Warts.

Diamonddave

10/25/2013 1:19:00 PM

What are the full names to the rivers your talking about? I moved here from AZ and don't know the slang yet.

Goldrigger1

10/25/2013 2:30:00 PM

Dave- so many Indian names. LOL. Snohomish River system made up of Skyhomish river and Snoqualmie River. I live in Snohomish City. Snohomish is nice for Coho from a boat. Some of the rivers get so shallow you need an aluminum boat with small motor - or fish from shore. However, it is good to catch the salmon soon after they enter the river so they are fresh. For that reason I stuck to the Snohomish.

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