I bought a boat last summer and since haven't done any bank fishing. I found I miss it. Especially pounding the banks for winter steel. I didn't plan to go today, but when I woke up at 5am thinking about work I knew my brain needed a good scrubbing. Gathered all my bank gear and hit the road.
Drove over the Snohomish - too foggy to see anything.
Monroe - Drift Boat on a trailer grabbing a bikini coffee on the way to the launch.
Sultan - couple guys on the bank and couple rigs at the launch.
Over the Wallace - about 5 rigs parked along the railroad tracks. I kept going...
Got to my destination about 7:30 - about an hour later than what I would consider ideal, but I'm there and that's the whole point.
It was actually warmer here than at home - 45 degrees when I got out of the truck. I knew the water level had spiked a couple days about so was looking forward to fishing the drop. The river wasn't "steelhead green" but looked pretty good anyway - very clear.
There was a couple guys on the banks already, I passed them until I found a stretch I liked. 1st cast, bobber down, snag. At least I know the depth now. Broke it off, retied and cast again. Bobber down and headshake this time. 5# native summer run. Very dark, very tired. She let me lead her in easy, no runs, no real fight to her. Brought her in, popped the jig out and let her on her way.
Continued to walk the river until about 2pm. That was the only fish I caught or saw caught. That's ok with me, it's early still and I needed the zen more than I need the fish in my freezer.

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