Would have been an expensive fishing trip if a game warden would have seen you. NF stilly is closed to all fishing all species. You will want to check the emergency closures prior to fishing just to be on the safe side.

Its not closed. Only above french creek is it closed

Yeah there is only a section of the river closed. I have checked the regs. saw quite a few pple today fishin also. not a whole lot of fish being caught

years past there has been a gear restriction on the NF of the stilly. Fly only after the first of the year. Kinda makes the high brow purist feel special. Do they have the same restrictions this year? Either way must be nice to catch fresh silvers, especially in January!

I've had some of my best C&R silver action late December into January on the NF while fishing for steelhead. Amazing to hear of chrome ones though this time of year.

My apology on saying it was closed. My mistake.

When the regs state fly fishing only and the grumpy old men think they own the stream, I bust out the Corky and Yarn fly, and drift it. Really irritates them, but the warden say's, "a yarn fly is a fly."

Awesome that you are finding chrome coho this late! What stretch of river were you fishing (if you don't mind sharing, that is)? I live on the North Fork Stilly, just above Cicero. I have been thinking about venturing up above the closed waters and trying my luck but don't know where to go.
Rippasher06, I'm not sure if you already knew this because you didn't mention it above, but the regs state that in fly fishing only areas, the gear you use must be fly gear. Not just your lure. That includes at least 25 feet of fly line on a fly reel attached to a fly rod. Simply tying on a "corky and yarn fly" does not cut it unless you tie it onto line attached to fly gear. Just saying, since I would hate for one of the "grumpy old men" to call the hotline and ruin your trip.

Wonder why the State just doesn't make it catch and release, no bait, and no barbs for all species? That would make more sense and easier to follow for everyone. That has worked out pretty well on a lot of trout streams all over the country.

The n.f. is open to conventional fishing. not just fly fishing from dec 1st through jan 31st unless other closures are in effect. and the stretch I was fishin was the road on the right side of hwy 530 after crossing over the 1st bridge heading east (about 7 mi out of arlington). U have to walk out on trails and go up river a little and cast across to the deep strech of water. Been silvers there for about a month. all bright as could be. can't keep em tho. lookin for nice trout or steelys