After getting skunked on Coho a couple weeks ago pulling plugs on the Duamish, I thought for sure we could turn that luck around on the Snohomish this morning. First time on the Snohomish with my 12' boat. Was exited to see some new territory. Launched at Rotary Park at 6:00a. Tide was low, so there was a lineup of boats waiting for the water to get high enough to launch. The advantage of having a cartopper.
Got the boat set up and waited for it to get light enough to safely navigate. We headed out about 6:30. Didn't take long for my partner to hang up and lose his plug on the snaggy bottom just upriver from the launch. We shook it off and motored on heading upriver with the incoming current. Shortly after, I had a takedown on a red Wiggle Wart. It didn't stick though. Thought we might be in for a good day. Just before Ebey Slough my buddy hangs up again. I flipped us around in hopes of maybe retrieving this one. Got back up to the location just as a big boat came roaring up on us. I couldn't ignore the wake and had to move quickly, so turned into it. Still took some water over the bow, but stayed mostly dry. In the process I crossed over the top of my buddy's line and the current moved us over the snag dragging his rod tip under the boat. I couldn't get us turned fast enough and SNAP goes his Lamiglas. ARGH! Well, this morning was not starting well.
I gotta give my friend credit. He took that loss really well. I was ready to call it quits right there and feeling sick. He just rigged up a different rod. We slowly shook it off and motored on. Lots of moldy Pinks dead and dying floating/swimming by. We trolled all the way to Snohomish without a bump trying various colors and styles. No one we talked to was getting any action. We decided to pick up gear and check out the Pilchuck. More boats and bank fishermen up there, but no more fish. We trolled around the bend from the railroad bridge, but no luck there either. We headed a bit farther up river, but didn't see any water that could rally our spirits. The sun was now out, the tide all the way in, and the wind was coming up, so we opted to just head back down to the launch. Many others appeared to be throwing in the towel too as more than a few of us pulled out at the same time. An unfortunate day in terms of gear loss and lack of fish, but was nice seeing some new territory and now have a much better understanding of this river.

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