Northwest Fishing Reports

Went and bought a surplus of what I'll need but had a few questions.


What lb main line is best and what lb leader line is best.

With the water being a little higher than normal and murky bright colors in cookies and yarn will be best when using that method IE "the clown corkie and orange or pink yarn.

As for a spoon set up I picked up an all gold little Cleo and an all gold blue fox. Will they work.

How long of a leader is needed at the hatchery, bridge, mouth and in between.

I'm already curing my eggs so they will be ready for Saturday.


Tight lines and good luck to everyone on the opener.

I might be there with ya! I might drift the skagit as well. All depends on the flows. Cascade at the moment is running very low compared to usual june openers. Its at about 1300 and last year it was at 3000. However its gonna rain all week so it might rise. Your gonna want flourocarbon leader. Theyre smart in lower flows. I would go with 20 lb leader nothing less. Fast water, theyre strong. 25-30 lb mainline. I prefer braid for springers. Gold cleo and bluefox both worked last year on opener. I hit 2 on the gold bc steel on opener last year, pretty much same thing. Just adjust your lead until its tapping bottom then bring it up a few inches, id only run about 24 inches between weight and hook in the higher flow. Good luck. Might see you there

Thanks Danny. I'll have to run out and get the 20lb leader. Didn't see 25 or 30lb mainline though.

DannyL wrote:Thanks Danny. I'll have to run out and get the 20lb leader. Didn't see 25 or 30lb mainline though.

You could go lighter but your gonna be sorry when a 20 lber starts going downriver

WalMart didn't have it. May have to go to holiday sports.

You're in Everett, go to teds if you're in south Everett!

Ted's has 25lb main and 20lb leader?

I would call if it's a long trip, but they have a lot of things.

Should have made a trip to sportco if you were buying bulk, much cheaper than Walmart. I will be there Saturday and Sunday as well just debating which side to fish

Do you guys think the Cascade will open better than the Sky? Guess it all depends on the water level.

The cascade is the hatchery creek. The Skykomish is a big river. You've got fish spread out all over the place in the Sky, it's fishing. On the Scade, you're fishing a terminal fishery, right near the intake. If here are any fish in the system, they'll be a lot easier to catch in close quarters. You can't really compare the two. If you were to fish the Wallace up at the hatchery, you'd have the same story, even if there are only 20 fish in the river, you know where they'll be.

natetreat wrote:The cascade is the hatchery creek. The Skykomish is a big river. You've got fish spread out all over the place in the Sky, it's fishing. On the Scade, you're fishing a terminal fishery, right near the intake. If here are any fish in the system, they'll be a lot easier to catch in close quarters. You can't really compare the two. If you were to fish the Wallace up at the hatchery, you'd have the same story, even if there are only 20 fish in the river, you know where they'll be.

Didn't think of it that way, but it makes perfect sense. Thanks Nate.

Cozmo4196 wrote:

natetreat wrote:The cascade is the hatchery creek. The Skykomish is a big river. You've got fish spread out all over the place in the Sky, it's fishing. On the Scade, you're fishing a terminal fishery, right near the intake. If here are any fish in the system, they'll be a lot easier to catch in close quarters. You can't really compare the two. If you were to fish the Wallace up at the hatchery, you'd have the same story, even if there are only 20 fish in the river, you know where they'll be.

Didn't think of it that way, but it makes perfect sense. Thanks Nate.

I think you should also mention that yes, they are easier to find and catch on the cascade, that also means theres gonna be LOTS more people in a small area

fishenfreak wrote:

Cozmo4196 wrote:
I think you should also mention that yes, they are easier to find and catch on the cascade, that also means theres gonna be LOTS more people in a small area

that is the only bad part unfortunately opening day is on a Saturday that means more crowds.

Were leaving tonight for cascade. In hope of getting good position for tomorrow

You gonna sleep on the bank? Haha, I'm headed to a friends property on the Skagit tomorrow, fish some spinners and spoons, then on Sunday I have a date with Nate on the cascade. See you out there!

Na, got a campground by the bridge.

Nice, i was going to either do that or sleep in my car, but luckily an older guy at work doesn't fish, and has property and cabin right on the Skagit 5 minutes from the cascade hatchery, and said I could sleep there! Worked out great!

Very nice. Hoping to log down some chrome pigs

Sitting on the bank of the cascade. Waiting for light haha!