Skagit River Sockeye Fishing

We are finally back on the water and able to fish for Sockeye on the lower Skagit from Hwy 536 at Mt. Vernon (Memorial Hwy Bridge) up to the mouth of Gilligan Creek. This fishery will run through July 15th unless we reach our guidline of 4,600 fish. There are fish in the river as they have been trapping them in the Baker River and transporting them to the lake for over a week now. This fishery for the most part is a bank plunking show with anglers fishing a size 4 or 6 Spin N Glo baited with either fresh sand shrimp or coon stripe shrimp. The amount of lead will vary with the river flow but somewhere in the 4 - 12 ounce range will be needed. These fish travel on the edge of the current seams and will be found in water from 2 - 6 feet. In many areas this will be just a few feet from the bank so long casts are genereally not needed. These are the primest Sockeye that the state has to offer as they are right out of the saltwater and into the cold glaciated waters of the Skagit in a very short timeline. Not only are these prime fish but are the largest sized wise with fish averaging 6 -7 pounds with some pushing 10. Make sure to bleed your fish promptly, gill and gut them and get them on ice to have the best table fare one can procure. This season we have a three fish limit per lisenced angler.

We have lots of gear in stock for this fishery and will be more than happy to help you out in getting set up for this fishery. We will keep you posted on the reports from the river as we get them.