Re(2): stilly

[Keith Ayers]

I stopped by Fortson Friday morning(Dec. 1) on my way to work. I counted 51 guys fishing on both sides of the river. In the time it took me to drink a cup of coffee I saw 4 or 5 steelhead landed and a few more lost. I didn't see anything that looked like a winter run. Most fish were pretty dark and would have made excellent crab bait. The mood of the river definitely changes when it goes to gear. Oh well, December is a good month to chase dollies on the Skagit. Does anyone in the group have much success with winter hatchery fish on the Stilly? I admit that when the winter fish show I usually chuck gear at them and don't bring out the fly rod again until the natives are in the river.