Skagit Drainage It is (or was)

[T. Lang]

Prefering to avoid a windy beach, I headed north.

Stopped off at C-Post road to look at the stilly--about 12" vis, kind of 
swollen, but not flooded.

Drove past the gray Sauk and up to the Cascade. Knowing I couldn't fish 
below the bridge, I headed up the river road.  I've never been there--very 
pretty.  I made notes for summer hiking and camping trips.

Found a side road that crossed the river and parked there.  Very clear 
water.  10 or so eagles.  A few salmon carcasses in the shallows near a 
bridge pylon, but I didn't see any live ones (salmon or otherwise) in the 
pool beneath the bridge.  Leaving my shivering damp dog in the truck, I 
ventured downsteam, 5-wt. in hand.

Found a nice pool, cast across and down, on the swing.  I was using a type 
VI tip, with a white bunny DD Copcar knock-off.  I could see my fly.  I 
could see a moving shadow on the sand at the bottom of the pool.  The best I 
could manage was to cast up-stream, mend, mend, and strip across the fish's 
view.  I saw it move once in response to my fly.  I'm guessing it was a nice 
Bullie (Leland--how's that for a compromise between the nicer sounding 
"dolly" and the correct "bull"?), since I could see what I thought were 
white edges to its fins.  Or maybe it was just a sucker.  Or maybe I was the 
sucker.  At any rate, I couldn't budge it, and I couldn't get my fly deep 
enough.   Tried another pool then headed back.  Discovered a leak in my 
waders just above my right knee.

Drove past the Skagit--it's pretty big water.  Wading would be a challenge, 
and I'd definitely seek a low-flow day, during the week.  Lots of boats on 
the water.

That's it.  My first trip of the year, though mostly an exploration-type 
trip, resulted in no fish.

I'm guessing that the Cascade, especially 5 - 6 miles from the mouth where I 
was, would be more productive for Bullies when there's active anadromous 
species in the river, laying eggs, scaring sculpins, and rotting away.

I'll be back.

Tom

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