Northwest Fishing Reports

Ok Ive just started to believe that I am just jinxed when it comes to catching dumpies. Been to Skagit a bunch and Snohomish at Thomas Eddy on Monday when there were A TON of fish around but no takers for me or my buddy but yet the group next to us was SLAYING them on the wee Dick Nites and they wouldent touch ours. Maybe the best place to get biters is up at the mouth of the Pillchuck? I might be going on a buddys boat tomorrow evening hes been killing them around the Lowell area with a pink jig. Also for humpys ive just been using the same braid I use all the time "30lb Power Pro Super Slick" should I just be using like 6-8lb mono?


Dick Nites in small sizes 50/50, Frog
Pink Jigs
Pink Spoons

Now with the low water what size casting weights should I be using as well as what ounce pink jig?

It's all about the right action with both jigs and dick nites. Change it up until you start getting bites. Jigs are easier to use out of a boat!

One thing I'd start with is to wash my hands and my lures. Just to rule out something smelly.

Dick-Nites I use a start - stop retrieve, trying to get the lure as close to the bottom as possible, then a few turns on the reel. No help here on jigs. Definitely get some shrimp oil. Kills your scent and adds a little extra incentive

I have not tried the start and stop method with Dick Nites yet. I do however keep them as close to the bottom as possible. Ive tried sandshrimp oil but not shrimp oil. Will do tomorrow.

You have to play around with the stop and retrieve speed .... don't want to snag every cast. It's more of a brief pause than a stop. Once you find the right pause/retrieve combo, light out! Sand Shrimp oil would be fine. It's mainly just to make sure your scent is gone. I personally use Mike's Shrimp oil *shrug* I should have added that this is how I retrieve with moderate to faster moving water. If you are fishing down-river in a slack tide, just a slower retrieve should be fine. You just don't want the spoon to spin, rather have it flutter and flop for a lack of a better term. The pause in more current is to get the lure to do that.

Thanks buddy! I don't fish spoons and spinners that often for Pinks. I really appreciate the info!

1/4oz maribou* jig in less than 10' of water 3/8th oz in more than 10' of water, let the jig sink to the bottom, then VERY lightly twitch the jig, quick but gentle jigging. if your pulling weeds off your jig thats a good thing, as it means your near the bottom. pull off the weeds everytime you see them and be sure to use sandshrimp scent every time you touch the jig. more to cover your human scent but ads a touc of flavor also.

If you cant catch dumpies on a jig then your DOOMED!! stick with the braid, you need to be able to pull your jig off logs. Dumpies arnt worth loosin tackle over

I use 12lb izorline mono for the entire season on the rivers. Never had a problem with it. For pinks I primarily use pink/pearl dick nites, pink/pearl dick nite with sparkles, and this year I have been having good luck with a cerise/pearl dick nite with sparkles. Keep it on the bottom and retrieve slowly. If I snag up more than once I move a little upriver or downriver to avoid it.

8-10lb maxima ultragreen. its been awesome for me this year, no problems with it at all, very reliable stuff, very low vis.

I switched over to 8lb Maxima last night tied on a pink jig. Gonna hit it tomorrow. Where should I go from the bank? If not in a boat?

Sorry about the double post but when using Dick Nites what size bass casting weights?

Which river system are you talking about? If its the skagit the bar in burlington is where I would go. It can be somewhat crowded sometimes, but I find if you go in the mornings its not that bad. As for the weight you have to kind of judge that based off water conditions. I use pencil lead so I always start heavier (maybe 3/4 oz or more) and then cut off some if I find myself dragging on the bottom too much.

There are also a couple easy fishing access areas upriver from the bar in burlington. The soccer fields in burlington is one place and there is a boat launch(sorry I forget the name) just upriver from that as well. Google maps will be your friend for locating these areas, but you shouldn't have too much trouble finding them

Mainly just the Snohomish as its 15 minutes away from me. Skagit is to far for humpys

Tons of spots along Lowell-Snohomish River road from Rotary Park up to the Hwy 9 bridge, very snaggy though. Lots of actual bank access in Snohomish itself along 1st street along the river trail, not sandy shore but rocky bank. Thomas Eddy at Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve is real popular off Connelly Road. Under the 522 bridge is popular as well. WDFW has a couple of sites as well, Lawson and Hoover (Thomas Eddy off Short School Rd) Other side of the river from Heirman Preserve. Either side of Thomas Eddy very popular, ie crowded.

And for casting a Dick Nite I start with 1 oz and work my way down if I need to go lighter depending on flow/water level.