Northwest Fishing Magazine July 2025 Volume 4 Issue 10 - Flipbook - Page 25
SKAGIT RIVER
Most of the shore access
here is at boat ramps
and gravel bars. The
folks at Holiday Sports
in Burlington are always
willing to share hot spots
with anglers. Just about any
gear will work on this river.
There are shallow, fast runs
that are perfect for drifting
as well as slow, deep
pockets for twitching jigs
or throwing out a bobber.
Versatile anglers will do well
on this river.
TACKLE
For Puget Sound beaches,
I'd recommend bringing at
least an 8-foot rod; casting
distance is important. Make
sure it can sling about an
ounce of lead. Pink Buzz
Bombs are the standard
lure. Toss it out to schools of
fish and try different jigging
speeds and patterns to see
what works. Make sure not
to dunk your reel in sand or
saltwater, and always rinse
it thoroughly when you
come home.
For rivers, you can use the
same rod and reel you
used for the beaches. Tie
on a corky and yarn if you
want to drift fish. About 4
to 6 feet of leader should
do the trick. It takes some
time to be able to feel
the difference between
the bottom and a fish
bite. Bring a few different
weights so you can adjust
according to the speed
of the current- you want
to tick bottom every few
seconds, not drag on it.
Pink spinners and twitching
jigs will also catch fish.
Before heading out, always
make sure to check the
latest rules and regulations.
Emergency closure can
and does happen. Pinch
your barbs in the Sound
and rivers with barbless
requirements. Make sure to
bring a cooler with ice: pink
salmon don't taste as good
when they're left flopping
on the bank.
