Full day Steelhead school in Queets/Quinault area March 5th (2 spots open) $179pp

Full day Steelhead school in Forks area on Bogachiel river March 19th (1 spot open) $179pp

Peninsula Steelhead Guide trips looking for partners March 10^th, 20 and 21, or any 2 days April 8,9, or 10 

The O.P. rivers are Blown out. I was out there earlier in the week. I floated the Satsop for the first

time. For a flyfisherman I was a little bummed. The part that discouraged me was as soon as you get to the mainstem of the river there are jet boats running all over the place and it was busy for a weekday. I like to swing my spey and the best spots to swing are in the lower part of the river.  The East fork is small and better for nyphing or short swings with a switch.
We also fished the Humptulips with pretty low visibility. The Humptulips when in good condition can get a beautiful green color. We did get a fish just below the hatchery. The river doesn't get the jet boats and has a softer gradient with some nice swing water. 
Usually the last river to go out of shape in the area is the Upper Quinault. We wandered up there on Saturday only to find low viability again. We ended up just fishing one run and decided to head for cover as it was raining pretty good. I knew the river would get worse so time to make some calls, reschedule some trips and head for the Barn. 

Check out a little video clip I made - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0OlhOMzDH0


Schools & Casting classes: Looking to learn? We have Casting classes, 4 hr river float classes and Full day Steelhead Classes now available. Pay and sign up online. 
Streamsideflyshop@yahoo.com

12 assorted Salmon flies $19.99 + tax 

12 assorted Steelhead flies$19.99 + tax

Check out our calendar - http://flyfishsteelhead.com/guiding.htm 

For more info check out and join our facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/248375167480/

Tight lines and Happy fishing,  Dickson Flyfishing crew.

Update: Partner needed to split the cost of a O.P. Steelhead trip April 8th, 9th and 10th.

 
It's amazing all the rules and regulations they try to put on sports fishermen with out fixing the real problem of #1 netting rivers and #2 commercial fishing. Also if you want to reduce fishing pressure I vote for opening more rivers, catch & release single barbless with no bait - lowww impact. Spread out anglers. I have heard things may happen on the Skagit someday. Even if numbers are lower on a river like the Skykomish, maybe open it a couple weeks of the month instead of a complete shut down. If it's late season and most fish are spawning then shut it down.
As an angler we need to do our part if we do catch and release by carefully landing fish preferably with a rubber mesh net and minimizing time out of water if any. Resuscitate fish when needed. Also it is possible to fatally harm steelhead when landing them on the rocks. I haven't noticed it myself but biologists in Canada have mentioned it is possible after they landed fish, tagged them and then find some dead shortly after. After doing some reseach they found they bruised their brain while being landed on rocks and died.

Booking now: Full Day Spey casting & Steelhead school March 5th on the Queets river. $169PP with up to 3 people max. 2 spots open.

I focus on the National Park section of the Queets River due to it's great swing water but fish most of the other rivers around depending on fishing/river conditions.

Update: Upper sections of puget sound rivers will close Feb 15th and everything else will close Jan 31st.

As for trout there are some bull trout on the Skagit/Sauk and sea run cutts on our local rivers depending on where you fish. In the past people often over look the Dolly Varden

Skagit Dolly Varden

but with other species lacking we have found them to be a great target when you just need some tuggs. They hit the fly hard and finding one or 2 over 25"+ is not uncommon.

Schools & Casting classes: Looking to learn? We have Casting classes, 4 hr river float classes and Full day Steelhead Classes now available. Pay and sign up online. 

Streamsideflyshop@yahoo.com

12 assorted Salmon flies $19.99 + tax 

12 assorted Steelhead flies$19.99 + tax

Check out our calendar - http://flyfishsteelhead.com/guiding.htm 

For more info check out and join our facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/248375167480/

Tight lines and Happy fishing,  Dickson Flyfishing crew.

Update: Looking for a partner to split the cost of a trip April 8th, 9th and 10th.

It's turning to that time of the year to where the focus will turn to Steelhead! They are the

Queets Steelhead

most coveted fish for anglers in North America for a reason. They can kick butt. If you have caught them you  know the feeling, if not now could be your time.
We are booking prime dates for steelhead right now, our Puget Sound rivers are just starting to get some hatchery fish and I will start to fish for the wild fish in late January.
Most of the wild fish I target on the Olympic Peninsula rivers. I focus on the National Park section of the Queets River but fish most of the other rivers around depending on fishing/river conditions.

Gift Certificates in any amount: Good for any trip we do or equipment at our online shop. $25 added to any amount over $200. Click here for info or inquire

As for trout there are some bull trout on the Skagit/Sauk and sea run cutts on our local rivers depending on where you fish. In the past people often over look the Dolly Varden

Skagit Dolly Varden

but with other species lacking we have found them to be a great target when you just need some tuggs. They hit the fly hard and finding one or 2 over 25"+ is not uncommon.

Schools & Casting classes: Looking to learn? We have Casting classes, 4 hr river float classes and Full day Steelhead Classes now available. Pay and sign up online. 

Streamsideflyshop@yahoo.com

12 assorted Salmon flies $19.99 + tax 

12 assorted Steelhead flies$19.99 + tax

Check out our calendar - http://flyfishsteelhead.com/guiding.htm 

For more info check out and join our facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/248375167480/

Tight lines and Happy fishing,  Dickson Flyfishing crew.

Stilly Coho October 8th

Update: The Stilly, Skagit, Sky are open to fishing for "game fish" but closed for salmon retention.

Well the pink salmon fishing is pretty much done, still a few pesky stragglers around.
The coho are showing and the Chum salmon are just around the corner. The later B run coho are always the biggest and fishing can be good well into December.
I have been very impressed with the amount of sea run cutts around too. Perfect fish for my new 3 wt. This is the time of year that you never really know what will hit your fly. In the past I have seen steelhead, coho, chum, dollys, and cutthroat all caught in 1 day. We call it the potpourri. 
Partner needed: Skagit November 27th or 28th - Let me know Streamsideflyshop@yahoo.com

On the Stillaguamish the city finally fixed the Haller park boat launch, makes for a good take out or launch down to I-5. I have some private access points to do floats on the lower river.. Nobody is floating it. Great cutthroat fishing and there is some nice coho around. Fishing for the coho isn't always easy but can be pretty good if you hit conditions right.  My last trip we hooked 5 but only landed one.

Huge Stillaguamish Cutty

The Skagit below the Sauk had been pretty colored throught the summer but now that the weather has cooled the glacier off the Suiattle will mellow out and the lower Skagit should clear up and be in good shape. Above the Sauk river the Skagit  looks great, has some nice coho, the closer to the cascade river the better. The bull trout fishing has been great too. They get big eating all the eggs/pink salmon flesh.

The Cascade river has some nice coho but better get there early... Locals hit it pretty early.

As for Steelhead the Methow opened. I'm booking dates for late October/early November. Should be a good year.
Dennis is on the Grande Ronde. His first 3 day trip was great, they saw a good number of wild fish and most were caught while skating flies on the surface. There is a early pulse of wild fish that usually show around late September. If you hit it right fishing is amazing. After that it gets back to normal. Right now Dad said the river has dropped and fishing has slowed down a bit.

Looking ahead I am already starting to book for winter/spring steelhead on the Olympic Peninsula. That is one of my more popular trips and books up solid. The sooner you know a date you want let me know.

1 dozen assorted Salmon flies 19.99 + tax 

1 dozen Steelhead/Salmon sampler 19.99 + tax

Private walk-in or float trip. Pay now and Email or Call to book Good for 1-2 people. 1/2 day trip for 2 people Discounted to $249 + tax 

We have some casting, and river float classes. 

Links on our home page on the top under classes. - http://flyfishsteelhead.com 

Check out our calendar - http://flyfishsteelhead.com/guiding.htm 

For more info check out and join our facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/248375167480/

Tight lines and Happy fishing,  Dickson Flyfishing crew.

What a beautiful summer, Little dry but didn't slow us down too much. Things have cooled and we got the rain we needed. All our rivers are open and filling with salmon. Mostly pinks but some kings and a few coho starting to show.

The fishing has been excellent and the later we go the more coho we will see with some chum to follow. As for trout there are some bull trout and sea run cutts depending on where you fish.

I have a last minute cancellation on sept 25th and 26th (Fish catch guarantee) but we still have some other prime dates available as Johnathan is able to work for us full time this year so we can even try for last minute inquiries.  Mike - Streamsideflyshop@yahoo.com

Beach fishing can be great! If your interested in beach or kayak fishing fishing for coho Johnathan has it dialed in on Whidbey island. He lives in Anacortes so it's one ofhis local faves. Good casting experience preferred.

The flies we have used the most lately are Pink thing, pink humpy cherise, Pink prawns, and rolled muddler - 

Streamsideflyshop.com

Looking ahead we will be running some Steelhead trips on the Klickitat and the Methow after Oct.15th Booking Now!

1 dozen assorted Salmon flies 19.99 + tax 

1 dozen Steelhead/Salmon sampler 19.99 + tax

Private walk-in or float trip. Pay now and Email or Call to book Good for 1-2 people. 1/2 day trip for 2 people Discounted to $249 + tax 

We have some casting, and river float classes. 

Links on our home page on the top under classes. - http://flyfishsteelhead.com 

 

Check out our calendar - http://flyfishsteelhead.com/guiding.htm 

For more info check out and join our facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/248375167480/

Tight lines and Happy fishing,  Dickson Flyfishing crew.

 

Underwater Pinks salmon shot

The rivers are starting to get some pink salmon. Still on the early side but about to get crazy. 
Johnathan Knapp has been guiding with me and has been doing quite well on the beach fishing during high tides. If your looking for a place to go look for any of the points off the coast. Locally our options for keeping fish in the rivers are the Snohomish River, and below the Dalles on the Skagit. There is a 4 fish limit. I'm not much of a fish eater but if I smoke them and then my wife makes a cream cheese dip out of them.... Damn that is good.
Because the areas of the rivers are slow it's a good option to use a small motor if you can.

The Sauk River is running dirty due to the rain we got last Fri/Sat. It has made the Skagit from where the Sauk dumps in down run with a bit of color and is slow to clear. If your fishing there I have been using big flies. From Birdsview down is best. The mouths of some of the creeks give you a touch of clarity. 

I don't put a lot of time on the Snohomish River due to the crowds, jet boats and the water isn't as pretty but it would take more considering due to lower visibility on the Skagit.

Above the Dalles on the Skagit has had great fishing for Dolly Varden and Dennis has been catching some sea run cutthroat. I normally don't catch cutts up that high but I usually don't use the right flies for them either. It's possible they are liking the colder water up higher in the river. I'm really missing the cutthroat fishing on the Stillaguamish. It is one of my favorite local fisheries on a light rod. The Stilly is soooo low though. I wouldn't be able to float it if it were available. Maybe in October as it cools and we get rain. On the Skagit we have also had a few Kings grab our Dolly flies which makes things interesting on a lighter rod. 

On September 1st the Skagit is open to keep pinks from Marblemount down. There isn't many up there yet. With lower water they will be slower to move up. 
 If you are looking to learn how to catch pinks I am doing a half day class that has room for up to 4 people. we will do a float and wade, learn, and catch fish. 
It's $99 pp here is the page to sign up - http://www.signupgenius.com/go/flyfishing and pay Mike.

We have some casting, and river float classes. 

Links on our home page on the top under classes. - http://flyfishsteelhead.com

Check out our calendar - http://flyfishsteelhead.com/guiding.htm

For more info check out and join our facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/248375167480/

Happy Fishing,

Mike Dickson
Head Guide
Flyfishsteelhead.com
Streamsideflyshop.com
425-330-9506

So a few river have closed temporarily right?  The Skagit is always my go to river for salmon and bulls and is open. It's damn controlled so it has a decent amount of water and stays a little cooler than most. The higher up river the cooler it will get. The Snohomish River is also open although a little tougher to fly fish but closer to people coming from south. There are pinks in the salt right now with a small number entering the rivers. Still a little early but about to start rocking. There is going to be a ton of fish.

I have a full day school ($169 pp) for pinks on September 5th and a half day ($99 pp) on September 6th. Let m know if you want in one of those. 
Want a full day guide trip? just let me know what day works and I'll try to schedule you up. Between me Dennis and our other guide Johnathan we should be able to get you on the books. The sooner you book the better. 

Want some killer pink salmon flies? We sell a sampler of a doz. for $24 or + a box for $36.99 http://streamsideflyshop.com/samplers.htm

Sea Run Cutthroat The puget sound cutty fishing has been some of the best trout fishing in Washington. On a good day a couple guys could bang into 40-50+ fish. Trips will start in Aug and run through early November.

Pink Salmon
It is also a pink salmon year and we are booking up already - Aug 15th - September is the time. Figure out how to catch tons of fish! With a 3rd guide working for us we can handle groups up to 9 guys.

Want that perfect gift – guided fly fishing trips, any amount $200 or over will get a box of a dozen flies. Here is info for a gift certificate

We have some casting, and river float classes. 

Links on our home page on the top under classes. - http://flyfishsteelhead.com

Check out our calendar - http://flyfishsteelhead.com/guiding.htm

For more info check out and join our facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/248375167480/

Happy Fishing,

Mike Dickson
Head Guide
Flyfishsteelhead.com
Streamsideflyshop.com
425-330-9506