Skykomish River Winter Steelhead Fishing 2023-2024

There is really only one option available to those who want to fish the rivers of the Puget Sound for winter steelhead and that’s the Snohomish River system, of which the Skykomish River generally has the larger steelhead return.

The Skykomish River drains the northern cascades, with the river winding westward along highway 2 until meeting the Snoqualmie River to form the combined “Snohomish River”.

The demise of steelhead in Puget Sound rivers is truly one of the tragic outcomes of ignoring land use impacts and a multitude of other factors over decades of decline. The Skykomish River is one of the last remaining bastions where one can catch and keep a steelhead due to the hatchery fish raised on the river and enough “sport impacts” available from the wild populations to allow the fishery.

Table of Contents

Updated Status of returning hatchery Winter Steelhead on the Skykomish River

Once steelhead start returning to the hatchery and get reported by WDFW, this graph will automatically update, typically on Thursdays.

Historical Run Timing of hatchery Winter Steelhead on the Skykomish River

Winter Steelhead will typically be caught from the Skykomish River in late November, but the run won’t peak until right around New years.

Fishing Regulations for the Skykomish River 2023

Species	Date	Additional Rules
from mouth to 2,500’ downstream of the boat ramp below Lewis St. Bridge at Monroe CRC (844)
All species	Aug. 1-Nov. 30	Night closure. Anti-snagging rule.
Dolly varden/bull trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31	Min. size 20”. May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
Other trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
from 2,500’ downstream boat ramp below Lewis St. Bridge at Monroe to the boat ramp CRC (844)
All species	Aug. 1-Nov. 30	Night closure. Anti-snagging rule.
	Nov. 1-Jan. 31	Fishing from any floating device prohibited.
Dolly varden/bull trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31	Min. size 20”. May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
Other trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
Salmon	Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31	Min. size 12”. Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 adults. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.
from the boat ramp below the Lewis St. Bridge in Monroe to Wallace River CRC (844)
All species	Aug. 1-Nov. 30	Night closure. Anti-snagging rule.
Dolly varden/bull trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31	Min. size 20”. May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
Other trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
Salmon	Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31	Min. size 12”. Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 adults. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.
from Wallace River upstream to Hwy. 2 Bridge CRC (844)
All species	Aug. 1-Nov. 30	Anti-snagging rule. Night closure.
Dolly varden/bull trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31	Min. size 20”. May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
Other trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
From Hwy. 2 Bridge to 1,000’ Downstream of Reiter Ponds outlet CRC (844)
All species	Aug. 1-Nov. 30	Night closure. Anti-snagging rule. Bait prohibited.
Dolly varden/bull trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15	Min. size 20”. May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
Other trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
from 1,000’ downstream of Reiter Ponds outlet to 1,500’ upstream of Reiter Ponds outlet CRC (844)
All species	Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15	Fishing from any floating device prohibited.
All species	Aug. 1-Nov. 30	Night closure. Anti-snagging rule.
Dolly varden/bull trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15	Min. size 20”. May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
Other trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
from 1,500’ upstream of the Reiter Ponds outlet to confluence of North and South forks CRC (844)
All species	Aug. 1-Nov. 30	Night closure. Anti-snagging rule.
Dolly varden/bull trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15	Min. size 20”. May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
Other trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15	Statewide min. size/daily limit.

Emergency Fishing Regulations for the Skykomish River

Please refer to WDFW’s emergency rules page for a full list that are in effect until I can get the e-rules automation working fully again.

It’s your responsibility as the recreational angler to know ALL of these rules, not just what is discussed here on the blog.

Forecast for 2023 Skykomish River Winter Steelhead

Note: Smolts planted in the 2021 year will predominantly return as 3 year fish in the 2022-2023 winter steelhead season or in the case of summer steelhead, the 2023 summer steelhead season.

The 2022 smolt plant total for the Skykomish River system is around 135,000, which is a return to a better number, in line with 2019-2020. Hopefully this results in a better season in 2023-2024!

Let’s take a look at the escapement history trend as well:

While there was for sure a difficult stretch of years return-wise due to ocean conditions and other factors, 2022 represented a modest bounce back…With steelhead smolt plants being reduced in 2021, 2022-2023 escapement was seriously down.

Fingers crossed for a better 2023-2024 season!

How to fish for winter steelhead on the Skykomish River?

I highly recommend you start with some of the great content on this site and our YouTube channel (PNW Best Life).

Here’s my link to how to read water for winter steelhead, and how to fish for winter steelhead.

You can also check out two of my recent videos on the topic:

Outside of the basics, I would say, given the very low numbers of steelhead expected to return, your best bet is to fish below the hatchery.

Get there early and if bait is allowed, use a 1/8 oz jig under a float, tipped with a little bit of prawn.

Full time PNW fisherman, hunter and harvester of local foods.

Kyle

Sharing content and insights on sustainable harvest through fishing, hunting, foraging, and shellfish gathering. I have 20+ years of experience building technology solutions and my goal is to build digital solutions to help you, on your learning journey toward more successful harvest recreation. I’ve lived in the PNW most of my life and I have 30+ years of angling experience to share.