Snoqualmie Salmon

[Bodofish]

Well to take a step back. I grew up in Issaquah and have lived in the area most of my life. Yes I get all the AARP mailers. I've spent a considerable about of time on the Sno. The only fish I've ever caught above High Bridge is Steelhead and Trout. I have seen Kings in the Raging but in such small numbers you can't really count them as a viable run. Chums...... Where do I start. Not native in most systems in the area. Very small commercial value even with the Alaska Seafood Institute hyping them up. Many runs were started because they're a very hearty fish and easlily imprinted on a river system. Thanks for experimenting with the ecosystem WDFG. They were started all over the place. They've taken over many natural runs of other species. Could that be why the Sound is going to be open to all gill netters in a couple weeks to try and clean them out? So much for the Black Mouth that get in the way.
Back to the topic at hand.
I'll rephrase, I've never caught a salmon up stream from the High Bridge. If you like to catch a spawning boot of a salmon 1/2 inch from death, by all means have at it. I'd rather just see them blow their respective wads and make a few more that may be catchable down stream. How would any of you like a hook in the mouth when you're gett'in busy? It's like catching the Kings in Sammamish. Yeeeeeech! The fishery should be in Lake Wa. But WDFG doesn't seem to have the .... to make a decision about seasons. They let the tribes dictate seasons whether the fish are from a tribal hatchery or not, or even from the same river!?!?!?!?
My appologies to anyone offended by my posts.
Your Raving Madman!
Bodo

PS No offence Mallard, it's not aimed at you, I understand what you're saying and agree. Just observations on a declining river system that used to produce may hours of enjoyable fishing and fish. Maybe if the cows were kept away from the river but alass that is another thread.
I referenced Chums, one of the yummy spieces targeted for fishing on the Sno. so I feel it's gemain to the thread.

[sickbayer]

hey gotta add this. today i was fishing the sno halfway between the 522 bridge and the confluence and guess who pops his head up 4 feet from my boat a frigging seal. I was shocked. Third weekend ive been there and got nowt to show for it. Didnt see any nets out either.

[Anonymous]

I wish I could say I was out on the water with ya but it just wasn't in the cards. I went out for 18 yesterday and now I can barely walk. Got up to go and found my neighbors house on fire and the street blocked with fire engines. I guess I was a little tired last night. Oh well saves me the agony of scrubbing off the cow poo from the boat before putting it away.
Health warning...... Any fish that come out of the lower Snoqualmie and Snohomish should be cooked to a minimum 160 degrees to avoid Ecoli poisoning.

Not a real health warning but you should see what I washed off the boat last time and I did see floaters in the Snoqualmie.

PS Jetboats Rock!

[Eddie L]

I was up there last week on the Fallcity bridge and spoted 5 sockeyes(red body/green head) milling around at the big rock from the old bridge and 1 summer steelhead; further up stream above Raging mouth to below Plumbs boat launch chinooks are spawning in those areas. There is an area on the river (I will not mention ) where the kings are loaded in there spawning and I would not like to see them being fished for or harasted.(Just let them do their thing)
If your gonna fish for silvers try around Carnation /summer runs Carnation and Fallcity can be good early in the day.

[racfish]

I too lived in this area all my life.I've seen many types of salmon in the Fall City area.Raging ,Tokul, Tolt all have salmon runs.I've caught them up there but always released them because they arent usually the best looking at that point.I've nailed doggies all over the Raging area,especially at the mouth.I dont know if they spawn up the raging but they are at the mouth.Same with silvers and kings.I use to live right on the Raging some many many years ago.In fact if you go to where the turbines are churning water youll find loads of salmon.They love that highly oxygenated water.Drive up David Powell Road till the end and hike in to the falls.I think they made it so you cant drive up anymore.