Skagit and Sauk River Steelhead Fishing opens Feb 1, 2025

This world class catch & release Wild Steelhead fishery is a great chance to land a true trophy.

Anyone looking to put together a list of the top Wild Steelhead destinations on the West Coast would definitely include the Skagit and Sauk Rivers. The Skagit is the largest river in the Puget Sound region by far. The Sauk being its largest tributary, is a big glacial river known for its superior Steelhead genetics.

The story of these river’s Steelhead comeback gives us all hope and excitement for the future of Wild Steelhead, and the dream of catching and releasing big trophies. While we have only recently been gifted with the chance to target these fish here, we have recently been seeing some good forecast returns and fishing opportunities. 2025 is looking to match last year for the forecast, and if they do come back in those numbers it is going to be a great season!

Skagit & Sauk River Steelhead Season for 2025

These rivers have a minimum forecast return for Steelhead that determines whether or not we will have a catch and release fishing season each year. This year we expect to see many more return, and at a forecast of 7,019, fishing on sections of these rivers will be open to fishing 7 days a week from February 1, 2025 to April 15, 2025.

Catch and release only for Wild Steelhead

Any Wild Steelhead you catch needs to be carefully released, and the rule is you can’t fully remove the fish from the water. Up to 2 hatchery Steelhead can be kept, however it is unlikely that you’ll see them in the Skagit or Sauk since there is not hatchery program in this watershed.

Selective Gear Rules are in effect, which means only artificial lures and flies with single-point barbless hooks (you can still use multiple hooks if you’re rig requires it, up to 3). No bait, no scent and all nets need to be knotless. Night closure is also in effect.

Where is fishing open on the Sauk and Skagit Rivers?

Fishing on the Skagit River is open from the Dalles Bridge (Concrete) upstream to the Marblemount Bridge. The Sauk River is open from the mouth upstream to the Darrington Bridge (Sauk Prairie Road).

Fishing up here is highly monitored to make sure that overfishing doesn’t occur, so expect to see creel checkers and state surveyors out and about. While the season is expected to last through April 15, it’s always good practice to check the emergency rules prior to a trip to make sure there aren’t any changes. Skagit River emergency rules and Sauk River emergency rules.

Fishing on the Skagit & Sauk Rivers

The Skagit and Sauk are a great pair of rivers that provides some fishing opportunities regardless of what the weather conditions have been. The Skagit, being a larger river whose flows are dam controlled, fishes well through and after larger rain events. It is a clearer river above the Sauk most of the time, and below it is heavily influenced by the Sauk’s glacial nature. The Sauk is a bit smaller and will fish best when we see occasional rain events and cold temperatures in the mountains.

Fishing on the Sauk River

Both rivers offer good access to fishing spots via bank and boat.

The Sauk River has Highway 530 and Concrete-Sauk Valley Road as the main access roads to multiple gravel bars. Because each spot usually only holds an angler or two, I’ll refrain from listing specific places, but feel free to search for public access points, you will find plenty! Boaters access the river via a boat launch at the Darrington Mill and Hippie Bar, some float all the way down into the Skagit and take out downriver.

Fishing on the Skagit River

Get around the Skagit River via Highway 20 and Concrete-Sauk Valley Road. Sweeping gravel bars above and below the Sauk River mouth provide good fishing access. Rockport State Park is a popular place for boaters and bank anglers alike. The Skagit has a unique rule that allows for motorized boats, but prohibits people from fishing while the boat is under power, hence you will see jet boats equipped with oars, as well as the usual mix of rafts and drift boats.

Seattle Fishing Co. can help you get geared up

There are a bunch of great techniques that will work on the Skagit and Sauk Rivers, one of the most important factors is water conditions and whether you are fishing from a boat or bank. 

High water gear

In high water conditions, if the water is a little colored up, consider drift fishing a large pink work like a BnR Holey Worm, if you are fishing from a boat this would be the perfect time to tie on one of our custom Yakima Bait Mag Lip 3.5 plugs or a tried and true Luhr Jensen Kwikfish K11X rigged with a single point Gamakatsu Big River Bait 1/0 open eye siwash hook with the barb pinched. 

When conditions are perfect

When the water levels are moderate with a little bit of visability, boat anglers may want to downsize to a Brad's Wiggler or Hot Shot 30 plug, of course rigged with a single point hooks as mentioned above. Bobber-dogging with a float and BnR Holey Worm, BnR Soft Bead, or a hand-tied yarnie made with Glo Bug Yarn would be a good bet. Bank anglers will continue to throw pink worms but will also switch to float fishing with a jig like the Aerojig Rabbit, Beau Mac Pro Series or Mustad Addicted Jig. Swinging Little Cleo Spoons also becomes viable as water visability improves. 

Low flows and clear water

During those occasional periods of winter chill when the snow level is low and precipitation is minimal, even these big rivers can see the faucet turn off and drop into a low and clear flow that makes Steelhead fishing more of a finesse game. Small jigs like Aerojig Hackle, Yakima Bait Maxi Jigs and BnR Soft Beads can all be fished under a float and produce when the larger profiled lures don't. This is also a phenomenal opportunity to hone in your spinner game. Size 4 Steelhead Slammer spinners and Blue Fox Vibrax spinners will catch fish in clear water when big spoons and plugs won't.

Have a great season everyone!

It's really exciting to see such a historically important fishery continue, it's important that we all act as stewards of the resource and treat these wild fish with care when we catch and release them. Hope you all find the one you're looking for this season, as always if you need any guidance or gear, please reach out!