Rieter Ponds

[Trout4lb]

Are the Rieter Ponds open? If they are if they are is the fishing any good? I am new to steelheading and was looking for a easier place to hook my first steelhead.Any help is appreciated.

[Swami]

There is fish at Rieter. They are very finicky because of the low water and the little bit of pressure. I recomend using Woolly Buggers in purple, black and blue. 6lb ledder and long, with drift gear. Very small weight and reel in slowly that the weight hardly hits the bottom. When the first hard rains comes get there early and fish close to shore and you will hook a Steely. Good luck.

[Deleted User]

I'm interested in hearing about another area on that system. Does anyone know how the fishing has been in the famous steelhead flyfishing only section up on the N.F. Skykomish this summer? I expect some late summer rain would perk that up a bit, as it would in our NW Ore. coastal rivers. I want to fly catch one in both spots this fall if I can. Thanks. - RT

[Deleted User]

Howdy RT,
The N.F. Your thinking of is the N.F. Stillaguamish. The Stilly and the Sky. are both in Snohomish Co. where I reside. (Everett) Reiter(Sky. hatchery) Fortson(N.F. Stilly hatchery) will have plenty of fish all fall. And like I've said before, once the Salmon season opens(area 9, Sept.1) the pressure gets real light.
For me, the Sea-run Cutthroat fishing on the lower mainstem Stillaguamish has been hard to pass up. Its C&R only. We stand in the middle of the river(in Sept. its often warm enough to forego waders and just wear shorts) and cast spider's up under the branches that hang over the shore. Then strip like mad. Bam!

[Deleted User]

Thanks Humpy. I remember reading long ago about some of the NW's top steelhead flyfishers congregating at those mentioned areas; as well as the upper Kalama fly only area, Ore.'s Deschutes R., and up on the B.C. Skeena's famous tribs. Now that I'm getting back into bug tossing, along with learning more about fishing NW Wash. waters, it makes me want to flyfish up there some. When I can find the time; it's hard to pas up good fishing going on right nearby. - RT