Stillaguamish River, WA
Weather and Flows Links
- Fishing Report
- Water Levels at Oso (North Fork)
- Water Levels at Arlington (North Fork)
- Forecast Flows at Oso (North Fork)
- Forecast Flows at Arlington (North Fork)
- Weather at Arlington
Fly Fishing the Stillaguamish River
Roughly an hour north of Seattle, the Stillaguamish, or “Stilly” as it is known locally, offers the same angling opportunities as other local rivers but on a smaller, more intimate scale. Storied and celebrated, the North Fork of the Stillaguamish was the first river in Washington State to be designated fly fishing only for a portion of the year.
When is the Stillaguamish River Open to Fishing?
- Fishing regulations are subject to emergency closures and they change from year to year, so before you go, know what you are fishing for and always check the regs: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/. Feel free to give us a ring with questions. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
- Targeting steelhead from Marine Drive near the mouth to the forks, the Stillaguamish is generally open from June 1st until January 31st.
- Targeting salmon the from Marine Drive near the mouth to the forks, the Stillaguamish is generally open from from September 1st until December 31st.
- The North Fork Stillaguamish River below Swede Heaven Bridge near Fortson is catch-and-release, fly fishing only from the first Saturday in June until November 30th (you can take two hatchery fish). Fly fishing only means single, barbless hooks with a conventional fly line and no weight attached to your leader or line. You can fish two flies. From Swede Heaven to Cascade Falls, it is a selective gear fishery during that same period.
- The South Fork Stillaguamish River to 400 ft. below the Granite Falls fishway outlet is generally open to fishing from June 1st until January 30th.
North Fork Stillaguamish River Sections
The Stillaguamish River is approximately one hour from Seattle and flows out of the Cascade mountains near Darrington. The river has both a north and south fork which meet to form the main stem at Arlington.
The Stilly hosts runs of summer and winter steelhead, four species of pacific salmon and sea-run cutthroat and bull trout/dolly varden char. The most well known run of fish are the native summer run steelhead which utilize Deer Creek as the major spawning tributary in the system. Sadly, the North Fork has suffered tremendous damage to due deforestation. Many slides, including the recent Oso slide, have poured a huge amount of silt into the river, especially below Deer Creek.
The North Fork has two major sections and Deer Creek represents the dividing point between the two. Deer Creek will color the river substantially after any significant rainfall rendering the river unfishable. Generally speaking, the river below Deer Creek is only fishable when the area has had extended periods without major precipitation or runoff. This means that the best time to fish this section is during the summer and early fall months or in the winter during and extreme cold and dry spell. The river above Deer Creek runs considerably clearer, however there are several slides that will still color the river during a rain. This section can be reliably fished through the season except during the heaviest flows of water.
Stillaguamish River Species and Seasons
The river opens on June 1st and the potential for an early summer steelhead exists, however, the numbers of native Deer Creek fish have dwindled considerably over the years. The river is not open to fishing for pacific salmon except for pink salmon (odd years) in the mainstem. The best fishing right now on the North Fork is for sea-run cutthroat starting in August and lasting until the fall rains blow the river below Deer Creek out for the winter. Hatchery winter steelhead return to the Stilly in fair numbers, but the river is difficult to fish with fly in high winter flows, so the river is best left to gear anglers who can ply the swift pools much easier. The river closes to all fishing at the end of January and is closed until June to protect native spawners.
When are the Best Times to Fly Fish the Stillaguamish?
- September and October for Sea-Run Cutthroat - Excellent fishing for cutthroat can happen during the fall, especially in the lower stretches of the river
- December and January for Hatchery Steelhead - Hatchery fish are available before the closure
- September during odd-numbered years - Pink salmon ascend the river in massive numbers
- Summertime for Hatchery and Wild Steelhead - Hatchery fish with a small mix of wild fish available from June to September
Tips on Fishing the Stillaguamish
As mentioned earlier on the page, the Stillaguamish is more of an intimate river than some of our larger west-side rivers. It’s easier to find definite holding water and the foot access along SR 530 is excellent.
- Chasing sea-run cutthroat on the Stillaguamish is one of the best things to do on our local fisheries. Call the shop when it’s the season for pointers.
- Smaller spey rods and even single-handers have a place on the waters of the Stilly. We offer free spey casting clinics if you’d like to try out a switch rod.
- Chasing steelhead on the Stillaguamish is subject to clarity and manageable flows, so watch the hydrograph closely, especially during winter. Any wild fish captured should be managed with the utmost care and released with a minimum of handling.
Guiding and Expert Instruction
A guide can take years off the learning curve. The best way to experience the Stillaguamish is during a full-day float of the Lower Sections, or during a full-day walk-and-wade trip to one of the forks. We also offer steelhead schools and spey-casting instruction.Recommended Equipment
Trout in the Upper Forks
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Sea-Run Cutthroat in Lower Sections
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Steelhead rods for the Lower Sections
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Steelhead lines for the Lower Sections
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Recommended Flies
Resident Trout
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Sea-Run Cutthroat
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Steelhead & Salmon
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The Stillaguamish River, or the Stilly as it is locally known, is approximately one hour from Seattle and flows out of the Cascade Mountains near Darrington. The river has both a north and south fork which met to form the mainstem at Arlington. The North Fork has the most history of the two forks and it is the first river in Washington State to be designated fly fishing only for a portion of the year. The Stilly hosts runs of summer and winter steelhead, four species of pacific salmon and sea-run cutthroat and dolly varden char. The most well known run of fish are the native summer run steelhead which utilize Deer Creek as the major spawning tributary in the system. Sadly, the North Fork has suffered tremendous damage to due deforestation which has led to many slides which have poured a huge amount of silt into the river, especially below Deer Creek.
The North Fork has two major sections and Deer Creek represents the dividing point between the two. Deer Creek will color the river substantially after any significant rainfall rendering the river unfishable. Generally speaking, the river below Deer Creek is only fishable when the area has had extended periods without major precipitation or runoff. This means that the best time to fish this section is during the summer and early fall months or in the winter during and extreme cold and dry spell. The river above Deer Creek runs considerably clearer, however there are several slides that will still color the river during a rain. This section can be reliably fished through the season except during the heaviest flows of water.
The river opens on June 1 st and the potential for an early summer steelhead exists, however, the numbers of native Deer Creek fish have dwindled considerably over the years. The river is not open to fishing for pacific salmon except for pink salmon (odd years) in the mainstem. The best fishing right now on the North Fork is for sea-run cutthroat starting in August and lasting until the fall rains blow the river below Deer Creek out for the winter. Hatchery winter steelhead return to the Stilly in fair numbers, but the river is difficult to fish with fly in high winter flows, so the river is best left to gear anglers who can ply the swift pools much easier. The river closes to all fishing at the end of February and is closed during March, April and May to protect native spawners.
