Skagit and Sauk Rivers, Washington
Steelhead and Dolly Varden photos
All images are by Dave McCoy unless otherwise noted and are all under copyright protection.

Skagit River

Russell Myers in the Mixer just below the confluence of the Sauk with the Skagit.


Robert Kirsch winding it in at the Fly Bar after a long day.


A nice Dolly Varden taken just before dark. All of a sudden these fish just light up about this time of day, definitely worth waiting for.


Allan Hayes shows he is a natural on his first day with a spey rod by forming a nice D behind him. Photo Mike McCoy


Long strands of lichen hang from many of the trees in this region due to the exhorbitant amounts of moisture. Photo Dylan Rose


Shannon Carroll sweeping across.


Allan Hayes hooked up but to not long enough to land this one.


Pat Jenkins of Recycled Waders with a nice chromer. Unfortunately they are becoming harder and harder to find.

Chris Deleone posing at Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport.


Dylan Rose patiently waits for the fly to come around. Better hurry up, sun is almost gone buddy!


Our annual Spey Day on the Skagit at Howard Miller Steelhead Park. We give up a day to help those wanting to learn as much as they can about steelheading; casting, presentation, water temps, flies, equipment and all things steelheading with a fly entails.


Huber Cooney, yep that's his real name, working a favorite run on the upper Skagit in what is actually March, though is doesn't look it.


A bald eagle poses for his 15 minutes of fame.


In fact he came back for more all day long. The Skagit has the largest congregation of migratory bald eagles in the lower 48 states with well over 400 returning each year.


Greg Thomas takes a breather before stepping back in.


Dylan Rose steps down with the sun.


Fly Bar just below the confluence of the Sauk with North Cascades National Park looming in the background.


Dylan Rose getting in one more swimg before nightfall.


Fly and rod of choice by most if not all of our EWA staff. Photo Dylan Rose


North Cascades National Park watching over the day.


Nancy Kim wrestling with one.



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Sauk River


Skunk Cabbage begins to bloom around the same time the winter steelheading hits its stride for the spring. It can be a welcome splash of color on the gray days associated with winter steelheading.


Tom Rudd working a run under the snowy top of Sauk Mountain.


Dylan Rose and Kathryn with a very nice Dolly Varden on her first day with a spey rod.


Tex Camden with a fish on his first day spey casting.


Much of the Sauk is accessible by foot if willing to do a bit of hiking. Here Dylan Rose meanders his way through the moss and lichen laden forest on his way to a favorite run.


Todd Somsel enduring what is a typical day in March on the Sauk.


Dylan Rose checking out the aluminum left from his boat on the lauch at Government Bridge.


John Gierach stepping down into his next cast.


Dylan showing Fischer the difference between him and a real fish. Earlier in the day, Fischer took a fly in the mouth and made a pretty impressive run before he snapped off the fly. Another reason to go barbless!


Todd Somsel hunting.


John Gierach starting up top near the Gauge Hole, lower Sauk.


John Narver on an almost too nice of day in February, clearly not winter steelhead weather.


Todd Somsel fishing a little seam, hoping for a tug.


Ryan Smith holding a clients beautiful hen from the lower Sauk just before the season closed this year.

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