Known for their beauty and spunk, both the Dolly Varden and Rainbow Trout can be found in many of our local rivers all year long.

Dolly Varden and are often fished for along with our Salmon and Steelhead returns. These fish, which we target with light tackle and fly rods, average 4 to 6 pounds and can turn a mediocre day of fishing into a very memorable experience.

Dolly varden are found in many Northwest River systems, but only in the Skagit River system holds a population healthy enough to provide a consistent fishery. A member of the Char family, the Dolly Varden is an anadromous fish averaging about 2 to 4 pounds with a length range from 16 to 30 inches. The resident species mainly found in the far upper reaches and lakes are also known as Bull Trout. Both varieties will take well to a fly as well as spinners, spoons, and bait.

Late summer months provide ample opportunities to fish for Dolly Varden as they migrate up the Skagit and smaller tributaries to spawn and therefore are very aggressive. In the late fall and winter, Dollies return to the main system from the tributaries to feed on spawning salmon and their eggs. Flesh flies and egg patterns work great this time of year for the fly fisherman and roe for the gear fisherman. In spring, Dolly Varden feed on salmon smolt and fry and will bite on smolt patterns for the fly fisherman and spoons and spinners for the gear fisherman.

The Rainbow Trout we target mostly through Fly Fishing live in the upper reaches of our local rivers and streams as well as many of the area lakes. Some of our very best Rainbow Trout fishing is done during the summer months on the upper stretches of the Skagit system and then again in late Spring on Pass Lake in Skagit County.