We were fishing not too far above the mouth of the Suiattle. I've never
floated the Sauk so I can't say much more about the put-ins and takeouts
than the obvious. First of all, there is apparently some difference of
opinion about which bridge is the "government bridge" some, as I always
have, applying that name to the first bridge below Darrington, the one just
below the mouth of the Suiattle, while others apply it to the next bridge
downstream (anyone able to clarify that?). I don't know where the upper
launch is, but I assume it is somewhere near the bridge on the Sauk Prairie
Road just out of Darrington. There is a launch/takeout just above the
government bridge, across and slightly below the mouth of the Suiattle. The
next launch/takeout is a rough one just upstream of the next bridge
(Sauk-Concrete Road?) downstream. Cross the bridge, turn left immediately
and go back upstream about a quarter mile. If, instead of turning left, you
continue down this road you'll eventually come to the gauging station where
there's a rough launch. From here on down there's nothing until you get
into the Skagit and I seem to recall hearing that there's a big full-width
sweeper down there somewhere this year. If you're going down there you'd
better get some current information. I guess I'll have to float the Sauk
one of these days, if only to get more familiar with those long stretches
between the bridges. Maybe someone can give you some more specific
information. I went back up Sunday and the Sauk was a bit high and very
dirty. We fished the Skagit at Diobsud Creek (one ugly, red coho cock, but
at least the hook was in his mouth) and opposite the mouth of Corkindale
Creek, where I lost a VERY large dolly. By the time we got back to the Sauk
in the late afternoon it had dropped and cleared significantly and I got one
dolly of about eighteen inches.
Preston
