The wild and scenic Illabot

Published 9:58 am Thursday, May 5, 2011

If Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen have their way, Illabot Creek in Skagit County will be designated as a Wild and Scenic River

Murray and Larsen, both Washington Democrats, say the designation would protect the free flowing character of the creek, which they said is important habitat for threatened Chinook salmon.

They’ve introduced legislation to make it happen.

I love the creek because it’s the first one I ever fished with a fly for sea-run cutthroat trout. A fly fishing mentor, Ned Carrick, introduced to me to the creek, which he had fished as a boy growing up in Bellingham.

It remains a great place for sea-runs, although access to the stream is tougher to get all the time. I think the last time Ned fished it, someone flattened two of his tires to let him know he wasn’t wanted in the area.

The creek, a tributary of the Skagit River, is a great place for coho salmon. I don’t think you can fish for them there these days, but I remember days when you could catch and release coho all day long.right where it joins the Skagit.

I also remember hiking toward the top of Snow King Mountain, which is 7,500 feet high, and seeing the headwaters of Illabot Creek. There was a lake there with crystal clear water and pulverized granite that made it look like a white sandy beach.

Larsen said the intention is to continue hunting and fishing in the area while protecting the creek and its salmon, steelhead, bull trout, eagles and other wildlife.

I hope that’s true because I’d like to keep fishing the creek for cutthroat.