Ignore any part of the river more than 10 feet deep. These aren't salmon. Target the shoreline seams and areas of reduced-water flows to catch your limit. Photo courtesy of Rob Endsley.

A few anglers will be targeting other species this time of year, but the bulk of Washington's hardcore anglers will have nothing on their minds except steelhead. Right now, dozens of waters throughout the state are yielding excellent steelhead action to bank anglers and boaters.

The Cowlitz will likely generate the most publicity. But the Skagit River is eager to impress anglers who take the time to approach this large system north of Seattle. From Thanksgiving through New Year's, anglers on the Skagit could find themselves in the peak of hatchery steelhead season -- a time when anglers in the know can often generate limits.

If you live in Seattle, you could hit the Skagit in a day trip. Surprisingly, few anglers take advantage of the system, possibly because the Cowlitz is a closer option that's more easily approachable.

Longtime guide Tom Nelson of Skagit River Outfitters didn't have kind words for fishing on the Cowlitz.

"It's like a bunch of fat kids trying to tear up a hot dog stand," he said.

You probably guessed it, but he prefers the Skagit.

"If you get out on the Skagit on a clear day, you can see the Northern Cascades. That's like the U.S. Alps," he said. "In the same day, I've caught steelhead and seen elk and eagles. It's beautiful! You want to come to the Skagit because there's eye candy everywhere you look."

The Skagit cannot claim to be the premier hatchery run in Washington. Nevertheless, it has several qualities that keep it near the top: possibly some of the largest returns in the state, quality angling and excellent access.

As far as sheer numbers pumped into a system, the Cowlitz is still top dog. Unfortunately, the survival rate of some of these fish on the Skagit has not been tremendous. You won't see the harvest numbers on the Skagit that you do on the Cowlitz. But you won't see the fishing pressure either.

"Despite the fact that it isn't top dog, there are still times when you can light it up on the Skagit," said Nelson.

Veteran guide Rob Endsley of Pacific Northwest Sportfishing cautions anglers to come prepared to the Skagit.

Those who don't take the time to learn the river often leave humbled.

"I would say the Skagit is out of range for most anglers looking for an easy drive from Seattle," he said. "Yet it's close enough that if you want to put the time in, you can do it.

"On weekends you'll see a good pull of the Seattle crowd, especially from Everett. The main thing that keeps people away is huge, big water. It's intimidating."

The Skagit is often called intimidating. However, for the number of hatchery fish that blast through the system, it's worth targeting, especially during the seasonal winter hatchery run when large numbers of steelhead clog the system.

"The Skagit gets one of the best plants in the state, and last year the run was awesome," said Endsley. "Limits were pretty normal for guys who know the river and know what they are doing."

Why was it so good?

Endsley had no idea.

"All the sudden the fish showed," he said. "Everything lined up, and we had a run. It's usually decent, but last year was spectacular."

Several factors contribute to the success of the Skagit's hatchery reproduction, most of them being controlled by Mother Nature. This year, with water conditions looking favorable and the hatchery kicking out allotted numbers, there's no reason why the Skagit shouldn't produce at least an average run.

There's a good chance a better-than-average run will take place.