First time in the salt, on the wild OP Coast.

[Snake]

A little late, but here's a report on a trip we did on the OP Coast over Memorial Day weekend.

I was carrying waders, boots, and fly gear. Amie and Danny weren't fishing. Their packs were a lot lighter.

We hiked from Third Beach to Oil City, over three days. First time (for me and Amie) on that section, and first time throwing flies in the ocean.

I didn't catch anything, but had a good hit (missed the strike..) at the mouth of Mosquito Cr.

I probably got 10% total fishing-time in. Out of the 60 hours spent hiking, setting up camp, filtering water, cooking food, sleeping etc, I got about six hours of fly-in-the-water time.

Minus the hours spent cleaning kelp and seagrass off my line.:(

Good trip, even with a zero on the fishing. :thumb::thumb:

Too bad harvesting mussels was outta season. Otherwise, I woulda steamed some in a little butter-fried onion, garlic, thyme and basil, with a nice dry white wine, and served it w/ crusty bread, to soak up the broth.

Yep, too bad. ;)

Salt-fishing: Another learning curve to figure out. I have nothing but respect for those of you who have it wired. :)

Maybe someday I'll have fried perch fillets to throw into the burritos....

Beach-backpacking; Always fun and good, as long as it ain't pissin' down rain too hard. (and it didn't on this trip...) :cool:

[Richard Olmstead]

What a great trip! It looks like you guys hit the weather just right. Knowing what the coast can be like, I'd say having good weather on a trip like that trumps catching fish.
Dick

[William Wallace]

Could not ask for a better trip! Good weather, beautiful scenery, with family friends and those food fixins, darn it is making me hungry looking at that. It does not get better than that. Im used to PB/J sandwiches and a juice packet. Great report!!!!!

[alpinetrout]

Too bad harvesting mussels was outta season. Otherwise, I woulda steamed some in a little butter-fried onion, garlic, thyme and basil, with a nice dry white wine, and served it w/ crusty bread, to soak up the broth.

Yep, too bad. ;)


You realize that the reason they're out of season in the summer is because of the risk of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, right?

[Jim Wallace]

Could not ask for a better trip! Good weather, beautiful scenery, with family friends and those food fixins, darn it is making me hungry looking at that. It does not get better than that. Im used to PB/J sandwiches and a juice packet. Great report!!!!!

Yeh, mee to. I'm going to go fix a big late lunch now.:D

Thanks for the report and the great pics, Snake. Sounds like you all had a fun time.

[Snake]

Yep, we definitely lucked out on the weather. Anytime I don't have to spend a bunch of time backpacking in the rain on the coast, I feel like I won a bonus prize. Even more so this year.

You realize that the reason they're out of season in the summer is because of the risk of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, right?

IF we would have planned to harvest any bivalves, I would have checked to see if the WDFW had allowed any digs on the OP coast that weekend, and whether testing showed that the dinoflagellate bloom hadn't started yet (probably because the ocean is still too cold on the coast), and PSP danger was minimal.

But that's a good point for anyone thinking about it. Crime doesn't pay. In fact, sometimes it gives you severe vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal pain, burning paralysis, and death. :eek:

Thanks for the report and the great pics, Snake. Sounds like you all had a fun time.

Thanks, Jimbo, and thanks for the tips you (and everyone else) gave me: http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/board/showthread.php?t=47078&highlight=olympic+coast

I read the books, and tips and advice that were posted, and went out there and tried to put it all to work. I fished with the confidence of knowing I would catch fish. I wasn't dissappointed, because I really learned a lot. Like:

The incoming surf really does belly your line outta control, and makes it hard to maintain contact w/ the fly. Gotta fish between the sets.

Reading the ocean is wayyy different than reading lakes and rivers.

The place where the river meets the sea is a powerful and mystical spot.

There's a good reason you shouldn't turn your back on the ocean.

If the seagrass and kelp is so thick it tangles your legs and makes you unsteady, you probably shouldn't wade out into it in chest-high waves, just to be able to cast and retrieve beyond it. Either deal with the constant line cleaning, move to a beach w/out drifting vegetation, or learn how to cast farther.

Waders and boots are worth the weight. (as long as they are light....)

I learned that I like salt-fishing, and it's a good addition to the coastal hikes. I'm sure it will get better as I start to figure it out. But I also came to realize that wilderness rivers and high alpine lakes will always be my first love. I think it's a fresh-water trout thing, or repressed memories.

And I don't feel that way because I didn't catch anything my first time out in the salt. Even though I really, really, really had my heart set on it, and really tried, and seriously thought that I would catch some food for my tribe.

That sorrow is gone. I drowned it with mescal and lime wedges, and buried it where the river meets the sea.

[Dinker]

Good to see your report Snake. Sometimes that mescal can come in handy :beer1:
Glad you had a great trip and fabulous weather! Fishing in the surf can be really hit or miss. Maybe next time you'll slay 'em? Thanks for the great report. :thumb: