Washington Fly Fishing Forum banner

A New Season

2K views 12 replies 7 participants last post by  Steve Buckner 
#1 ·
Preston and I spent a few hours on the salt today fishing for searun cutthroat. The weather was glorious with a light breeze coming from the north – it was a beautiful fall day. The fishing, however, was slow even for the people near the bridge tossing gear at what few chums and dark coho that were still milling about. A few cuts cleared the water every so often around us but none came to our flies.

While Preston returned to the parking lot to attend to his locked-key-in-the car, I had some action (with no witnesses, once again). First, a salmon, possibly a coho, happy-jumped near me and on the next cast turned on my popper. He gave it a half-hearted boil, chomped down on the popper and immediately let it go after putting some serious teeth marks into the foam head. Later on down the beach, I hooked my first fall searun in the salt this year. It was an absolutely gorgeous buck of 15 or more inches and was perfectly proportioned. When it jumped in the sunlight, it's fins glowed like a Madison River brown and while he rested in my hand and caught his breath, I complimented him on being so handsome.

I wished Preston was there with his camera – this fish was way too pretty not to share. It's a beautiful beginning to new season.

Leland.
 
See less See more
#2 ·
Hey Leland,

Glad to hear you had some luck this weekend. We fished your poppers in the south puget sound, with no luck. I saw only a few rises around me though not any interest in the fly ... saw a dog fish swim close to shore cruising for dinner. The weather was wonderful this weekend, and the sunsets gorgeous so I had a wonderful time fishing anyways.

Tight Lines, Mark
 
#3 ·
Hey Leland,

Glad to here about the cutts in the salt again. Sounds like I can break out the 5120.

I have tried the new Atlantis 1111 and I'm convinced it's the answer to my dreams off the beach. Also will use on the river for my heads. Infact, I'm going to hold off on the Skagit and Steelheader specialist because it was what I need to fill the saltwater/shooting head tossing gap. Stocking up on floating heads to run your popper.

That rod is amazing. Me and Dennis Worley were tossing into a 30 mph head wind without any problems.
Matt

"Everyday that you wake up and decide not to go fishing...is one less day you'll go fishing." Forrest Maxwell
 
#4 ·
Leland,

A fine report, and I'm curious about your comments about first fall searun and the beginning of a new season. Is there something different about these fish from others available from the beach in the spring and summer? Are these fish that have spawned and returned to the salt? Thanks.
 
#5 ·
I'm sorry if I have confused you. The "seasons" I refer to are my personal fishing seasons. In the spring/early summer, I fish dries in lakes and rivers for trout. Summer is my summer steelhead season. Late summer/fall is salmon on the beach time and the coming end of my summer steelhead season. In fall/winter, I fish for searuns on the beach followed by my winter/spring season for dollies and winter steelhead (if I feel like a little self-flagellation).

But, in the south sound, searun cutthroat are still actively feeding along many beaches before they push into the rivers in early spring. I find them to be in prime shape, strength and colors. One of these can make any day memorable.

These may not be the "seasons" of others on this board, but they work for me.

Leland.
 
#6 ·
Thanks for sharing that, Leland. It is always nice to catch a glimpse into the thinking of someone with your experience and knowledge.

I haven't been finding as many SRCs in the places (on estuaries of local rivers here in Twin Harbors area) where they were thick before the rains. I suspect they migrated further upstream.
I have been getting a sore shoulder from my el-cheapo 8 wt. throwing flies at wild coho in a local estuary, so far with no success. They are there, though, and aggressive biters, as my friends have been catching quite a few on spinners. I've used #6 lime-green wooley buggers, a #2 popsicle, and a #6 "Randy's Retiary" (from Steve Raymond's work, The Estuary Flyfisher). Fast strips on a clear intermediate full-sink, at various depths.
Its a toss-up as to which will cave in first...my shoulder or my patience! Ha, Ha! You gotta love this game!

:thumb Jimbo
 
#7 ·
Try tossing a #6 Mustad 34007 with a brass beadhead, silver tinsel body, one turn of yellow hackle followed by a turn of orange hackle over. Fish it with an intermediate line and very slow retrieve.

If you catch fish, credit Mike Croft (it's a version of his "waiting period" fly). If you don't catch anything, blame it on me for not asking you more questions as to the fish's behavior.

Leland
 
#9 ·
Leland. Since my sense of perciption(sp) sucks could you also include a some what picture of these flies you discribe(boy my spelling really sucks today). As now that I'm older(from what BoBL said). I have a hard time trying to picture what you are talking about. Boy talk about double talk.

Jim
 
#10 ·
Thanks! I'll give that a try. Don't have any 34007s on hand, but have some #6 3407s, as well as some Gamakatsu T10-6H in #6 (both red and green finish) and in #2 (red).
I'll have to order some hooks and other supplies, as there is no fly shop around these parts.
Flyfishing for salmon is new to me, and I am just starting to tie flies for salmon and steelhead.

By the way, those coho were in the upper estuary and working their way upstream. Not alot of jumping, but some porpoising and waking in the shallows. I didn't see one fish without an adipose fin! They weren't in there really thick, but the few fishers that were there both days (Sat and Sun)all hooked up at least once...completely opposite of a scene in another nearby river (two weeks ago) where the hatchery coho were in there much thicker, and jumping and rolling everywhere but not biting.

Thanks again for the tip!


Jimbo:thumb
 
#11 ·
Jim,

I don't have a photo that I can post here. I'm a little behind in the digital photography department (this is coming from an ex-photographer, no less)!

Anyway, it is posted on the pugetsoundflyfishing site at this url:

http://www.pugetsoundflyfishing.com/FlyPatterns/Attractors/BeachPopper_MiyawakiL.htm

I have made some changes to the fly since it was posted on the site. If you have any questions, let me know.

Leland
 
#12 ·
Mark,

I'm not scheduled to work until saturday but Les Johnson will be working tomorrow. Go in and introduce yourself. He'll give you all the help you need. In case you haven't heard, the Hoh and Sol Duc have road closure issues related to the recent heavy rains.

Leland
 
#13 ·
Leland,
I've haven't had a chance to tie or fish your popper but look forward to doing both soon. One quick question for you, why did you choose to use two hooks seperated by mono/wire instead of just a long shanked hook?
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top