I'm headed out to the Olympic coast this weekend for a family event. About the only water open for coho is the Copalis, which is apparently open from the mouth to the Carlisle bridge, wherever that is...where 109 crosses over in Copalis Beach?
It looks like tidal frogwater but I'd like to give it a shot. Anyone know how to get access? Is it all bank fishing?...and, what patterns might work for coho?
Highway 109 is the coastal highway, which leaves you only a very little bit of river to fish (maybe half-a-mile from the mouth to the bridge). I've not fished the Copalis myself but have heard from several guys who have that the coho arrive all at once and that fishing for them can be red hot but only for a day or two.
Above the bridge the river is open to trout fishing and should probably have some sea-run cutthroat (2 over 14 inches allowed) by now.
You LITERALLY have to know when the run comes in. My source to let me know has passed away a year ago. He lived in an A frame behind Johnsons store. But that run comes in hard and fast. Maybe 1-4 days max. No rhyme or reason. We have tried to plot it for years (my Dad and I) and we can't even get a rough estimate for the run. It's small, fast, and a decent type of fishing. Will warn you, SUPER murky water. Permanently stained from a cedar jam miles upstream. That bridge you cross is about the end of the decent fishing anyways.
It is COMPLETELY tidal influenced. There is a ton of spots to fish along the bank from the mouth to the bridge. You can fish right at the old miniature golf course. Just look for lots of people. If you see the locals fishing, the fish are in. Pretty simple. You need a fly that's SUPER flashy. Needs to draw attention. Green and silver, orange and silver. Slow retrieve and a good cast (you need to get almost completely across to other side, where they setup, but it's Indian Res I do believe). Short strips and a pause. I would just make a body of bright orange or bright green (not chartruese, an actual green) and a TON (basically a whole hank) of silver flashabou for a wing.
Just spent four days there basically (slept at Seabrook) but hiked and beach combed away from Seabrook. So thinking August??? and thinking third week? Maybe late in week? Thursday Coho special?
And I’m sore. Have no idea what trail we were on but started high well above Seabrook and to the south....and after a couple hours of sloshing through mud, tree roots wanting to trip you, some thick dark woods blocking all sunlight, several mud puddles that looked innocent but were 20” deep (our golden was no longer golden but chocolate brown), and just hoping not to see some witchcrafted dolls hanging from tree branches we hit 109 and crossed following a creek to the ocean beach. Roosevelt beach area. Amazing but definitely feeling it. Bad/sloppy footing type hike, with our retriever leading us
Yeah, but I guess do some more hiking and beach combing then. Oh well! Actually not taking the fly gear on some family vacations is better in the long run.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Washington Fly Fishing Forum
1.8M posts
21.3K members
Since 2000
A forum community dedicated to fishers, anglers and enthusiasts in the Washington area. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, boats, tackle, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!