[Roger Stephens]

I don't know if Tiger Woods likes to fish but he does have a weakness in relation to "dolly" porn!

Yesterday, a fishing buddy and I had a good day fishing for Dolly Varden in an estuary. He is in the picture on the left with the days biggest fish at 24 in. and approximately 4 lbs. which was caught on a pile worm pattern. The next picture shows a 21 in. Dolly Varden which I landed on an olive/white clouser minnow pattern. We didn't see as much fish activity as in the past month. Most of the Dolly Varden have left the estuary. Normally the fish have been the most active for 1 to 2 hours around a low tide.

Roger

 

[Blktailhunter]

Sweet!

 

[robbbos]

Wow! Beautiful fish. Pardon the ignorant question, but when the dollies leave the estuary, where exactly do they go? Are they back in the rivers or out in the salt? And where in the world can I try to go catch them?

Thanks for the report!

 

[Roger Stephens]

Once the Dolly Varden leave the estuary, they head out into the salt water environment. However, I have no idea where they go when out there.

Roger

 

[Matthew Gulbranson]

Roger, those are some fabulous fish! Sounds like a great day. Your reports always make me silver with envy!!

 

[Radway]

Dead fish pic's! (On the two?) Yuck!

 

[Jim Wallace]

Dead fish pic's! (On the two?) Yuck!

Huh??? They all look alive to me!
1st shot, obviously alive,
2nd shot, notice the erect pectoral fin.
3rd shot I can see the fish's eye looking "downward."

Before you post, take a better look, or at least know what you are looking at!

 

[Poopy McButtfart]

There's actually a picture of Tiger Woods in Dec Hogan's "A Passion for Steelhead." Spey rod and steelhead in hand

 

[Jim Wallace]

oops

 

[KerryS]

Nice bulls.

There's actually a picture of Tiger Woods in Dec Hogan's "A Passion for Steelhead." Spey rod and steelhead in hand

You mean this one

Dead fish pic's! (On the two?) Yuck!

Those fish are not dead. Jeezus.

 

[Roger Stephens]

Dead fish pic's! (On the two?) Yuck!

If you wouild have been there, you would not have made the above post. The first fish made a fast exit to deeper water between my fishing buddy's legs while the other fish never were removed from the water and made similar exits.

Roger

 

[Smalma]

Pretty fish!

A small point they likely are bull trout and not Dolly Varden.

Once western Washington bulls leave freshwater they travel along the shore line rarely venturing into very deep water. Their behavior in the near marine shore habitat is much like that of sea-run cutthroat though the timing of their salt water adventures tend to be a bit different that the cutthroat. In addition they tend to feed more consistently on larger food items and their feeding sprees seem to be even more tide/current dependent than the cutts.

One of the more studied bull trout are those of the Skagit where Skagit radio tagged fish have been tracked as far south as the Green. It is not uncommon to find those fish ducking into other rivers and lower estuaries; most likely looking for foraging opportunities.

For folks interested in chasing them this time of year be sure to check your regulations. There are only a small handful of lower river/estuaries that are currently open for angling.

Tight lines
Curt

 

[nutsack angler]

That pic makes sense Kerry...

 

[roger]

Pretty fish!

Once western Washington bulls leave freshwater they travel along the shore line rarely venturing into very deep water. Their behavior in the near marine shore habitat is much like that of sea-run cutthroat though the timing of their salt water adventures tend to be a bit different that the cutthroat. In addition they tend to feed more consistently on larger food items and their feeding sprees seem to be even more tide/current dependent than the cutts.

....
Tight lines
Curt

Curt - I realize they are fall spawners and that they are all over the salmon dead carcass/fry hatch in winter and early spring. So what annual timing in regard to movement/locations?
How do they react to tide/current differently then cutts?
Finally what are your thoughts on the size/girth of the Bulls this past winter after all that food (HUMPIES) last year (have you seen this before)?
Thanks
Rog

 

[chrome/22]

Looks like an older G-1000 Lamiglas fly rod, anyhoo nice fish !



c/22

 

[Roger Stephens]

Chrome/22:

You are right so good eyes! It is an 19 year old rod that cost $90 and has gotten the job done in all those years. Who needs all those other high priced rods

Roger

 

[chrome/22]

Love the G-1000 rods, lotsa bang for the buck.


c/22

 

[Jack Murphy]

That's my go-to 6 wt trout rod (G-1000.) I have had that Lami for so long I can't remember when I bought it.