[plaegreid]

Salty folks, assuming anything is open to fish around Labor Day and I sell a kidney to afford a license, what kind of opportunities are there for bug-chuckers around Orcas Island? My cousin is getting married up there and I figure our mornings will be pretty open. Are there SRC up that far? Or is it less salmonid, more greenling/flounder area, or, also acceptable, is it more of a bikini hatch sort of place? We should have access to some kayaks and maybe some beach, that is tbd.

 

[Dipnet]

The wife and I spent 3 days on Orcas a couple of Februarys ago. I had packed the 6 wt. in hopes of finding some beaches to fish but in my limited prowling around the island I found very few places fishable. Most areas were private property or so rocky and steep it would've been difficult to get down to the beach. IIRC, there was one small resort with cabins that was located a little east of the Rosario resort that might have been doable but that was one day I'd left the rod back at the lodging. If I'd researched things better I would have known that Mountain Lake in Moran State Park was open year round. You're going to be there after the April opener so maybe consider fishing Cascade Lake or Mountain or some of the other smaller bodies of water in Moran Park. If you have access to kayaks that would sure help for fishing the salt but I can't address how the SRC or salmon fishing is. I know there's some charter outfits up there but don't know where they have to go to fish.

 

[Ian Horning]

I don't know about salmonids... theres a possibility I guess. I was at a certain rocky N. Sound dropoff last spring and witnessed a 15-20lb chinook slash at bait right on the rocks.

I'd bring an extra fast sink and an assortment of baitfish flies. Then find the deepest water around, like a rocky point, and have some fun! At the very least you'll probably get some greenling, flounder, or maybe rockfish. Cabezon and Lings are around too I suppose... I don't know about regs tho.

Double down on the extra fast sink. And split shot.

Oh, and watch your backcast. Coastal rocks eat gear, and fluorocarbon.

 

[cabezon]

As there aren't any major rivers flowing from the San Juans, they really don't support large searun populations. A few small creeks do have cutts but it isn't clear that the fish make it into the salt in any numbers. Yes, one can fish several lakes in Moran State Park. Cascade Lake may be stocked with rainbows and has few resident cutts. Mountain Lake has also been stocked with rainbows in the past has a few resident cutts (even caught a kokanee one spring). Twin Lake is supposed to have lots of brookies, but I've never heard that they have any size.
As this is a pink year, there is the possibility, I guess (I'm more familiar with San Juan) of catching them off the northwest side of Orcas. Many years ago, I saw a woman in an ocean kayak fishing for pinks off Open Bay on San Juan. Your challenge would be to find a school at the surface in the strong currents that the islands are known for.
Spiny-rays in the salt might be possible but there is lots of submerged algae and lots of floating kelp to grab your flies.
Frankly, I would use the kayaks to look for killer whales while you still can......
Steve

 

[rotato]

Throw a crab pot out and toss small clousers paralel to kelp beds
Greenling and small rockfish are a blast
The gulf islands have decent cutthroat fishing just north of you

 

[Chris Johnson]

There should be pinks around @ that time of year. If you can get a kayak or small boat I would try around west beach resort, or the east side of the island. Rock fish around the kelp a r e a blast, be ready to loose flies. There should be sockeye, chinook and coho around as well. My sister lives on Orcas and I fished black mouth off the beach often, but that was 30 + yrs ago. Have fun and enjoy the scenery.