Northwest Fishing Reports

I know it is closed for retention pretty much everywhere except of hood canal but I want to wet a fly for coho. I was thinking fast sinking tip and unweighted green/white and green/pink/white clousers about 3in long. I would be casting from the beach of casting towards beach/cove for them. Can anyone give me any tips and suggestions about gear or the way to fish the fly, tides, or anything helpful to help me get my first salmon on the fly??? Thanks. Tight lines and dry waders.

Jakob the teen angler

Normally incoming tide. Cast as far as you can and strip like a mother. Find a point or some structure that will put them in your range. Another one they like is Patrick's Flashabou Comet in the colors you've names. I don't think I would be concerned with unweighted flies. Most of what you will use in the salt is weighted. Or try and hit them in a river if it's open. As for gear, big heavy rods cast big heavy lines with big heavy flies to big heavy fish. A stripping basket is always nice for the salt.
Cast, cast, cast, cast, cast, cast, cast.............. And cast some more. Go get 'em!

Better read the regs. I think it is not just "closed to retention" of Coho, it is closed to salmon fishing everywhere, except for Hood Canal, after 10/1 and only south of the Hood Canal bridge.

Good point, didn't even think about it as I've about given up fishing any rivers on this side or PS.

I know, bummer. Except for the 4 years I lived in Billings and the 5 I lived in Spokane, this is the first Fall for 60 years that I haven't fished for Coho. I may try the MA 12 Coho fishery when it opens on 10/1, although I have no idea where to go or launch.

Depending on the place you go. If there's a lot of seaweed underwater, you may not want to use fast sinking line, or even intermediate line. It may catch seaweed. Seaweed has always been a problem for me.

Other things to factor in might be your stripping speed, and the grade of the beach. If you do a slow retrieve (which means the line and the fly have a longer time to sink), or if the beach is pretty flat (which means the bottom is not very deep at 80ft out), a fast sinking line may get you into more trouble than good.

Also, the current. When it's strong, when it's week, ...

It makes it a whole lot easier to fish a full sink intermediate or the like, and depending on the beach, different weights of flies. Those streamer tips heads are nice because they are clear and shoot distance real easy.

there's always sea run cutthroat. I have no idea if they are open in the salt. I would think a large, stripped fly would be effective against both species, retrieved in the same manner.
I admire guys that can flick a fly far enough to do this!

Mike Carey wrote:there's always sea run cutthroat. I have no idea if they are open in the salt. I would think a large, stripped fly would be effective against both species, retrieved in the same manner.
I admire guys that can flick a fly far enough to do this!

Sea Run Cutts have always presented a decent opportunity close to shore in the salt - however they are no longer to be retained in any of WA State marine areas - at least in Puget Sound. I haven't checked the regs for the coast, but doubt it would afford the same type of fishery.

I for one hope that retention rule changes in the next couple of years, as I have fond memories of catching and grilling those beauties in late summers gone by.

onmygame

Try a pink and white or tan and white flesh fly.