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Headshake Magazine Orvis Bellevue (425)452-9138 Page 0 HEADSHAKE Orvis Bellevue’s Exclusive Newsletter November 2013 Belize 2014 Chum Salmon on the Fly facebook.com/orvisbellevue The Secret Season With Bob Triggs

Headshake Mag-Orvis Bellevue's Exclusive Newsletter-November 2013 Issue

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Page 1: Headshake Mag-Orvis Bellevue's Exclusive Newsletter-November 2013 Issue

Headshake Magazine Orvis Bellevue (425)452-9138 Page 0

HEADSHAKE Orvis Bellevue’s Exclusive Newsletter

November 2013

Belize 2014

Chum Salmon on the Fly

facebook.com/orvisbellevue

The Secret Season With Bob Triggs

Page 2: Headshake Mag-Orvis Bellevue's Exclusive Newsletter-November 2013 Issue

Headshake Magazine Orvis Bellevue (425)452-9138 Page 1

Orvis Bellevue 10223 NE 10th St,

Bellevue, WA 98004 (425)452-9138

In This Issue Upcoming Seminars and Events………………….. November Outlook………….………….……………… Belize 2014….………….………….………….………….. Yakima River Outlook….………….………….………. Olympic Peninsula Outlook….………….…………. The Secret Sauce: Chum Salmon on the Fly….………….………….….. Tie of the Month-Starlight Leech….…………….. The Secret Season: Bob Triggs….………….………

From the Shop November is now upon us and countless fishing

opportunities are abound. Chums are entering our estuaries

and rivers, trout fishing is hot on the Yakima, and steelhead

fishing is really picking up in our local rivers. Don’t let the

holiday season or weather deter you from getting on the water

and having fun! Also be sure to check out our great seminars

and come fishing with us this November at “Chums for

Chum”, hope to see you there.

Be sure to like us on Facebook for up to date fishing reports, pro-tips, upcoming seminars, and

fishing outlooks. Click the link to go to our Page.

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Page 3: Headshake Mag-Orvis Bellevue's Exclusive Newsletter-November 2013 Issue

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At Orvis Bellevue our greatest passion is sharing our fly fishing knowledge and skills with others. We

offer a variety of schools, seminars and personal instruction to help you advance as an angler and be more

productive on the water. Our courses are designed to give anglers the skill set they need to be more confident in

their skills and knowledge. If you ever have any questions or would like to schedule a day of personal instruction

don’t hesitate to give us a call. (425)452-9138

Fishing Puget Sound $100 In-Store Presentation November 16th 8am

On the Water Clinic November 17th

$100 (Limit 6 Students) The Puget Sound is an extremely diverse fishery that gives

anglers an opportunity to catch a variety of fish species. Join

renowned saltwater expert Leland Miyawaki for a two day school

that will teach you how to fish the beaches more effectively. The

first day of the course will be in the classroom covering where to

go, species to target, time of year, fly selection, and gear. The

second day will be on the water where students can put their new

found knowledge to use. Students must provide their own tackle

and wading gear. Call 425-452-9138. Free Seminar

Chum on the Fly Wednesday November6th 6pm

Beer and Pizza Provided!!! Chum salmon begin entering our river systems in the

middle of October and can be fished for throughout November

and even into early December. Join Leland Miyawaki as he talks

about everything you need to know to catch these beasts on the

fly. He will be covering tactics for rivers and the salt, fly

selection, equipment, and where to go. This is a free seminar with

no registration required.

Chums for Chum Free Fish Out

November 13th 8am, Twanoh State Park

Join the Orvis Bellevue gang for a day of fishing for chum. We will be meeting at 8am at Twanoh State Park on Hood Canal. Lunch and refreshments will be provided along with some basic fishing instruction. Please register so we know how much food to bring.

Call us at (425)452-9138 to register today!!!

Upcoming Seminars and Schools

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Headshake Magazine Orvis Bellevue (425)452-9138 Page 3

November is upon us and the holiday season is drawing near. Most people think of November as a month of pilgrims, turkey, and pumpkin pie, here at Orvis Bellevue we think about chum salmon, steelhead, and trout. November is a great month to be on the water and fishing opportunities are abound. If you need an idea where to go, what flies to use, or just need some general fishing knowledge, be sure to come in or give us a buzz at (425)452-9138. Chum Salmon-November might as well be called Chumvember! There will be thousands of chum in the estuaries and moving their way up rivers like the Skagit, Green, and Skykomish. Keep in mind that the chums are the last salmon to spawn and will generally be found lower in the river systems. Be sure and check out our free chum seminar on Nov. 6th and come to our free fish-out on the 13th. Also be sure to read this month’s Secret Sauce article on how to catch chum on the fly. Trout-Trout fishing will continue to be very good throughout November. The Yakima will fish well this month, check out our Yakima River Outlook for more info, as well as our west side lakes. Lakes including Beaver, Green, Silver, and Meridian have all been stocked with many more scheduled to be stocked throughout the month. Check out the Department of Fish and Wildlife website for a fall stocking schedule. Also be sure and make a trip to Pass and chase big brown trout with streamers. Steelhead- Some say the only trout worth catching is made of steel, and November is one of the best months to target these fish. Winter fish will begin entering our local rivers and anglers have a legitimate shot at fish in the 6-10lb range. Rivers to concentrate on include the Skykomish, Skagit and Cowlitz. The Klickitat and, if they remain open, the Wenatchee and Methow for summer runs. Anglers willing to do a little driving will also find great steelheading on Oregon’s Deschutes River or John Day. Be sure and check your regulations before heading to your favorite river to make sure it is open and there are no emergency closures. Puget Sound- Searun cutthroat fishing will be very good on all South Sound beaches. Stay away from the North Sound since most of those fish have made their way up the rivers. When chasing searuns use an intermediate line with small baitfish imitations. A good tactic is to fan cast in an area and then keep taking steps down the beach. Anglers should concentrate on fishing structure and inlets as well as a moving tide.

November Outlook

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ORVIS TRIP TO BELIZE 2014 El Pescador Lodge, February 16-22

nd,

Ambergris Cay

About El Pescador This part of Belize is one of the best places to get a

saltwater “Grand Slam”: bonefish; permit; and tarpon in one day. The flats are extensive and the lodge is well located so you don’t have to travel far to be on the fish, although they go on endlessly north to the border with Mexico. El Pescador caters to fly-fishers, but there are some great non-angling activities available as well. There’s excellent snorkeling, an extensive barrier reef, a dive shop and the option to take excursions to Maya ruins on the mainland.

You are free to arrive a couple days early or extend your trip if you want to experience more of Belize. It’s a good place for your first saltwater flats trip and there’s an onsite coach to help you master sight casting on the flats. The large numbers of bonefish mean you’re chances of success are excellent, and some light tackle gear is available.

Lodging on the Beach It’s a very good location for a group with mixed abilities. The

experienced anglers can head off to the more technically challenging flats while the beginners can work on technique and catch bonefish closer to the lodge.

El Pescador is nestled on the Bahia del Punta Arena with an immaculate beach graced with palms and flowering tropical plants. The lodge, built in the colonial style, features a long verandah overlooking the beach and barrier reef. You will have the option of staying in a standard room in the main lodge or upgrading to one of the lodge’s very nice beachfront villas. Regardless of your choice, all of the air conditioned rooms are comfortable and have a nice view of the beach. There are two double beds in each room, so sharing a room with another angler is easy. However, private rooms are also available.

There’s a pool for a refreshing dip. The intimate, well-stocked bar features an exquisite fresh fruit rum punch and is the perfect place to swap stories after a day’s activities. Hors d’oeuvres are served in the evening. Buffet style meals alfresco are a delightful blend of both local and American dishes.

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The Fishing Ambergris Caye is conveniently located amidst some of the

most productive bonefish, permit and tarpon flats in the Caribbean. The area has long been a favorite of anglers chasing the coveted tropical saltwater grand slam. Although still a difficult feat, even for highly skilled anglers, many would agree that El Pescador is probably home to more grand slams than any other lodge in the Caribbean.

The flats extend for miles, providing ample opportunities and a wide variety of species. The nutrient rich ecosystem provides a tremendous amount of food to the bonefish, permit, tarpon and numerous other fish that inhabit the flats. From extremely large schools of small bonefish to incredible schools of permit and tarpon exceeding 150 pounds, variety is what fly fishing in this part of Belize is all about.

Bonefish Bonefish are the most numerous game fish available in Northern Belize. Many experienced professional

and amateur anglers caught their first bonefish with an El Pescador guide. The fish are plentiful and there are always options available to anglers of all skill levels. The average bonefish weighs in at around 2 pounds but there are larger fish available, and fish over 10 pounds have been landed. Most of the bonefishing around Ambergris Caye is done while casting from the platform of a Mexican style panga flats boat. The elevated position of the angler and guide makes spotting fish easier and oftentimes the boat can get closer to the fish than a wading angler can. There are some flats that are hard bottomed and well suited to wade fishing. However, anglers spend most of their time fishing from the boat.

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Permit Permit are a popular attraction for anglers visiting Belize.

Although never easy to catch, if you are willing to put in the time and effort, this is one of the best places in the world to connect with this special fish. Permit sizes range from 5 pounds to over 40 pounds with the average fish landed running around 10 pounds.

Tarpon Tarpon are available year round in smaller numbers. The

resident fish that are found in the mangrove creeks from October – April typically range from 15 – 40 pounds and are a lot of fun on a fly rod whenever they are encountered. Most of the tarpon fishing this time of year involves blind casting in deeper channels with sinking lines. In approximately late April through early October the larger migratory tarpon move into the area looking for baitfish schools on their annual migration through the Caribbean. This provides the best opportunity to sight fish for tarpon. It is not unusual to see fish over 100 pounds and larger fish are caught every year.

The unique geography of the area allows El Pescador’s well trained guides to find fish throughout the day by switching locations and species as the tide fluctuates. In addition to bonefish, permit and tarpon, these guides are well trained and eager to pursue other species including jacks, snapper, barracuda and the occasional snook.

Page 8: Headshake Mag-Orvis Bellevue's Exclusive Newsletter-November 2013 Issue

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Prices $3695 per angler, double occupancy room, 2 anglers per guide

$1995 per non angler, sharing a room with an angler $450 per person, private room supplement *

$1200 per person, private boat supplement ** Sign up with another angler and both of you will receive a $200 Orvis Gift Card (limited to 2 anglers per reservation).

*Guests traveling alone, or requesting a private room, pay the private room supplement.

** Single anglers are not charged the private boat supplement as long as they are willing to share a guide with another single angler. Offer only valid on this special Orvis Travel group departure.

Trip can easily be extended to include more fishing, or a unique jungle extension at an Orvis eco-

lodge. Call Orvis Travel at 800-547-4322 for details.

Included: · Local flights from Belize City to San Pedro and transfers to the lodge

· Guided fishing from flats boats (2 per boat is standard) · Lodging in an air conditioned en suite room

· All meals at the lodge and boat lunches · Beverages including local beer and rum

· Local sales and hotel taxes

Not included: · International flights to Belize City

· Marine park fees (optional) & fishing licenses · Guide & staff tips, imported liquors

· Fishing equipment (available for rent/purchase) · Fuel or tax surcharges that may be added at anytime prior to arrival (extremely rare)

Join Orvis

Bellevue in Belize February 16th-22nd

Get a Free H2 Fly Rod!

Page 9: Headshake Mag-Orvis Bellevue's Exclusive Newsletter-November 2013 Issue

Headshake Magazine Orvis Bellevue (425)452-9138 Page 8

Yakima River Forecast November should prove to be yet another great month on the Yakima. With cooling temperatures, hatches will begin to slow but anglers can still expect to see a decent amount of insect activity. Hatches of BWO’s, mahoganies, midges, small grey caddis, and even a few left over October caddis will still have trout on the feed bag. Nymphing is always a solid bet for catching fish and a pat’s rubber leg/small pheasant tail combo can be deadly effective. Streamer fishing will give you the best chance of catching larger fish but not necessarily numbers. Towards the end of the month anglers can also have a lot of fun targeting whitefish as they move into the rivers shallow riffles to spawn. A simple nymph rig with a psycho prince/pink san juan worm combo is our favorite rig when targeting good ‘ol whitey. White fish may have a face only a mother can love but will provide anglers with non-stop action and an admirable fight. Please treat these fish with respect and return them safety back to the river after catching them. Remember, whitefish are native to the Yakima River watershed and a valuable contributor to the ecosystem.

Planning a Trip? Make your next trip down the Yakima a memorable one

with Orvis Endorsed Guide Derek Young. Click on the logo to check out his website for more information and to book

online.

Derek Young

Emerging Rivers Guide Service (425)373-6417

Fall Fly Selection Nymphs

Pat’s Rubber Leg

Pheasant Tail

Micro May

San Juan Worms Dries

Hi-Vis BWO

Para Mahogany

Yak Caddis

Griffith’s Gnat

RS2 BWO Emerger Streamers

Sculpzilla…..it’s only streamer you need. Carry in White, Black, and Olive.

Page 10: Headshake Mag-Orvis Bellevue's Exclusive Newsletter-November 2013 Issue

Headshake Magazine Orvis Bellevue (425)452-9138 Page 9

Want to book a trip on the Olympic Peninsula or hit a Puget Sound Beach? Give Bob Triggs a call. Bob has been guiding for over 33 years and offers a full line of instructional and guided fishing opportunities. Bob Triggs 360-385-9618

We are coming to the end of several weeks of uncommonly

dry and fair weather here. After several brief rains in the early

weeks of October, and a few spates of freshet flows here, with some

of the best fishing we have seen in years following close behind, the

Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers and streams have returned to

summer low flow levels, and the beaches have been fishing

beautifully. All of this may change very shortly as the forecasts are

calling for some rain to move back in by the 30th or 31st. Summer

run steelhead, Cutthroat trout and salmon have been plentiful here

since the rains that came earlier in October. And after the rivers

began to drop to lower flows the fishing was very good. With the

low water we have here now, dry line fishing with surface flies like

muddlers, steelhead caddis, skaters, and smaller wet flies will be

productive. If the rivers do not get too high and dirty we may get

another great period of good fishing conditions again very quickly.

We can expect to see summer run steelhead through the month,

and by Thanksgiving the winter run season will be turning on. It will

all depend upon how much rain we get, and how warm it is. Coho

and Chinook salmon are still open here in marine area 9, and we are

catching some of the best sea run Cutthroat of the year this fall too.

The way that this autumn has shaped up, and with such good

fishing on the beaches all along, I will expect to be fishing the

beaches for sea run Coastal Cutthroat trout for many weeks to

come.

Olympic Peninsula Outlook

Page 11: Headshake Mag-Orvis Bellevue's Exclusive Newsletter-November 2013 Issue

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The Secret Sauce Slumming for Chum

Chum in the Salt The number one rule in fly fishing for chums is numbers.

There must be a lot of fish in casting range. It’s fool’s dance to cast at a single jumper. The number two rule is not to use anything less than an 8wt rod. Fishing for chum with your favorite trout rod is akin to four-wheeling in a Honda Civic, and will result in a broken rod.

Finding chum is just like fishing for pinks, look for the crowds. If you want solitude, you can get away from everyone . . . including the fish. They are very near or at their natal waters and are staging and everyone knows that. Chum fishing is a terminal fishery. They are not on the feed and you are hunting for the few that will take your fly for whatever reason.

Here’s a few places: John’s Creek and Kennedy Creek near Olympia; Chico Creek near Bremerton; Finch Creek at the Hoodsport Hatchery on Hood Canal; Twanoh State Park on Hood Canal.

Use an intermediate full sinking line, 4-5 feet of 25 lb. test tippet, and a small #6 chartreuse fly. Cast to the school of fish and retrieve with long slow strips. The buzz bomber next to you needs to retrieve fast to keep from snagging the bottom, or worse, he’s simply trying to snag his salmon.

Chum salmon have hard bony jaws with sharp snaggly teeth so you must strip set hard. If you’re gonna fish saltwater you better ditch your “trout strike” and learn to strip set - when stripping the fly and the fish grabs, simply pull back. Do not lift the rod! Chums are big bruisers and weigh between 10-20 pounds and the fight can be long and dirty. On a fly rod they are more than a handful. It’s the endgame and landing where most rods are broken. You need to back up and slide your fish onto the beach with ¾ side pressure. Do not high stick a chum unless you like the sound of exploding graphite.

While they may be big and ugly, please be sure to treat chum with the respect that should be given to all fish. Be sure and revive fish when releasing them to ensure they can go on to make some sweet fishy love that will provide future generations of anglers the same exciting fishing opportunities we have.

Flies for Chum Fly Color=Chartreuse, Pink, Purple, Black

Chum Turd size 6

Chum Comet size 6

Starlight Leech size 1-4

Hare Leech size 1-4

Hoh Bo Spey size 2

Chum Leech size 1-4

Page 12: Headshake Mag-Orvis Bellevue's Exclusive Newsletter-November 2013 Issue

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Chum in the Rivers Targeting chum salmon in the salt can be very fun as you will be

catching fresh and hard fighting fish. Chasing these tanks in the rivers will also be very productive. Look for pods of fish in deeper runs and pools lower in the river. Once you have found fish run a starlight leech along the side of the school and try to find a “player”. Chum will actively move to the fly and there is nothing more exciting than watching a 20lb fish take your fly. Utilizing sink tip lines and weighted flies will help get down to the fishes level and result in more hook ups. Try to avoid swinging your fly through the center of the school as this will inevitably end in foul hooking fish. If you do foul hook a fish simply point the rod at it and break the fish off. This will keep you from having a long, drawn out, fight with the fish that could decrease its chance of living on to spawn. Please avoid fishing for chums when they are on redds. Targeting fish on redds is far from sporting and is detrimental to future generations of fish and anglers.

Gear for Chum Rod: 9’ 8-10wt Reel: Large Arbor with a solid drag Line: Intermediate (For fishing the salt) 15’ Type 5 Sink Tip (For Rivers) Leader/Tippet: 4-6’ 15-25lb Straight Mono Other Essentials:

Stripping Basket (For the Salt)

Hook Sharpener

Landing Glove

Top 10 Rivers for Chum Salmon

1. Whatcom Creek 2. Nisqually 3. Skagit 4. Skykomish 5. Kennedy Creek 6. Snohomish 7. Nooksack 8. Quilcene 9. Skokomish 10. Duwamish

Click Here to

Watch the Video

Page 13: Headshake Mag-Orvis Bellevue's Exclusive Newsletter-November 2013 Issue

Headshake Magazine Orvis Bellevue (425)452-9138 Page 12

There are few things more exciting in

fly fishing than watching a 10-20lb fish

come up and absolutely crush a fly.

November is a great time to catch chum in

our local estuaries and rivers and the

starlight leech is a great pattern to use when

chasing these beasts. This pattern can also

be very productive when chasing steelhead

and Coho salmon. Try tying a few up in

chartreuse, pink, black, and purple, and use

them on your next outing.

Materials

Hook: 1645 Size 1-2

Eyes: ¼ Pre-painted Lead

Thread: Saltwater Size G

Tail: Zonker Strip

Body: Estaz or Ice Chenille

Hackle: Saddle Hackle

Head: Small Chenille

Click Here to

Watch the Video

Page 14: Headshake Mag-Orvis Bellevue's Exclusive Newsletter-November 2013 Issue

Headshake Magazine Orvis Bellevue (425)452-9138 Page 13

The Secret Season By: Bob Triggs

The cold gray skies of November bring many Olympic Peninsula fly fisher’s adventures to a gloomy ending. Most of the lakes and smaller waters have closed, Salmon season on the salt-chuck has wound down, and the fickle weather keeps our coastal rivers flows unstable enough to make any long range fishing plans tentative at best. Quite a few anglers will not fish for trout again until spring and opening day on the lowland waters. Rods and reels will be closeted, tackle stored. Some will tie flies, most will begin the annual rituals of winter-idled anglers everywhere; book and magazine reading by a warming fire, sporting show attendance, fishing club gatherings, haunting the fly shops, pontificating on the Internet fishing forums, and sundry all of the many survival strategies of the seasonally displaced fisherman. There is a kind of hum-drum predictability to it all. Yet perhaps there is more. No, I do not mean the mystical and obsessional Olympic Peninsula Rainforest winter Steelhead season; for which there is no cure or treatment except to stand hips deep in the numbingly icy waters, in howling wind and rain, swinging a wet fly in the turbid jade green flows with zombie-like expectancy. No; I am reminding you trout fishers that the fine art of Sea Run Coastal Cutthroat Trout fly fishing can be pursued on our area beaches, using floating lines and dry flies if you like, all winter long. Yes; November through March- all good fishing months when most anglers wouldn’t be caught dead out on an exposed Puget Sound salt-chuck beach with fly rod in hand. And you will have those beaches mostly to yourself. There are enough mild, not too windy nor wet, winter days here to make beach fishing a delightfully frequent possibility. And this creates a welcome diversion from the gloominess of grey skies, short days and the waiting for river flows to return to fishable flows between storms. You might even forget that it is winter. Especially when we get a few warmer and sunnier days in February, and the termites start hatching out of the rotting logs on the beach- and a nice fluffy, ruddy brown colored Stimulator fly will fool a cruising trout in shallow water.

For romance and serendipity there may not be much more fun in sea-run Cutthroat Trout fly fishing than skating a big bushy dry fly or popper on the surface of a strong tidal flow. Fellow fly angler Leland Miyawaki says of fishing with his own design Beach Poppers: “It’s the most fun you can have on a beach with your clothes on”. Skating, waking, stripping and shaking his fly can be addictive and mesmerizing; and then the water begins to bulge, as a wake forms behind and you realize that a big fish is chasing down your skittering popper; Slam!, and the game is on!. Poppers have been around in various forms and styles all over the world for many years. But Leland has reinvented the art and joy of tying and fishing these flies with his own Miyawaki Beach Popper. Try them and you may never want to fish beneath the surface again.

For several years I have made a foray to the beaches around Christmas day, weather permitting, armed with a few flies, and on most trips I catch one or two trout in as many hours of pleasant fishing. If you bring along a rucksack, a newspaper or book, a lunch and a thermos, you can make a day of it. I like that kind of pace. With so many good beaches and local access, it’s hard to ignore. There are more miles of beach to explore here, to wade or not to wade, casting for sea-run Coastal Cutthroat Trout, than you could ever cover in a lifetime, much less an active winter of adventure. It is too easy to get stuck in a rut of fishing in the same old places in the same old ways. Get out and take a walk someplace new, explore and experiment. You might surprise yourself with another productive fishing spot or a new way of doing things. And you might beat the winter doldrums and flab too. Sea-runs move often, they rarely stay in one spot for more than one tide cycle, neither should you. So keep moving.

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Don’t wade too deep; knee deep to shin deep is

fine. Once you begin wading deep you can push fish

away, and you will be losing your body core temperature

the whole time you are fishing no matter how well you

layer your clothing. Frequent breaks to warm up are a

good strategy. Better yet; don’t allow yourself to get cold

to begin with. Simply walking out of the water for a few

minutes occasionally is usually enough to warm you,

along with snacks and sipping hot thermos drinks or soup

during the day. It’s supposed to be fun. Try to work your

fly in the shallows before you ever actually do any

wading. Standing on the dry beach at waters edge I once

caught a 12 pound ocean returning Coho salmon in two

feet of water right in front of me this way. Trout feed in

ridiculously shallow water sometimes. Any time of year

you could have a good day of catching Cutthroat right at

the edges all day, and never once step in the water to do

it. But only if you try.

Don’t get caught in the “high tide” mentality. We have

enough structure and current here on Admiralty Inlet and

around the Olympic Peninsula region beaches that you can

catch sea-run Cutthroat at any time of tide on most days, if

you just work at it. It won’t hurt you to learn the structures of

a beach by visiting it on a minus tide day and watching the

flows as a tide comes in. One good thing is to find current

flowing along a beach, on any tide, from there your fishing is

just like freshwater river fishing anywhere. Having bait around

helps, so be on the lookout for birds feeding, especially sea

ducks and Cormorants and especially Osprey. Taking a little

time to study forage fish habitats and behavior will pay off too.

Look for gravel and cobblestone bottom beaches with moving

water at some time of tide. Spurs of land, points and bars,

ledges and humps, all indicate some current at some point of

tide. Sea-run Cutthroat like an active fly so don’t be afraid to

keep that fly moving and alive! Strip-Shake-Rattle-N-Roll! Mix

it up and make it look real. No bait fish with a set of trout teeth

chasing it slows down or stops. It’s not paranoia if they are

really after you! Once you find a good spot and catch a few

fish, don’t get “stuck”- keep moving. Even a few steps at a time

once in a while can make a big difference. Make an adventure

of it. But remember where you caught the last one!

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A nine foot five or six weight fly rod is fine. I like the medium to fast action rods, especially on a windy day or when I’m pushing big poppers or fluffy flies. The Switch and Spey rods are gaining in popularity on the beaches these days too. A 12 foot six weight seems fine. I prefer a floating fly line all year round. But many people swear by the newer intermediate sink clear lines and sink tip lines. Using a dry line I can adjust my leader length according to the fly I am using and depth that I want to fish. In the broader, slower flows of most shallow water beach fishing situations here this is a refreshingly simple affair. A nine foot factory tapered, knotless 4X or 3X monofilament leader should cover most of it. Have extra spools of tippet and your leaders will last much longer. I use all kinds of trout and steelhead flies for this fishing but I especially like Leland’s Beach Popper and big brushy Steelhead muddlers like Bill McMillan’s Steelhead Caddis. Generally I try to avoid long shank hooks and limit my hooks to size # 4 and # 6. I also use bait fish flies like the Clouser Minnow. I opt for more natural or imitative colors and patterns overall. Larger and longer shank hooks can easily kill a Cutthroat Trout. Remember that by law we are to “release all fish without avoidable injury”, as these fish are protected from harvest on Washington’s marine waters. If you dress properly for winter weather, though often it is quite mild here, being aware of the colder water temperatures on Puget Sound waters, and if you come with an open mind and a positive attitude, you won’t ever be disappointed. Winter sea-run Cutthroat fly fishing on our beaches can become a new addition to your outdoors and angling life. Thankfully our regional beaches have easy access and ample parking, and much of the best fishing is right at our doorstep on the Olympic Peninsula. So what are you waiting for? Don’t let the brown muddy rivers stop you- get out and fish!