Much of the earlier month of September was blustery, and cold, wet, cloudy . You can also download the Fishing B.C. Historically, the sea run cutthroat trout fishery on Vancouver Island has been one shrouded in secrecy, however, with the right timing comes the opportunity for the fly angler to tangle with this scrappy sea trout nearly year-round. And truth be told, autumn is probably the best fishing season of all anyway. I also offer public presentations on fly fishing, fly tying, fly casting, and related conservation topics, for groups, fly clubs, educational programs, civic groups, etc. Region IV and VI. And now the rivers are getting some seriously good flows, and a bit too high to fish in most west-end Olympic Peninsula locations. There is also an anadromous, or ‘sea-run’ coastal cutthroat. Thread starter Joe; Start date Feb 9, 2002; J. Joe Member. Sea-run cutthroat fishing in style. When tides are slack, food is not moving, so sit on the beach and drink a beer during slack tide. Strip-sets or raising the rod, doesn't matter... they just don't stick. On Vancouver Island, sea run trout are open to sport fishing April 1-Mar 31. What I love about autumn fishing here is how beautiful the forests and rivers are when the moisture, fog and rains are seeping into the parched soils. Resident coastal cutthroat trout are one of three subspecies of cutthroat trout that occur in Washington and one of the two that are native. Beach Fishing for Sea-run Cutthroat Trout – a catch and release fishery all year round April 5, 2020 Spincaster Although present on tidal beaches year round, probably the best place and time of year for fishing for sea run cutthroat trout in tidal waters, … Anyone who's fished sea-run cutthroat probably has had this experience- stripping line back, to feel several violent tugs, but have no hookups. ... to fish many places, all in the same day. Except for when I am fishing a river . Boundaries differ between rivers, but usually the tidal boundary will be located somewhere near where the first bridge crosses the river. If you have a pair of waders, a 7-weight fly rod and a selection of bait-imitating flies designed for Puget Sound species, you are ready to begin the adventure of fly-fishing in Puget Sound. And I am going to get out to the rivers for some fall dry-line cutthroat trout fishing. Sea-run cutthroat like cover. Salmon beach fishing fires up in June with July – Mid October being the peak months for all targeted species of salmon well sea Run cutthroat trout and bull trout fishing can be great year round. Species: Coastal cutthroat… Sea Run Cutthroats from the beach and the end of the ’15 fishing season. I will be fishing into the sunset high tides through this weekend. This is a good spot for easy access to the water and there is a good chance for sea run cutthroat north of the park. Year-round action available for sea run cutthroat and seasonally for salmon. ( Log Out /  Fresh October flies for sea-run cutthroat trout and summer run steelhead. There is no way to know with one hundred percent certainty if the fish think this fly is a squid, or something else entirely, but the combination of the light tan tail with the white body is something most cutthroat just can’t resist. Some have lost family members. I don't tie enough of these flies, often enough, to get good at them. Sound Fly Fishing Guide Service will take you on a walk with fly rods in hand, to pursue the sea run cutthroat. I can cast them upstream and let them drift on the surface, and swing them out to a hang downstream, and jig them there a little before retrieving them. The pictures accompanying this article were taken on beaches within an hour drive or ferry ride from Seattle. So now that I am almost dead, I'm trying to take better care of myself. Intrepid Anglers (425) 890-1681. We walk and wade, fly fishing for sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout in freshwater and saltwater, and in the rivers for Cutthroat trout and summer steelhead. I’m treating this fish and the Steelhead separately, because they frequent the waters of all the coastal counties and being anadromous, they migrate miles inland up various rivers to spawn. Learn the secrets to becoming a confident successful fly and spin casting angler on our local beaches as well as Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island. And after so many summer weeks of hot days, and the acrid, wildfire smoke,  burning our eyes and spoiling many days on the water, this autumn comes as a welcome relief. I guess I could work at that and get there with more uniformity. The rivers have been getting a good soaking, with many smaller waters running high and dirty weeks ahead of the usual first punch of rain we ordinarily expect. Early Run SRCs. As with many systems that have both cutthroat and rainbow trout, you occasionally catch cutbows. (I use  Arizona Sparkle Dubbing. And this is a major reason why we are seeing anglers enjoying such good saltwater Cutthroat fly fishing opportunity all over the region today. developed specific for the Danish sea run trout might work very well for sea run cutthroat in Puget Sound also. We've been getting some crummy weather here, so there's enough time. They are threadbare. . Cutthroat trout are like miniature steelhead. Most of the time I like to give these flies plenty of action, no matter what I am fishing for. September and October for Sea-Run Cutthroat - Hands down the best fishing off the beaches for cutthroat occurs during the fall in the Puget Sound. Product Description Puget Sound in western Washington is home to sea-run cutthroat trout and silver salmon which roam close to shore and can be great fun for fly fishing anglers. But for now, I am digging it. You should too. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. View all posts by Kristy V. Webster. ( Log Out /  Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Your Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guide. I'm liking it already! Your full day will consist of fishing 2-4 beaches with minimal drive time in between while half day trips offer 1-2 beaches. Change ). Retention of 2 hatchery trout per day is allowed (indicated by a clipped adipose fin). I’ve been told that significant tide changes of more than 6 feet tend to increase fish activity. ", http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2018/10/a-strong-atmospheric-river-should-hit.html. Marty Leith's beautiful sea-run cutthroat. That can really move the bait around. For full, area specific freshwater regulations, visit http://www.env.gov.B.C..ca/fw/fish/regulations/#Synopsis. This is strictly catch and release, traditional fly fishing only. We barely saw any pink salmon. However, sea-run cutthroat trout are a year-round species here. On the Gamakatsu T-10 6H hooks these muddlers. , for all levels of ability. They prefer rocks and gravel. Below that, you are fishing tidal water and D.F.O. In a strictly fish-catching sense, this is the best line available for fishing from a boat or a steep beach setting. A very popular beach close to Gig Harbor. We've got 8 days of season left here. My sea run cutthroat fly box is my most minimalistic, containing only: rolled bead-head muddler minnows, classic wooly buggers, simple egg patterns, shrimp and a Yellow Sally (sea run cutthroat are said to prefer yellow). https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/sep/12/spokane-fly-fisherman-ties-flies-sparks-, https://www.theflyfishjournal.com/2019/09/dozenfordorian/, http://olympicpeninsulaflyfishing.blogspot.com, https://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/guides/littlestone/, www.washingtonflyfishing.com/guides/littlestone. It's nice when you have a friend do the rowing. The water has cooled off, and the fish have turned on. Almost every stream and many beaches on our coastline are home to these fish. This part was a key reason I chose this beach. The cutthroat are feeding heavily on bait here, mostly sandlance and herring. And somehow, despite our being some 6 inches behind for rainfall this. Fish behind the Massimo Restaurant side, not the spit side. Especially those containing pilings, eel grass, kelp beds, mussels or oysters. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Beaches on the Strait. Other known hot spots include Big Qualicum River and Cluxewe River. I tie them on traditional salmon style hooks, with an upturned eye, simply because I like the way that they look. Rather than being confined to a small piece of public beach, park or other public access area, anglers have the freedom to explore – at will – the many productive Puget Sound Searun Cutthroat beaches. There’s a thriving salt-water cutthroat fishery in Seattle’s Lincoln Park. These are Coastal Cutthroat trout that can be fished for from shore from one of our countless public beaches, or from a boat with one of our fantastic fishing charters in the area! In areas 12-27, which cover most of Vancouver Island’s tidal shoreline, regulations stipulate that there is no retention of wild trout, retention of hatchery marked fish only (minimum 30cm length) and a barbless hook is a must (to minimize trauma to the fish and increase survival rates). . Likely locations include estuaries & gravelly, stream-fed, gently sloping beaches with returning salmon at first or last light. Mount Rainier presides over the skyline of south Puget Sound where you can catch searun cutthroat trout every month of the year. Popular colors include black, olive, brown, white, and combination of these colors. It’s hard to beat a summers evening swinging a fly into Puget Sound from the shore for Sea Run Cutthroat’s. When these big season changing winds do come, usually out of the southwest quadrant, you can sometimes see how the wind will push bait downwind toward a lee shore.The bait can be found milling about in the surf, and right up onto the beach sometimes. The bugs will eventually end up on the downwind end of the lake. This is the best sea-run coastal cutthroat trout fishing season we could possibly hope for. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Coho fishing from the beaches here in Marine Area #9 has been uneventful most of the season. One thing that I have learned about sea run Cutthroat trout fishing is that you have to take it one day, one trip, one tide, even just one moment at a time. And it was howling. Please call or write for details. Walking the beaches of Puget Sound is not only a calming experience for each one of us but is also an experience to take a closer look at what this beautiful body of water offers us from an anglers point of view. For many anglers, trout fishing in saltwater is a new and exciting experience. Most marine areas are open year around but all Cutthroat fishing in Puget Sound is catch and release. Beach Fishing for Sea-run Cutthroat Trout – a catch and release fishery all year round April 5, 2020 Although present on tidal beaches year round, probably the best place and time of year for fishing for sea run cutthroat trout in tidal waters, is near stream mouths is September-October and April-May. Our lovely stint of balmy days and cool nights has given way to a full-on cold and wet reminder that it's time to break out the wool sweaters, heavy socks and rain jackets. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Good flatfish and sea-run cutthroat trout opportunities are available at Strawberry Point. The fishing is also accessible. Rivers stocked with cutthroat include the Campbell, Quinsam, Puntledge, Oyster, and Quatse. It is our belief that guides should teach and fish what their passion is and ours is the fish of Puget Sound. I was at the Meadowdale Beach Park last June, (a beautiful walk in beach) and this happened on three consecutive casts. Freshwater Fishing Regulations will apply, with mandatory catch & release for all wild fish (trout/steelhead/char). Enigmatic, nomadic phantoms – sometimes they are where you’d expect to find them, sometimes they are not. . Anyone who's fished sea-run cutthroat probably has had this experience- stripping line back, to feel several violent tugs, but have no hookups. You’ll rarely find sea-run cutthroat over sand. As i understand from what you write, fishing for sea run cutthroat is not very common where you live. Ideal Tides: Varies from beach to beach, fishing moving water is most important Clothing/Equipment Lists: Summer season, Winter season Rods and Lines: 6 wt rods with floating or intermediate lines Species: Resident Coho salmon, Sea Run Cutthroat trout Duration: Half day trip 4-5 hours fishing time, full day trip 8-9 hours fishing time Polnell and Rocky Points both provide good trolling opportunities for blackmouth. This is strictly catch and release, traditional fly fishing only. If your strip is slow and short, you’re probably missing fish. These local beaches offer a wonderful year round fly fishing opportunity for both the local and visiting angler. Yogi Berra once said: "If you don't know where you're going, you won't know when you get there.". The rain forest gets that deep, earthy fragrance back  It's like living in a Sierra Club calendar. Written by: Leland Miyawaki, former Fishing Manager, Orvis Bellevue (WA) A beautifully marked sea-run cutthroat caught on the surface with a Miyawaki Beach Popper. They’re designed to chase fast-moving baitfish such as sandlance, herring and salmon smolt. I was at the Meadowdale Beach Park last June, (a beautiful walk in beach) and this happened on three consecutive casts. The estuaries, eel grass flats and cobbled beaches of Puget Sound are without doubt among the best places anywhere to do so. Up the estuary, flood tide (incoming) and the last hour of ebb tide (outgoing) are said to be most productive, so long as the water is moving. Almost every stream and many beaches on our coastline are home to these fish. ( Log Out /  Most marine areas are open year around but all Cutthroat fishing in Puget Sound is catch and release. I use light line to present as naturally as possible – the majority of these fish are in the 12 to 18 inch range (although some can reach up to 8lbs). Hood Canal boast the best population and saltwater fishing for Sea Run Cutthroat trout in the world. The only way to learn the nuances of a specific beach is to be there to cast a line. Many have been injured. Keep in mind, when fishing the rivers for salmon, Department of Fisheries & Oceans (D.F.O) Freshwater Salmon Regulations apply. “The Coastal Cutthroat Coalition is proud to work alongside HCSEG, WDFW, and other partners to advance the knowledge around coastal cutthroat and their habitat.” “It’s not that often that we’re able to engage anglers with such a clear window into the scientific work that fish biologists and researchers do every day,” said James Losee, fish program manager for WDFW’s coastal region. This is strictly catch and release, traditional fly fishing only. Though high tide is normally preferred for beach fishing, on some beaches, low tide can expose more feeding territory or cause the fish to school up. Puget Sound in Washington is a stronghold of sea-run cutthroat trout fishing with its many tributaries and protected saltwater inlets and beaches. There was elk hair rubbed off all over the place. These cutthroat were the fish of the year. The fish seem to like them too. From a boat the fish are never out of range. The Sea Run Beach Popper features a slider-style foam head and trailing stinger hook. Resident coastal cutthroat trout are one of three subspecies of cutthroat trout that occur in Washington and one of the two that are native. A very popular beach close to Gig Harbor. The October Caddis hatch will be ongoing through late fall. Beach Fishing for Sea-run Cutthroat Trout – a catch and release fishery all year round April 5, 2020 Spincaster Although present on tidal beaches year round, probably the best place and time of year for fishing for sea run cutthroat trout in tidal waters, is near stream mouths is … Down from Alaska and the Sooke Basin, Writer, Photographer & angler... 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