It is a great time of year to get out on Hood Canal and chase some Sea Run Cutthroat. Now that the Governor Inslee has opened up the ability to go fishing, and also hire a guide we are back in business taking clients out on the water.
Chum fry are still frolicking along the shore lines of Hood Canal and SRCs are actively feeding on them and engaged in whole heartedly eating away at them as a vital fat producing food source. This is streamer fishing at its best!
It is amazing how carnivorous these Sea Run Cutthroat can be. A few years ago, I caught a nice little cutty not more than 12 inches long than manager to inhale a full size adult herring. The herring was sticking half way out its mouth, not even beginning the digestion process – it didn’t matter though he was still trying to eat my fly too! That’s what you call hungry.
Tactics – The best way to approach the chum fry hatch and fishing for them is actually from the shore. Chum fry travel slowly along the shore, much of the time in less than a foot or two of water. The cutty’s are right behind them, and will actively chase them into the shallows. A floating line and a light chum fry pattern will work well in these scenarios. As you begin your approach to the beach, just sit and watch for a few minutes. Look for chum fry activity, or fish chasing them. Then slowly move into the area of activity and stand back on the beach and cast to them. If the fish are super shallow and the water is clear, kneel down to lower your profile and stand back on the beach a ways to not spook them. Cast, then give short and non-aggressive strips back into towards you. No takes? Try quartering your cast down the beach to allow your fly to be in the “kill zone” for a higher percentage of the time. As you progress your approach to the beach, slowly wade into the water, still utilizing the quartering your cast down the beach approach. Slowly extend the length of your cast to cover more water and up your percentage of putting it in front of a higher percentage of fish.
Utilize the steelhead swinging game approach – cast – take a step down the beach – cast – take a step down the beach. Cover ground, the fish are moving and foraging so should you.
Utilize these simple tactics next time you go fly fishing on Hood Canal. We are guiding again and can take single angler trips, or two anglers from the same household. To book contact:
Capt. Chad Gillespie – Fjord Fly Fishing
www.fjordflyfishing.com
Call or text – 509-591-2029
Email: chad@fjordflyfishing.com