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Hello Happening Creekside Enthusiasts. Welcome to all the new folks
on the list...the information you are about to receive is strictly
non-confidential, highly cost-free and brought to you, lovingly,
by Creekside Angling Company and it's subsidiaries.
This information is not intended for use in any gambling or gaming
pursuit, nor does it guarantee that you'll actually catch any fish.
It's the thought that counts they say, particularly this time of
year.
The rivers are dropping down a bit, but are still pretty high. The
conditions are somewhat less than perfect, but the freezing level
is down, around 3000', and temps too are down with the few clouds
around, so maybe..just maybe, your favorite waters are ok, or close
to ok...
So, that being said, I'll tell you what I know.
The Snoqualmie is pretty high. Visibility
is a foot or two, but we've had some recent reports of fish being
hooked (on flies). The Raging River is putting fairly clear water
into the Snoqualmie at Fall City, and that's a great place for fish
to stack up. And stacked up they are, both in the mouth of the Raging
and in the Snoqualmie under the bridge. Steelhead, Chum salmon,
and some various other stragglers are lingering around there. We
had a gentleman come in the shop today who was pale with enthusiasm
at having hooked a couple of fish in that area. Normally, I wouldn't
pass on unsubstantiated info like that, but this guy was downright
elated...no shocked....too shocked to be exaggerating much. So there
it is. It's out there. Take it for what it's worth.(?) I myself
am more inclined to head up to the Skykomish above Sultan and check
out that water. There are certainly more Chum up there, and there's
probably better access to more water there, so, do the math.
Contrasting, bright colors are the most likely to attract the chums.
The most popular combinations are Chartreuse and White, Fluorescent
Fuscia (bright pink) and purple, and Black & Purple. These are
generally constructed of spun marabou on a big hook..i.e. #2 or
1/0. Ideally, your fly will be down close to the bottom (where the
fish are), getting into their little faces (mouths). The winter
waters are colder, the fish less active than in warmer water, so
they probably won't move very far to chase down your fly. (note
the absence of the words "never" or "always"...they
don't exist...not gonna use 'em, nope.) So to get your fly there,
use a sinking tip line (type 3 or better, depending on the depth
and current speed), and a very short (3-4') leader. The tendency
is to use very heavy leader material, but don't forget that some
of those chums are super-charged and you simply won't be able to
turn them around before they run you down to Timbuck Two, so don't
use anything much heavier than you can break off if you need to.
Most folks use 20# backing and fly lines are about 20# test as well
(I think #8 and up are 30#). Chum salmon
can also be a good test of your (our) backing knots...losing a $50
fly line on a fish is a feeling akin to slamming the locked car
door shut with the keys in the ignition in the rain at night..in
the Bronx...in winter...wearing a pink tutu.
Nuff said.
The Stilly above Deer Creek is in shape, according to our resident
resident, Mike Kinney (lives on the river) (Mike O'the River, we
sometimes call him...discreetly), and there are fish in there. It's
closed to Chum fishing, however. If you go up there, you are fishing
for Steelhead, OK? Mike also added that the Sauk and Skagit are
still HUGE. Giant. Too big.
So, in all of these cases, as I started to babble before, the fish
presumably won't move very far for the fly, so try to cover the
runs as systematically as possible i.e. cast across current, drift
down until the fly is hanging down below you (there's no need to
wade out 30 feet into the river unless it's super shallow...the
fish will hold near the shore, particularly when the water's dirty),
then take a step or two down stream, and cast again. This way your
fly is swinging through a lot of water...many chances for fish to
suck it down. Be confident. Don't change flies much. Stay with it.
Be the ball. You 'Da man/woman.
Not much news on the local lakes being
heard around here, but, as I said last week, man local lakes are
open year 'round and offer great trouting opportunities. Any hatches
you are likely to witness will be Chironamids, and the fish in the
lakes, like those in the rivers, are considerably more sluggish
as water temps drop. You've gotta be in their face. A big streamer,
bugger, leech will undoubtedly be the most enticing offering you
can make.
Puget Sound:
Horrible weather, blowing like stink. Cutthroat are still out there
in good numbers and eating small, traditional wet flies: Skykomish
Sunrise, Polar Shrimp, Max Canyon would work....traditional wets.
Fish are feeding within feet of shore on Euphausids, but that little
creature is so little, that you're more likely to get the Cutthroat's
attention with the attractors. Slow sinking line. Short leader.
Just do it.
Rocky Ford, the old standby far from home, is fishing well. Your
biggest enemy over there right now is wind. I'll spare you the tactics
for Rocky Ford this week, but if you'd like a run down, let me know.
That'll be something we put on our New & Improved Web Site,
soon, I hope.
Thanks for reading and for supporting your Local
Fly Shop!!!
Please stop reading here if you are easily offended or you are my
mother-in-law.
Top Ten Fly Patterns OR Pet Names for the Mother-in-Law
10. 'Ole Battle Axe
9. Bitch Creek
8. Scud
7. Royal Stimulator
6. Girdle Bug
5. Pale Evening Dun
4. Terranasty
3. Feather Duster
2. The Agitator
1. Spent Spinster
2.
Ok, that was pretty weak, but the effort was there....hope no one's
offended!!!
Hugh Pastoriza
©1994-2002 Creekside Angling Company All Rights
Reserved.
Creekside Angling Company
1180 NW Gilman Blvd. Suite C5
Issaquah, WA 98027
425-392-3800 (voice)
425-557-8928 (fax)
info@creeksideangling.com
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