Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Summer Solstice


Your Olympic Peninsula fly fishing guide.
Catch and Release, fly fishing only!



Summer! Well, almost . . .
.
   The summer solstice came in with a bang last night. We had thunder storms for a few hours here late last night. And we had a full "strawberry moon" too. There's a little rain in the forecast here mid week, but it shouldn't stop our fishing plans. We still have a few weeks of "Sprummer" to get through here in Western Washington. The garden is growing like crazy and I am mowing and weeding as fast as I can. 

   I got out on the beach with a few friends last week, for some sea-run cutthroat trout fishing. We did a benefit trip for Chad Brown and his Soul River Runs Deep programs. Brian Lencho made the donation, and he brought along Leland Miyawaki and Craig Lannigan for the day.  It was a beautiful morning to fish. We had a magical Japanese "Bento" lunch, provided by Leland. And we got to fish a little in the afternoon, before the thunder got too close for my comfort. Once you have been hit by lightning, you never take it for granted again. (I will tell that story here someday.) 


The Three Amigos.

Leland created this beautiful Bento.

Wonderfully careful . . .


Carefully wonderful.

Sake Salute!

Fishing with Leland.

Afternoon session with Leland . . . And thunder.


Waiting out the storm. The rain got cold!


We ended up at the Spruce Goose Cafe.


Hot home made pie and coffee!


    It's always good to spend a day with friends on the water. But doubly so when it means that there are some deserving kids or veterans, who are going to be doing a little better because of these donations. Please support Soul River Runs Deep.




This is probably the most relaxing way to fish for sea-run cutthroat.
One angler, maybe two,  Call or write for details.


Your Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guide and Instructor

    I am guiding fly fishers on the Olympic Peninsula beaches, rivers and streams. We walk and wade, or row along the shorelines in the dory, fly fishing for sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout in freshwater and saltwater, and in the rivers for Cutthroat trout and summer steelhead. This is all strictly catch and release, traditional, barbless single hook, fly fishing only. Lunch, snacks, soft beverages, and use of some equipment is included. I also offer personalized and private fly fishing and fly casting instruction for beginners through advanced casters. I would be happy to help you plan your Olympic Peninsula fly fishing adventure, for all levels of ability, beginner to expert. Public presentations, Naturalist Guide, rowboat picnics, tide pool and  river trail day trips. Please call, write or email for booking details. Now booking for April through October and beyond. 

Bob Triggs
Little Stone Flyfisher
P.O. Box 261
Port Townsend, WA
98368

Licensed Washington State Guide 
Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Trout Unlimited Aquatic Educator Award
2006 W.S.U.Beach Watcher / Water Watcher graduate
U.S.C.G First Aid/CPR/BLS/AED/BBP/HIV Certified

Phone: 360-385-9618



Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Juneuary


Your Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guide.
Catch and Release, Fly Fishing Only!





Casting on the sprummer tides.

     It wasn't but  a few weeks ago that everyone was putting away their winter sweaters and turning off the heat. And now it's cold and grey and wet, and there's been some fresh snow in the mountains, and the gardens are soaking wet. Up in the mountains the rivers have perked up nicely, without blowing up. All of this portends for good fishing conditions ahead. Out on the beaches we have had some good days, even in the bright sun and heat, which doesn't seem to bother the sea-run cutthroat trout at all. And with water temperatures in the low 50 degree range in Puget Sound right now, that's really perfect trout fishing conditions. Compared to a year ago, when we had drought conditions by this time, and the rivers were so low, with no snow pack to melt for the early season, this cool wet spring feels so good. So stop complaining. It won't be long before you are praying for a wet, cloudy day again.


Thick a fog.

     Something that I have noticed is that when we do get these brief June cooling periods, and the ocean weather returns for a few weeks, and everything gets a good, deep, slow soaking, the subsequent warm up into true summer weather is going to bring a whole new cycle of life along with it. On the Puget Sound beaches there are miles of logs, stumps, pilings and other woody debris. Not to mention dense vegetation; trees, shrubbery, beach grasses, meadow grasses, etc. This shoreline habitat harbors and sustains myriad species of insect life; ants, beetles, termites, bees, moths etc. As well as rodents, snakes, lizards, etc. All of which can be forage for sea-run cutthroat trout. So just as one might be mindful of the various insects and mayflies, and their life cycles in freshwater trout fishing environments, it pays to be aware of what's for dinner on the beaches too. And put some ants, beetle and dry fly patterns in your beach fly boxes. 


I especially like the Randall Kauffmann Stimulator fly,
 in size #6 for sea-runs. Please crush your barbs!

    Every significant change in the weather, such as this Juneuary cool off, and recent rains, brings some shift in the availability and behavior of forage species, and the way that trout feed on them. And likewise, once the warmer, drier air returns, and the summer weather stabilizes, you'll see more changes again. But you've got to be there to see it. That should keep you on your toes!  It won't hurt to take a walk along the beaches, well above the tide lines, and kick around in the beach wrack, roll over some smaller logs, and see what kind of bugs and other critters you can find there. Then get some flies in your box that match that color, profile and size. Sure, you can catch them on Wooly Boogers. But there's an art to riddling these things out. And when you get it right, you'll be rewarded.  



This is probably the most relaxing way to fish for sea-run cutthroat.
One angler, maybe two,  Call or write for details.



Your Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guide and Instructor

    I am guiding fly fishers on the Olympic Peninsula beaches, rivers and streams. We walk and wade, or row along the shorelines in the dory, fly fishing for sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout in freshwater and saltwater, and in the rivers for Cutthroat trout and summer steelhead. This is all strictly catch and release, traditional, barbless single hook, fly fishing only. Lunch, snacks, soft beverages, and use of some equipment is included. I also offer personalized and private fly fishing and fly casting instruction for beginners through advanced casters. I would be happy to help you plan your Olympic Peninsula fly fishing adventure, for all levels of ability, beginner to expert. Public presentations, Naturalist Guide, rowboat picnics, tide pool and  river trail day trips. Please call, write or email for booking details. Now booking for April through October and beyond. 


Bob Triggs
Little Stone Flyfisher
P.O. Box 261
Port Townsend, WA
98368

Licensed Washington State Guide 
Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Trout Unlimited Aquatic Educator Award
2006 W.S.U.Beach Watcher / Water Watcher graduate
U.S.C.G First Aid/CPR/BLS/AED/BBP/HIV Certified

Phone: 360-385-9618





Thursday, June 2, 2016

Early June Tides



Your Olympic Peninsula Fly fishing guide.
Catch & release, fly fishing only!
Early June Tides

Spring sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout.
Photo credit: Mauro Regio

   We have been enjoying some "summerish" weather through most of the month of May. And we've met up with some fine sea-run cutthroat on the beaches too. As we would expect, we have also seen plenty of younger cutthroat trout, fresh from the streams, and about six to eight inches long. These trout would be approximately three years old now. They may grow as much as half an inch per month while they are in the saltwater. This another reason why we try to use smaller flies, not greater then size #6, with short to medium shank hooks. No need to set the hook on these little wild trout. Just let them shake off. Most of them will do it on their own, if you just give them a little slack in the line and leader. Having these smaller trout around bodes well for the future of sea-run Cutthroat trout fishing here.

   This coming Saturday brings a new moon, and some big tide changes along with it. For the next week we will see some very low tides during the mid days. So this will allow us to fish through the bottom of the ebb, and well into the incoming tide in a full day of fishing the beaches. And even though we are getting a little June-U-Ary weather for this week, it looks like the weekend is going to be clearing, with little wind, and fair skies for days to come. 


You can learn a lot from fishing through the change of tides.

      People ask me what the best tide is for fly fishing for Puget Sound sea-run Cutthroat trout on the beaches. And I try to encourage them to fish every stage of tide, and not to get hung up on any particular stage, high or low. But if I had to pick just one stage of tide to fish- it would be just as the incoming tide sets up, and the flood is creating a subtle, slow shift in the currents, carrying the fresh scent of cold, plankton-rich waters, schools of bait and other forage, and the hope of a few wild trout getting on the feed. Trout are very sensitive to changes in tidal currents, especially as pertains to directional changes, and changes in forage behavior. The late Gary La Fontaine called that "behavioral shift." It applies to many aquatic organisms, especially regarding behavioral changes with light, as the sun rises, or sets. But it is also true of changing tidal flows. Focusing on areas where there is some current are going to help with presentation of the fly. And in many instances the trout will prefer that tidal flow too. Not every location will fish the same way at each stage of tide. So it takes time to learn what may be possible in any particular location. You will discover that some places will fish much better on the outgoing, or falling tides. It takes time on the water. That's the adventure of sea-run fishing.  


The Prize!



This is probably the most relaxing way to fish for sea-run cutthroat.
One angler, maybe two,  Call or write for details.



Your Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guide and Instructor

    I am guiding fly fishers on the Olympic Peninsula beaches, rivers and streams. We walk and wade, or row along the shorelines in the dory, fly fishing for sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout in freshwater and saltwater, and in the rivers for Cutthroat trout and summer steelhead. This is all strictly catch and release, traditional, barbless single hook, fly fishing only. Lunch, snacks, soft beverages, and use of some equipment is included. I also offer personalized and private fly fishing and fly casting instruction for beginners through advanced casters. I would be happy to help you plan your Olympic Peninsula fly fishing adventure, for all levels of ability, beginner to expert. Public presentations, Naturalist Guide, rowboat picnics, tide pool and  river trail day trips. Please call, write or email for booking details. Now booking for April through October and beyond. 


Bob Triggs
Little Stone Flyfisher
P.O. Box 261
Port Townsend, WA
98368

Licensed Washington State Guide 
Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Trout Unlimited Aquatic Educator Award
2006 W.S.U.Beach Watcher / Water Watcher graduate
U.S.C.G First Aid/CPR/BLS/AED/BBP/HIV Certified

Phone: 360-385-9618