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

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