Friday, November 2, 2018

The First Big Wet Slap!


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

"Red sky in morning, sailors take warning!"
photo credit: Walter Hodges/Jetta Productions 

    After so much mild summerish autumn weather, it was only a matter of time before the first big push of rain and wind would come funneling up the coast and slap us with a doozey. The rivers are up, the trees are down, the lights are off. But today the saltchuck here was beautiful. Between spates this is often the case.  The rivers have been lower than I wanted to fish over, for way too long. But  after this weather system passes through, (after the weekend), and the rivers are once again dropping into good shape, which may take a while, it will be time to get back on the rivers to swing flies for the hatchery run steelhead. In terms of average size, fighting abilities, and a fierce will to live, they hardly compare to their wild progenitors. But there's lots of them. they are relatively easy to catch, and we should do that. Just say'n.

The forecast is looking grim for the rivers right now though:

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2018/10/a-strong-atmospheric-river-should-hit.html

    These storms and rising waters do move the fish around. On the saltchuck too. And it is amazing how quickly the beaches can come back into good fishing shape after a big gnarly blow like the one we had here last night. These waters will often be clearly fish-able while the rivers will remain high and dirty for days, or even weeks. And we can expect to catch some heroic wild trout here now too. It never fails to amaze me how uniquely magical it is to be catching wild trout in the saltwater. It helps that we are situated in the Olympic Mountains Rainshadow too. this makes most storms much less severe for us, compared to the western slopes of the mountains. I have had some sublime, mild days over here on the salt, while the west-end was howling. Don't pay any attention to the weather man: Call me for the details.

Sea-run cutthroat fishing in style. Slow, stealthy and quiet.
One angler, one guide, one beautiful day.


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, fly fishing for sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout in freshwater and saltwater, and in the rivers for Cutthroat trout and summer steelhead. This is strictly catch and release, traditional 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. Public presentations, Naturalist Guide, rowboat picnics, tide pool and  river trail day trips. Please call, write or email for booking details. Now booking through autumn and beyond. Please call or write for details.

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

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

Phone: 360-385-9618


Tuesday, October 23, 2018

October's end.


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

The weather is changing.

   We have had an uncommonly mild, warm, dry and pleasant autumn here on the Olympic Peninsula so far. And the rivers are running low now, well below normal flows, as we have had very little rain. Not so good for trout fishing, especially with all of the leaves in the water on some breezy days. As October draws to a close, all of this is changing. For the next ten days, the forecast looks like light to moderate rainfall across western Washington. The southwest wind pattern, carrying Pacific Ocean warm moist air, is beginning to set up. The rivers should be on the rise over the next week or so. A hint of things to come as winter edges near.  We've had great sea-run cutthroat trout fishing on the beaches all along. And if the rains don't get too intense, we may have really good river flows for some more trout and summer steelhead fishing. There's some big sea-runs getting into our coastal rivers this time of year. The winter-run hatchery steelhead are coming too. And we owe it to them to go catch them. The rains will help.


Madrone in fall berries 


Does this dory make my ass look fat?
    
   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. Everything comes back to life, dripping wet. The rain forest gets that deep, earthy fragrance back  It's like living in a Sierra Club calendar. By late, dark, cold winter, that will get a little old. But for now, I am digging it. Lots of good fishing ahead! We'll be beach and river fishing all fall, and through December. 

 
Fly fishing for sea-run Cutthroat from a classic Swampscott Dory.
For one angler. By appointment only.


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, fly fishing for sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout in freshwater and saltwater, and in the rivers for Cutthroat trout and summer steelhead. This is strictly catch and release, traditional 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. Public presentations, Naturalist Guide, rowboat picnics, tide pool and  river trail day trips. Please call, write or email for booking details. Now booking through October and beyond. Please call or write for details.

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
W.S.U.Beach Watcher
U.S.C.G First Aid/CPR/BLS/AED/BBP/HIV Certified

Phone: 360-385-9618






Saturday, October 6, 2018

October Turning

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


Fresh October flies for sea-run cutthroat trout and summer run steelhead.

    We have been getting an extended "Indian Summer" here, with some very mild, sunny days on the water. After weeks of blustery conditions, and several cancellations, I finally got to fish with Leland again, for a day on the beaches, chasing cutthroat trout. We tried a few new spots, covered some beautiful water, and had a great lunch break. Sadly, I did not get any pictures of Leland napping on the beaches this time. Leland got into some aggressive cutthroat after lunch, and he seemed to be surrounded by trout chasing his popper. That action lasted for over an hour, and it was a hoot to watch. There's nothing quite like having wild trout attacking your fly, in shallow fast water. Coho season closed here last Sunday, after a seriously slow season on our beaches. Swinging  a #6 trout fly, on a five weight rod, with a 4X tippett, I got a nasty slashing hit from a slab of a coho, that immediately cut off my fly, and headed south like a streak. That the fish was on the surface, made it all the more spectacular. And I didn't mind it a bit. We just take it as it comes. 


Variations on the October Caddis. All boxed up and ready to go.

    The Olympic Peninsula rivers have been getting some rain and much improved flows for the last few weeks or more. Each cycle of rain seems to be brief enough to allow for some good fishing as the river levels drop. This has been an ideal set-up for some great fall fishing. We have not gotten any great flooding events as of yet, so things are fairly stable. The saltchuck has been busy with feeding sea-runs, lots of bait around this fall, and some of the biggest fish of the year. This has always been my favorite time of year. The refreshing cool air, the subtle changes of the fall foliage, wood smoke in the air. And the fall harvest of so many good things. The changeable weather keeps things stirred up and changing in the waters too. I like fishing in the hours and days after a storm or high water event. This keeps the fish moving. And that can really help the fishing,  as long as they aren't moving too darned much. These beautiful autumn days are not to be missed. I'll bring the lunch, with hot coffee or tea! 



My biggest autumn sea-run cutthroat trout, 
 at over 24-1/2 inches.



Fly fishing for sea-run Cutthroat from a classic Swampscott Dory.
For one angler. By appointment only.


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, fly fishing for sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout in freshwater and saltwater, and in the rivers for Cutthroat trout and summer steelhead. This is strictly catch and release, traditional 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. Public presentations, Naturalist Guide, rowboat picnics, tide pool and  river trail day trips. Please call, write or email for booking details. Now booking through October and beyond. Please call or write for details.

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
W.S.U.Beach Watcher
U.S.C.G First Aid/CPR/BLS/AED/BBP/HIV Certified

Phone: 360-385-9618


Thursday, September 27, 2018

Autumnal Equinox Reprieve

Your Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guide,
Catch & Release, Fly Fishing Only!

"Indian Summer"

     In this last week or so of September, since the autumnal equinox, we have been enjoying some remarkably fine conditions here on the Olympic Peninsula. And the tides have been perfect.  I will be fishing into the sunset high tides through this weekend. Then we'll be seeing some good early morning high tides to come. This is the best sea-run coastal cutthroat trout fishing season we could possibly hope for.


Coho fishing.
  
      Much of the earlier month of September was blustery, and cold, wet, cloudy . . .
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. And truth be told, autumn is probably the best fishing season of all anyway. The cutthroat are feeding heavily on bait here, mostly sandlance and herring. The punch of rain we got a few times, especially last weekend, has perked up the west-end Olympic Peninsula rivers, and moved the salmon, trout and summer steelhead upriver on the freshet. If you want to skate big fluffy dry flies, or drift soft hackle flies, for trout and summer runs in the rivers, this is the time to do it. The October Caddis hatch will be ongoing through late fall. The water has cooled off, and the fish have turned on. The only real problem with this time of year is that you can't be in more than one place at a time, and the fishing will be good just about everywhere. In my perfect world, I will be fishing on the beaches every chance I get. Except for when I am fishing a river . . .


Fish On!
Leland Miyawaki 's Beach Poppers work!

Fly fishing for sea-run Cutthroat from a classic Swampscott Dory.
For one angler. By appointment only.


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, fly fishing for sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout in freshwater and saltwater, and in the rivers for Cutthroat trout and summer steelhead. This is strictly catch and release, traditional 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. Public presentations, Naturalist Guide, rowboat picnics, tide pool and  river trail day trips. Please call, write or email for booking details. Now booking through October and beyond. Please call or write for details.

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
W.S.U.Beach Watcher
U.S.C.G First Aid/CPR/BLS/AED/BBP/HIV Certified

Phone: 360-385-9618

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Ahhhh . . . September!


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

Image may contain: outdoor
A late summer sea-run coastal cutthroat trout. Just under 20 inches.
Angler / Photo credit: Mauro Regio

    As I write this, in the last week of August, we are enjoying a  respite from the heat and smoke filled air that has plagued so many weeks of our summer. There are forest fires burning in every corner of the Pacific Northwest right now. Luckily, there are none burning nearby us. But we do get quite a bit of smoke at times. With the end of summer approaching, we begin to get some cooler days and, shifting breezes bring cooler onshore flow. And we have longer nights. The  air and water is cooling. The coho and chum salmon are running. And the trout are on the feed. I am focusing on fishing the saltchuck for now. We see some of the biggest sea-runs of the year, From right about now, and through October, I expect a few big bruisers on any day of fishing  Last Friday was no exception to this pattern, as we fished our way along the shoreline, rowing the dory, casting to the shallows, hitting some nice trout everywhere we went. And we caught a few really nice ones too. And it was sunny blue skies and cool breezes all day. That's an harbinger of autumn to hang onto. 


Image may contain: outdoor and water
A mother seal with her newborn pup.
Photo credit: Mauro Regio


Image may contain: outdoor and water
Another view of the same sea-run cutthroat trout.Photo credit: Mauro Regio

   
   Through the month of September
our Marine Area 9 coho salmon fishery is scheduled to remain open. So far there are a few fish being caught every day on our area beaches. The coho are not seemingly plentiful this season, but they are robust. It's been a few years since we have seen them this fat and healthy. Ocean conditions are improving.

    September and October may well be my favorite time of year here on the Olympic Peninsula waters. As the waters cool, and the rains return, and the fish begin feeding more, and the big October Caddis hatches begin around the autumn Solstice, so many more options for our fishing return. It will be time to return to the rivers. Summer run steelhead and sea-run cutthroat will be active in the rivers. Autumn dry line fishing at its best. And there's still sea-runs in the saltchuck . . .


Fly fishing for sea-run Cutthroat from a classic Swampscott Dory.
For one angler. By appointment only.


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, fly fishing for sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout in freshwater and saltwater, and in the rivers for Cutthroat trout and summer steelhead. This is strictly catch and release, traditional 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. Public presentations, Naturalist Guide, rowboat picnics, tide pool and  river trail day trips. Please call, write or email for booking details. Now booking through October and beyond. Please call or write for details.

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
W.S.U.Beach Watcher
U.S.C.G First Aid/CPR/BLS/AED/BBP/HIV Certified

Phone: 360-385-9618


Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Summer Sublime


Your Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guide.
Catch & Release, Fly Fishing Only!
Fly fishing for Coho salmon. 

      I am loving this superb, sunny summer weather! Even though I did get roasted a few weeks ago. But now that the second degree burns have healed, and the last layers of  skin have fallen from my ears and lips, I am back in action. Broad brimmed hat, sunglasses, long sleeve sun shirt, sun gloves, gobs of SPF 40 sunscreen . . . Check! I want to be able to remember how sweet this sunny warmth is four months from now, when it's cold and grey and raining.

   Salmon season opened on July 16th here this year.
Looking out on the Admiralty Inlet waters that morning at dawn, it looked like a naval invasion- Hundreds of fishing boats were working from point Wilson to the southern end of Marrowstone Island alone. And this went on for the entire first week. Last year the state closed the Chinook salmon season within a few weeks of the opener, because they had already nearly met the entire summer harvest quota. This year they closed it in one week flat. But this time they are evaluating the run size to see if it can be reopened later. We are still able to fish for coho though. Swinging flies in a tide current, wading in knee-deep water. That's the way I like to fish. We'll just have to wait and see how it goes.

UPDATED! Link here: https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=2175



Image may contain: one or more people
I'm breaking out these Bad Boys!

   Sea-run coastal cutthroat trout fishing has been up and down here so far, with our good days and slow days. I am certain that the brief extremes of heat had something to do with this. One thing that I have noticed is that we have more two-year-old and three-year-old cutthroat out in the saltchuck around here this year. And they are growing fast. Not surprising since the schools of juvenile herring here have really exploded this season.  So this fall the fishing might be really good again. The more the merrier. One of the more interesting reports came from a friend who saw a Minke whale, cruising along the edge of the beach, where he was wading and casting flies for cutthroat. I guess he got out of the water for a few minutes!  This is one of the great things about beach fishing here, we see a lot of cool stuff.

   We have had several very hot periods here so far, and we're well into the summer drought and fire season now. There are a record number of wildfires around the state right now. See: "Morning Briefing" here.  So if you are coming to the Olympic Peninsula waters to hike, camp or fish this summer, especially up in the mountains, you need to be careful about fires. Statewide Fire ban information here.   Olympic National Park will have it's own rules.


You can't have enough Clouser flies this time of year!

    When it gets this hot in the summer, mid to high 80's or higher, we can expect that some waters will warm up quickly. Dawn will be your best opportunity for trout fishing anywhere. Deeper lakes and some saltwater situations, will often have cooler water, and better fishing conditions during the day. The key is finding water at 60 degrees or cooler. Warmer water will stress the fish too much. On a bright summer day the saltwater shallows will be very warm. Find the cooler, deeper water on an incoming tide.  I have never really been a fan of heavy, deep sinking lines and weighted flies. But now is the time to be fishing deeper and slower, any way that you can do it. I will often rig two rods for a day, one with an intermediate sinking line, or sinking leader, and one with a floating line. That increases my options. It's amazing though, how deep you can drift a fly on a long leader, with a floating line. Clouser flies, bead head soft hackles, cone heads, etc., will sink like a stone with a slow enough drift, even in a current. I still much prefer surface fishing in the saltchuck, with Poppers, Sliders, Gurglers, Muddlers, etc. Many baitfish fly patterns can be tied sparsely, with no added weight, and will swim just beneath the surface with only moderate stripping action. Adding  a bit of fly floatant to a light streamer fly can really get it on top. This will work just as well in some lake fishing situations, before the bright sun gets out on the water and sends the fish down deep again.
Fly fishing for sea-run Cutthroat from a classic Swampscott Dory.
For one angler. By appointment only.


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, fly fishing for sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout in freshwater and saltwater, and in the rivers for Cutthroat trout and summer steelhead. This is strictly catch and release, traditional 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. Public presentations, Naturalist Guide, rowboat picnics, tide pool and  river trail day trips. Please call, write or email for booking details. Now booking through October and beyond. Please call or write for details.

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
W.S.U.Beach Watcher
U.S.C.G First Aid/CPR/BLS/AED/BBP/HIV Certified

Phone: 360-385-9618


   

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Mad Dogs and Fishing Guides



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


  Summer is right on time this year. I know because, after 9 hours of rowing around the bay under the hot sun yesterday, today I look like a boiled beet. There's always that one day, usually earlier in the season,when I forego the sunscreen, and I pay the price. Hopefully, I have gotten this stupidity out of the way for the rest of the year. Please remember to cover up, wear a long sleeved sun shirt, shading hat, sun gloves, and use a strong, zinc based, sunscreen, and drink plenty of water through the day. Sunglasses are mandatory.

  The summer sun has been heating up the beaches here. And the softer, shallower waters, back eddies and tide pools, lagoons etc., are warming up too. Look for the cooler water, and currents, on the incoming tides, to  provide the better opportunities to meet up with trout and salmon now. It doesn't always have to be deeper water, but often that is the case as well. Now is the time of year that I will fish sink tips, and sinking leaders. A favorite is the "Clear Poly" type leaders, and Airflow has some of the best options, 7 of them, from floating to deep sinking. Personally, I like the longer ones.

  I am hearing good things from the salty west end of the Olympic Peninsula, as salmon season is in full-swing there. They're seeing good numbers of coho, and they are bigger than they have been in the last few years. Puget Sound salmon fishing has been turning out some really good news lately too. Ocean (feeding) conditions are improving for the migrating salmon and steelhead. This year there were markedly higher than usual numbers of coho smolt counted as they moved out of their streams and into the saltwaters. So maybe now we can appreciate the utility of the closures put in place a few years ago. I am really looking forward to fishing the tides this year. Salmon season opens here in Washington Marine Are #9 on July 16th this year. It will be interesting to see how it goes. The new moon is upon us, with some serious tidal exchanges, and the tides are going to be great for the next few weeks leading up to the full moon. I like this for salmon fishing, and hot weather sea-run cutthroat trout fishing too. Bring on the cold water!

 
Were seeing some nice sea-run coastal cutthroat trout lately.

     June brought plenty of rain to make up for the dry May we had out here. The rivers got a few nice shots of fresh flows, the mountains got some snow. It's melting fast now. And the Olympic Peninsula rivers are now running low and clear. If you are into hunting for trout now, in these rivers, you will need to bring a headlamp for dawn patrol. Dawn and dusk will the best times. Smaller dry flies, ants, beetles, etc., can be very good. Patience and lots of hiking just might pay off. Whatever you do, wherever you go, savor every moment of this beautiful summer!

Fly fishing for sea-run Cutthroat from a classic Swampscott Dory.
By appointment only.


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, fly fishing for sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout in freshwater and saltwater, and in the rivers for Cutthroat trout and summer steelhead. This is strictly catch and release, traditional 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. Public presentations, Naturalist Guide, rowboat picnics, tide pool and  river trail day trips. Please call, write or email for booking details. Now booking through October and beyond. Please call or write for details.

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
W.S.U.Beach Watcher
U.S.C.G First Aid/CPR/BLS/AED/BBP/HIV Certified

Phone: 360-385-9618