Fly Fishing for Saltwater Salmon with Surface Flies
One of the greatest thrills in Pacific Northwest fly fishing is bringing large anadramous fish to a surface fly. While surface fishing in the saltwater is not as popular as subsurface fly fishing, feeding saltwater coho salmon will take a popper quite aggressively. Neah Bay is the best place to cast flies for coho salmon in Washington State, and I believe it's also the best place to catch coho / silver salmon on a cast popper.
Of course, there's a long tradition of trolling flies on the surface in the Pacific Northwest. But there's a move away from trolling (which I do not believe is fly fishing) to casting and retrieving surface poppers in the Pacific Northwest.
First things first, fishing a popper for saltwater salmon is going to lower the number of fish you hook most of the time. If numbers of fish are your goal, I still recommend fishing a sinking line and a baitfish pattern, such as a clouser minnow. Surface fishing in the Pacific Ocean for feeding salmon is not about numbers of salmon hooked. You will have lots of follows, slashes, and boils at your fly. But out of all the interest, most of the salmon will not grab the fly. This is what makes this type of fishing so much fun. You watch the fish follow, and attempt to entice the salmon by slowing down or speeding up the retrieve (some days faster works, other days slower works). It is truly one of the greatest fishing thrills in the Pacific Northwest.
For this fishing, I prefer fishing 30' shooting head fly lines. Fishing surface flies for saltwater salmon offshore of Neah Bay demands long casts. Basically, the more line you can throw, the more fish you will bring to the surface. I believe that shooting head fly lines give you the most distance with the least effort, especially considering a rolling deck and persistent winds. I like a .30 diameter floating running line. It gives you distance but without the tangling drawbacks of amnesia or other running lines. Remember, fly lines in a boat seem to seek out tangles. I use buckets with weighted bases to hold the fly line when casting and stripping the fly back along the surface.
An important part of popper fishing for salmon is the retrieve. I like a steady retrieve that makes the fly slowly wake along the surface, slowly covering productive fish holding water. The slow retrieve also gives following fish more time to make a decision to strike. It seems that fish will stop following once the fly gets within 10-20 feet of the boat (another reason to practice casting). To get this retrieve, I will tuck the fly rod under my arm and do a two-handed retrieve. This retrieve gives the angler more control and allows you to have that steady retrieve the coho salmon seem to love. Of course, like all fishing there are exceptions to every rule, so don't be afraid to pop the surface fly instead of the steady retrieve. It may be just the ticket when the salmon won't go for the typical retrieve. Coho fishing success is all about fishing hard and a willingness to experiment.
Like many forms of fishing that are less effective, popper fishing does require some dedication. Stick with it, even if you know for certain you are going to catch more fish by grabbing your other rod rigged with a sinking line and a baitfish pattern. You will rise coho salmon when you least expect it, and you will gain the most important thing when it comes to popper fishing for coho salmon... . Confidence! Confidence is the key to true success in fishing poppers in the saltwater.
I hope you learned a few things about popper fishing for coho salmon at Neah Bay. It is the most challenging way of hooking feeding salmon in the saltwater.
Chris Bellows, owner of Topwater Charters, Inc, which runs fly fishing charters off the Washington Coast. His websites offer more information about Saltwater Fly Fishing and Neah Bay Halibut Fishing
Related Articles:
Aardvark McLeod Announce Winter Fly Fishing Specials
Aardvark McLeod arrange international fly fishing holidays worldwide, providing an exceptional level of service to the discerning fly fisherman. Based on over 20 years combined experience our up to date information and unmatched technical knowledge will take you to the best fishing destinations around the world.
Alaska Fishing Lodge - Silver Salmon Creek Lodge
When you visit Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, you will be experiencing natures artwork at its best. The Alaskan wilderness is truly here and can be seen all around in the wildlife and landscape. The coastline here offers a wide variety of picturesque moments. From the mountains to the salt-water bays, from the streams to the marshes comes a sense of Alaska.
Escape to Montana's Historic Firehole Ranch for a Romantic Fly Fishing Getaway
Firehole Ranch's romantic location, nestled on the shore of Hebgen Lake, outside Yellowstone National Park, is the perfect intimate retreat for couples looking to reconnect with one another and the natural world. Blessed with an unmatched variety and abundance of blue-ribbon trout waters, the Firehole Ranch has gained great acclaim for its world-class fly fishing. Mythical rivers like the Madison, Yellowstone, Henry's Fork, Gallatin, Ruby. and many more. entice anglers of all ability levels with their spectacular scenery and unforgettable fly fishing experience.
The Importance Of Superior Fly Fishing Equipment
Fly fishing - a sport of significant skill - continues to grow in popularity as the fundamentals of it are passed on from generation to generation and from fisherman to fisherman. As a new generation takes to the water, they learn as the anglers before them, that proper fly fishing equipment ranks as high in importance as technical skill and artful flair. Superior equipment can take the experience of fly fishing and elevate it to the next level - making not only a more successful event - but a more enjoyable one as well.
First Fly Fishing and Conservation Social Networking Community Launches Online
InsiderFlyfishing is becoming known as the attractor pattern of the Internet throughout the fly fishing industry and conservation world. The newly launched site has the look, resources and can't-resist goods to turn consumers' heads and keep them coming back, while delivering exceptional results to fly fishing professionals, dealers and membership organizations throughout North America and all over the world. It's also dedicated to preserving clean water and healthy fisheries everywhere, a win for fish populations and habitat as well as for sportsmen and PROs.
Choose The Right Bass Fishing Tackle For Your First Fishing Adventure
If your going on your first Bass fishing trip and you haven't done any fishing ever before it can be a bit daunting to try and find the right fishing tackle The moment you step in to a shop that sells fishing tackle, or better yet a shop that specializes in fishing, you will see that there are thousands of items to choose from
Beginner Fly Fishing Techniques,
I was put off of fly fishing for years simply because I thought it would be too hard to learn. There is so much hype about casting a fly with a fly rod, different actions and movements that it all sounds too complicated for the poor beginner. Well the art of casting a fly is in truth really quite simple, and with a few beginner fly fishing techniques just about anyone can do it.
Alaska Fishing Lodge - Stoney River Lodge
Sleetmute, Alaska is a little town of 100 or so people and is near one of the great fishing locations in Alaska, that being Stoney River Lodge. This Alaska Fishing Lodge is perfectly located near some great fishing that boasts such catch as Grayling, Artic Char, Salmon, Sheefish, Rainbow and Lake Trout. It even has some tremendous Northern Pike for anglers to catch.
Thoughts On Freshwater vs. Saltwater Fishing
I love fishing of any kind, but some people prefer fishing in saltwater and some people prefer fishing in freshwater. Many people feel very strongly about their decision, and sometimes you can elicit the same type of reaction from them as you would if you questioned their religion. Freshwater fishing is usually a more slow paced style of fishing with more waiting in between bites and catching fish. You also may have to work harder to find fish when fishing in freshwater. However I think that fishing off the bank in freshwater is far more productive than fishing from the beach in saltwater. I also really like freshwater fishing, because it is less costly to successfully fish in freshwater. Also lures are more beneficial in the freshwater, so...
Fly Fishing Lures
In the general sport of fishing, you use lures to catch your fish; however, when you are fly fishing, the word lure only marginally applies. Sure, you are trying to lure the fish to your bait, but when you are fly fishing, you use flies to entice the fish. So when we talk about lures in the sport of fly fishing, we are really speaking about flies.
Fly Fishing In Canada
Canada is a beautiful place to visit. When you are planning a fly fishing trip, you?ll find an amazing adventure in Canada! Many of the rivers and lakes where fly fishing is the best are in remote areas, so when you choose fly fishing in Canada, you?ll have privacy with the added perk of some great fishing!
Where To Find 10 Fly Fishing Tips In A Single Paragraph
When looking for information on how to fly fish, fly fishing tips or fly fishing techniques, many anglers, or anglers to be,who limit their search to books or material written ithin the last few years or decades are short-changing themselves.Fact is, many anglers continue to miss out on great fly fishing information by not reaching back into the rich history of the sport and seeking the advice and wisdom of true fly fishing pioneers.
Montana's Historic Firehole Ranch To Host Exclusive Women's World-Class Fly Fishing Week
For the first time since 1947, Montana's historic Firehole Ranch is hosting a "Women's Week," August 2-6, 2008, for discriminating fly-fishing enthusiasts of all abilities. Located just outside of Yellowstone National Park, the Orvis endorsed Firehole Ranch offers an unmatched variety of blue ribbon trout waters. Fabled rivers like the Madison, Yellowstone, Henry's Fork and Gallatin will be the setting for clinics, classes and guided trips.
Fly Fishing in the Unspoilt Waters of Canada
Canada is a beautiful country with so many places where you can practice the art of fly fishing with some very satisfying results. Fly fishing in Canada can not only give you the experience of catching a diverse variety of fish, but it also gives you the beauty and scenery that is almost second to none. Fishing in this type of environment is the perfect way to ease your stresses and make for a very satisfying fishing experience.
Light Tackle Adventure of Boqueron Bay - Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico is Now Listed with AmericanFlyFishingTravel.com, a Major Fly Fishing Travel Website.
Puerto Rico may be a small island, but its natural beauty, fascinating history and vibrant culture provides visitors with a wide variety of experience. Light Tackle Adventure Company specializes in providing the best catch and release fishing adventure in the Caribbean. Light tackle and fly fishing is excellent all year round.