Like it or not Winter is here in the Pacific Northwest! Days are shorter and wetter, and steelhead are trickling into the rivers. Chum salmon are all but wrapped up and everything seems to have a squishy texture to it. Well, that means fly tying and half day season is upon us.
Feeling cabin fever already?! That’s because we live in Washington, and you are not supposed to be cooped up inside. It’s time to get out the floating line and take advantage of some great top water sea run cutthroat! It’s not worth trying to cram another fly in that sadly full fly box of yours! With the beautiful views and the great fishing, it’s a shame to waste the winter inside!
This is the best time of year for the floating line! We can pull out the gurglers and traditional baitfish patterns this time of year and really do some of the most enjoyable cutthroat fishing of the season! Cruising the shorelines tossing the floating line this time of year is a blast. The water is nice and calm, and with a jacket and some active fishing it is a pleasant time of year to catch fish!
Washington State has a ton to offer the year-round fly fishermen, between the winter steelhead and the sea run cutthroat we do not really get a lull in the fishing! If the rivers blow out and your steelhead guide has to cancel, you can just run over to the Hood Canal and never leave the Olympic Peninsula and still get great fishing! Here are some tips to keep you hooked up this time of year!
- Current seams- The bait is scarce this time of year, so the current seams are critical to cutthroats hunting plan.
- Fish The Floating Line! We have great topwater fishing this time of year. When the fish will not commit to coming to the surface, move just below on the same floater!
- Make a disturbance. If your fly is moving quick and making a commotion, the fish will find it this time of year. We have the advantage of the fish being aggressive this time of year, so lets have as much fun with that as we can!
- Keep moving, as you work a stretch of water just keep moving on down, when you find the fish they will let you know!
- No bad days! Fish hard, keep at it, and make a day of it. This time of year calls for hot coffee, great fishing, followed by a cold beverage to reward your efforts!