Flyfishing For Pacific Salmon

by Rich Youngers

Flyfishing for Pacific Salmon on our coastal rivers and estuaries is one of the most exciting sports around.  The chance to catch a King Salmon up to 50 pounds and  Silver Salmon up to15 pounds is  the motivation for most fly anglers  who like chasing big fish.  At times you will catch salmon on every cast and at times you will have to work for them.  

I personally like chasing them in the lower estuaries where the fish  will be chrome bright and full of energy.  Flyfishing for salmon usually  requires 8wt rods for Silvers and 10 wt rods. for  Kings.  I recommend using  either a floating line or an intermediate line for Silvers.  King Salmon require a 200-300 grain sink tip line.   I don't go much lighter than 15 lb. leaders.  

Silvers require a quick retrieve and the Kings like to come after a slow retrieved fly.  Silvers will hit the fly hard where the Kings down in tidewater will take the fly softly.   I like to use bright flashy flies in the estuaries like  the Karluk Flash Fly  in Purple or Silver and  Kennon's Green Hornet.   Other patterns that work are the Comets and Clouser Minnows.    

Once salmon make it up into the freshwater sections of the river,  tactics change and you fish steelhead style with the wet fly swing.   They will be more concentrated in freshwater and a bit easier to find  vs. finding them in tidewater.  In freshwater you will find an assortment of patterns work such as Bunny Leeches in all the hot colors, MVP's, Quarter Pounder's, and Babine Specials to name a few. 

Its a fun time of  the year so if you get a chance get out there and give it a chance.