Salmon

on the Fly

by Rich Youngers

This Silver was taken on a Green Hornet in Septemer.

Oregon offers some great fall fishing opportunities for salmon, steelhead, and sea-run cutthroat. This article will focus on flyfishing for salmon. As early as mid-August, the salmon start migrating towards their spawning beds and we can find them in the estuaries. This is my favorite time to fish for them as they are fresh from the ocean, full of energy, and will eagerly attack baitfish style patterns. Tidewater fishing is a game dependant on tides. I find best results are early morning or evening minus tides, especially low slack just before sunrise and within legal limits after sunset. The scent of the freshwater seems to encourage the Salmon to move into the estuaries during these times.

When considering a likely spot to fish, consider the species of salmon you're pursuing. Chinook, being the largest of the salmon species, are also the least abundant. These fish average 18 - 20 pounds but each year good numbers of bigger fish are caught. Feeding and migrating salmon often follow the shoreline, but mostly prefer deep pools, six to 30 feet or more, during daylight hours. This preference often puts them at depths beyond the range of flyfishermen.

Fly fishing for Chinook is not easy. However, when lured to take a fly, these fish can provide a rush of exhileration for the flyfisherman persistent enough to spend the time necessary to pursue them. Fishing the deep pools for these fellows will require anywhere from a 200 to 400 grain sink-tip line or a shooting head set-up. With these line systems, I use a 6ft leader of 15-20 pound test. The grain weight of the line you use will be dependent on the depth of the pool you're fishing which is influenced by tide activity. The best way I have found to entice Chinook to strike is by using long slow pulls on the flyline and keeping the tip of the rod low to minimize slack line. I prefer bright, flashy flies in size 2/0-3/0. Some of my favorite Chinook patterns are the Karluk Flash Fly, Kennon's Green Hornet, Pink King, & Blue Comet.

Silvers, or Coho salmon, are smaller, averaging six to 12 pounds. These are the most prolific species of the five Pacific salmon and are found spawning in small coastal streams as well as the bigger rivers. The Silvers start gathering in the estuaries in August, then enter their spawing streams from September through November. You can often find Silvers stacked up on the edges towards the tail end of deep pools. This makes them easier to see and cast to than the Chinook. Cast and let your fly get into the swing mode. Look for a hard strike and some serious acrobatics. Silvers are one of the true salmon sportfish.

When fishing for silvers, I use a floating or clear intemediate fly line in a 7-9 wt. I recomend a fast action rod with a good disc drag reel. The best presentation is to cast out to fish you see or a likely looking pool using your floating or intermediate line, then strip the line back very quickly using short pulls. Another method I use is to cast down and across letting the fly drift and sink. Then swing through the holding fish at the appropriate depth on outgoing tide just before low slack. This method often triggers a more aggressive strike as it swings into their space. Once the swing is complete and the fly is hanging directly below you in the current, don't rush to haul it in. I've had numerous fish slam it as the fly hung motionless. I usually use a 9ft leader of 12 lb. test, floating line and a 6-9ft, 12# leader with an intermediate line. For Silvers, I like the Karluk Flash Fly tied in purple, Kennon's Green Hornet, Purple Egg Sucking Leeches, Pink Pollywogs (both the floating and the Deep-Eyed), and Shrimp in Chartruese.

Historically, Pacific Salmon have been considered primarily as a food fish, not a game fish. However, I have found them to be a fun and challenging sportfish. When one of these beautiful, silver sided fish finally hits and you are at the other end of their aeial acrobatics and your reel is singing as they are taking line on an enthusiastic run, nothing is more exciting. And occasionally, after the angling experience, I too enjoy the pleasure of a wonderful salmon repast although often I enjoy returning them to the water to continue their journey upriver.

  2000 Creekside Flyfishing